
Boekenweek 2020: Our Dutch collection
Posted 12th March 2020
This year marks the 85th annual ‘Boekenweek’, or ‘Book Week’ a yearly celebration in the Netherlands of reading, writing and sharing stories.
We are so proud to have such a huge array of wonderful Dutch books, from the most magical of adventures to the grittiest wartime epics, so we thought what better time to share them with you.
From Pushkin Children’s

All these children’s titles are masterfully translated by Laura Watkinson. Check out her ‘Where I Write’ piece here.
Lampie by Annet Schaap
A classic seafaring adventure full of mermaids and monsters, Lampie‘s beautiful story and loveable characters make it the perfect book to share with your family.
Winter in Wartime by Jan Terlouw
Based on the author’s own experiences in Nazi-occupied Holland, Winter in Wartime is a story of one boy’s bravery and compassion when he agrees to take care of a wounded British spitfire pilot.
The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
Coming to Netflix in a brand new original series this month, Tonke Dragt’s The Letter for the King is an internationally beloved classic. When young knight-in-training Tiuri is tasked with delivering a life-changing message, the fate of the entire kingdom rests in his hands.
The Goldsmith and the Master Thief by Tonke Dragt
Also from our Tonke Dragt collection is The Goldsmith and the Master Thief, a charming story of the mischief created (and avoided) by identical twins Jiacomo and Laurenzo in their quest to find a mythical treasure.
From Pushkin Press

The Evenings and Childhood by Gerard Reve (translated by Sam Garrett)
A masterpiece of post-war literature, The Evenings follows Frits as he moves through the mundanity of life as a young and disenchanted office worker. Written with similar wit and intensity, Childhood contains two haunting novellas of youth in wartime Amsterdam.
Bird Cottage by Eva Meijer (translated by Antoinette Fawcett)
Defying expectations, Len Howard left her life as an accomplished violinist in London to chase her passion for birds. From her quiet cottage in East Sussex, she found fulfilment in the natural world, and this fictionalised account of her life teaches us to do the same.
Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda (translated by Jonathan Reeder)
When meeting your girlfriend’s father for the first time, it’s important to make a good impression. Luckily for Aaron, it goes off without a hitch. But soon enough, the facade of this perfect family begins to disintegrate, along with Aaron’s own mind…
Tench by Inge Schilperoord (translated by David Colmer)
From the mind of criminal psychologist Inge Schilperoord comes this unnerving and gripping story about a man fighting his obsessive nature after being released from prison.
Young Rembrandt by Onno Blom (translated by Beverley Jackson)
And finally, our exquisite biography of the iconic painter’s formative years from the award-winning Onno Blom, Young Rembrandt is a richly illustrated portrait of genius at its germination.
Share with us your favourite works of Dutch literature over on Twitter, or find out more about Boekenweek here.