03 Aug The Dutch Foundation for Literature’s Extra Support Measures during the Pandemic (Podcast #16)
Episode #16 – How the Dutch Foundation for Literature Helps Foreign Publishers during the Pandemic (and beyond)
By Marleen Seegers, Co-Founder of 2 Seas Agency and Host of The Make Books Travel Podcast
August 3, 2020
Barbara den Ouden © Jeffrey Prins
Today I’m speaking with Barbara den Ouden of the Dutch Foundation for Literature. Anyone who has traveled to an international book fair is bound to have run into Barbara, who I believe to be something like a fixture at such events!
The Dutch Foundation for Literature supports writers and translators, and promotes Dutch literature abroad.
A few months into the pandemic, they announced to have set aside an additional budget to help foreign publishers who acquire Dutch titles, besides the regular budget they allocate to translation grants, production grants and other support measures. I wanted to sit down with her to ask what the response has been so far, and in general to get a better idea of the foundation’s activities, also on a national level.
Given the current context, we also discuss the current situation in the Netherlands in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic, its book market and the national economy in general.
Here are some of the questions I asked Barbara:
- How is the situation in Holland currently regarding the Covid-19 pandemic?
- What has the impact been of the pandemic on the Dutch economy and as a result, on the book market so far?
- What do book sales look like at the moment, compared to the same period last year?
- Has there been any government aid for Dutch publishing houses, bookstores and authors to help them through these challenging times?
- Can you describe briefly the different additional support measures that were announced by Dutch Foundation for Literature in May to help foreign publishers who acquire Dutch titles even more during the pandemic?
- What has the response been so far?
Show notes
Barbara’s book recommendation: Rodaan Al Galidi, Holland (Uitgeverij De Kade, 2020; no foreign language editions available at the time of recording)
Thank you for listening, and enjoy!
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