Brussels literature is alive and taking the country by storm. The Boon Literature Prize was won earlier this week by Brussels resident Tijl Nuyts, and today Cieltje Van Achter, Flemish Minister for Brussels, and Ans Persoons, Brussels State Secretary and VGC College Member for Culture, proudly announce that the Boon Literature Prize will come to Brussels in March 2028. This means the important Flemish literary prize will be awarded in the city that inspired Boon.
Brussels literature is alive and taking the country by storm. The Boon Literature Prize was won earlier this week by Brussels resident Tijl Nuyts, and today Cieltje Van Achter, Flemish Minister for Brussels, and Ans Persoons, Brussels State Secretary and VGC College Member for Culture, proudly announce that the Boon Literature Prize will come to Brussels in March 2028. This means the important Flemish literary prize will be awarded in the city that inspired Boon.
De Boon Literature in Brussels feels like coming home. The Flemish Community Commission, the Flemish Government – Brussels Coordination and Muntpunt are delighted that Brussels will be the host city for the Boon Literature Prize 2028. And the literary momentum is already there: Brussels resident Tijl Nuyts recently won the prize with Groundwork, _, a novel that, much like Boon showed him, portrays the capital as both a wound and a wonder. The jury praised it as a literary masterpiece and sharp social criticism. Brussels inspires.
Brussels: a city of culture and books
Brussels is a literary city and a haven. The city forms a unique breeding ground for stories, voices and literary encounters. Something it wishes to perpetuate and strengthen. The city currently has twenty Dutch-language libraries, with Muntpunt as its biggest showcase. Other important literary players include the international literature house Passa Porta, the Flemish-Dutch House deBuren, the 22 Dutch-language community centres, schools and numerous bookshops and reading clubs in the metropolis. Brussels reads!
“It is no coincidence that Louis-Paul Boon was fascinated by Brussels. For centuries, Brussels has been a city where voices converge and stories are born. Bringing the Boon Literary Prize to Brussels is therefore more than a symbolic gesture for us: it is an affirmation of what this city already is: a literary safe haven. Those who read discover the world. And there is no better place than Brussels to start that journey of discovery,” says Ans Persoons, College Member responsible for Culture, Youth, Sports, Community Cohesion and Community Centres.
Reading as a superpower
For Flemish Minister for Brussels and Media Cieltje Van Achter, the literary prize fits into a broader ambition. The ToTaalplan Nederland aims to have more Brussels residents learn and use Dutch, and to do so more effectively. Reading is both a means and an end in this regard.
The timing has been deliberately chosen. The project Reading is a superpower runs until the end of 2028 and builds a continuous reading pathway for young Bruxellois. In 2026, a new urban reading campaign will be rolled out. In 2027, Boekenbende will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary. The Boon awards ceremony in 2028 will be the festive conclusion and put Brussels on the map as a city of books.
Flemish Minister for Brussels and Media, Cieltje Van Achter: Flemish Minister for Brussels and Media Cieltje Van Achter: “It is an honour to host the Boon Literature Prize in Brussels in 2028. With its strong cultural and literary heritage, our capital city truly captures the imagination. Furthermore, it confirms our clear choice for Dutch in Brussels. With the ToTaalplan Nederlands Brussel, we are investing in language acquisition, reading pleasure and reading literacy, as reading creates additional opportunities to use and strengthen Dutch. The arrival of the Boon not only crowns our literary tradition but also underlines our ambition for the future.”
Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline GennezThe Boon Literature Prize is one of the most important Dutch-language literary awards. With it, we support emerging talent and celebrate the beauty and impact of the Dutch language – also in Brussels. As the Flemish government, we will continue to invest in our literature and authors, so that talent such as that of Tijl Nuyts can grow and be celebrated. Brussels is a city with a rich literary tradition and a lasting source of inspiration for writers. This edition will undoubtedly be a grand literary celebration.“