paroolSep 24, 2026, 08:16

Poet and former Parool columnist Babs Gons receives 2026 Johannes Vermeer Prize

Poet and former Parool columnist Babs Gons has been awarded the 2026 Johannes Vermeer Prize, a prestigious Dutch state award for exceptional artistic talent. Gons will receive 100,000 euros for her influential work, which the jury commended for its unique synthesis of spoken word, poetry, and social commentary.

Poet and former Parool columnist Babs Gons has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Johannes Vermeer Prize. The annual state award, which carries a cash prize of 100,000 euros to fund a special artistic project, honors exceptional talent across the Dutch creative landscape. Culture Minister Rianne Letschert is scheduled to present the award to Gons on November 23 during a ceremony at the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague.

The jury praised Gons for her unique ability to blend poetry, spoken word, and social engagement into a singular genre that addresses both personal and public issues. By connecting different generations and communities, her work explores societal challenges with a blend of sharpness and empathy. Gons, who served as a columnist for Het Parool from 2019 until 2022, recently published her latest poetry collection, titled Wie zijn we morgen, in May. She joins a distinguished list of former winners including photographer Erwin Olaf and architect Rem Koolhaas.

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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