paroolFeb 19, 2026, 11:21

Iraida Ooft wrote a novel about the 1989 SLM plane crash: ‘I still linger in the Surinamese pain’

Surinamese author Iraida Ooft has been nominated for the Libris Literature Prize for her novel *Toen de val*, which centers on the 1989 SLM plane crash that killed 176 people near Paramaribo. The book explores the enduring trauma and cultural silence surrounding the disaster, focusing on the impact on families in both Suriname and the Netherlands. Through extensive research, Ooft highlights the stories of ordinary victims whose experiences were often overshadowed by the high-profile deaths of the "Kleurrijk Elftal" footballers.

Culture Netherlands World

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

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