Kinderboekenweek promotes Dutch literature and author visibility

The Kinderboekenweek (Children's Book Week) is currently taking place across the Netherlands, running from September 30 to October 11. This year's theme, ‘Spot aan!’, focuses on creativity, storytelling, and fantasy. Various activities, including drawing, reading sessions, and digital workshops, are being organized at libraries and bookstores, such as Bibliotheek Heyhoef in Tilburg.

A recent brand study by Hendrik Beerda Brand Consultancy highlights the Kinderboekenweek as a vital tool for the Dutch book sector. The study suggests that the event's strong reputation is essential for countering declining sales of Dutch-language books and securing future readers.

The report notes that while the Kinderboekenweek is highly popular, there is a need for Dutch children's authors to increase their national visibility to compete with international writers and AI. Currently, only three of the fifteen most nationally recognized Dutch authors also write children's books: Carry Slee, Paul van Loon, and Simone van der Vlugt.