"It is a great honor to be associated with VU Amsterdam as Writer in Residence for upcoming year. I am very much looking forward to engaging with students, about the world, their world and literature," Polak said of her appointment.
Polak is the seventeenth Writer in Residence at VU Amsterdam and the successor to Gustaaf Peek and previous writers such as Babs Gons, Maxim Februari, Arnon Grunberg, Bas Heijne, Ernest van der Kwast, Ronald Giphart, Renate Dorrestein and Abdelkader Benali. Her appointment will last one year.
"I am extremely happy with Nina Polak's appointment as Writer in Residence at VU Amsterdam. In her books, she works with the theme of diversity, which is an important focus for our university. Her novel Buitenleven from 2022 became the Tzum-BruutTAAL Regenboogboek 2022. This recognition is awarded to an original Dutch-language work of fiction from the LGBTQI+ spectrum. I am sure she will appeal to many, equal students, and staff, on our campus and wish her much inspiration in the coming year," said Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts.
About Nina Polak
Nina Polak (1986) writes fiction and non-fiction. She made her debut in 2014 with We zullen niet te pletter slaan. This novel was nominated three times for an award (the Anton Wachter Prijs 2014, the ANV Debutantenprijs 2015 and the Opzij Literatuurprijs 2015). Polak studied Literary Studies and Cultural Analysis at University of Amsterdam and in New York. From 2009 to 2012, she was editor of the Amsterdam student weekly Propria Cures. She also published for De Gids and De Groene Amsterdammer. From 2013, she is also culture correspondent for De Correspondent.
Contact with the Writer in Residence
Do you have ideas or do you want to get in touch with the Writer in Residence? Please send an e-mail to schrijver@vu.nl and you will hear from us soon.
Tradition Writer in Residence
As Writer in Residence, Nina Polak is the successor to Gustaaf Peek (2022), Babs Gons (2021), Maxim Februari (2020), Arnon Grunberg (2019), Annelies Verbeke (2018), Bas Heijne (2017), Ernest van der Kwast (2016), Niña Weijers (2015), Joost de Vries (2014), P. F. Thomése (2013), Kristien Hemmerechts (2012), Ronald Giphart (2011), Renate Dorrestein (2010), Christine Otten (2009), Marcel Möring (2008) and Abdelkader Benali (2007). Her appointment lasts one year.
The appointment of the Vrije Schrijver at VU Amsterdam is made possible by VUvereniging. During her work as Writer in Residence Polak will also give lectures at the Faculty of Humanities.
Photo: Nina Schollaardt