Final Declaration & The Last Poem

On Sunday, June 15, we close the festival with a special final event: Final Declaration & The Last Poem. Throughout the festival weekend, Poet of the Netherlands Babs Gons will be present at the Poetry Summit, where she listens to the voices, insights, and perspectives of poets from around the world. Drawing from these encounters and conversations, she will compose a Declaration for Future Generations—a poetic text reflecting on the future of global poetry and what is needed to shape it together. 

During this closing program, Babs will present her declaration, filled with collected wisdom, hope, and direction. And since no poetry festival can truly end without a poem, she will conclude the festival with one final poem—specially selected for this moment, as a lasting echo of a weekend full of language, connection, and imagination. 

Babs Gons

Babs Gons is a writer, spoken word poet, and host.  

For decades, she has been a driving force behind numerous poetry stage initiatives. Starting in 2000, she organized Palabras at Paradiso (Amsterdam) for nearly ten years—an event celebrating the work of young and emerging poets and spoken word artists. She later played a key role in founding and developing the Poetry Circle.  

Gons made her poetry debut in 2021 with Doe het toch maar. That same year, she wrote the official Boekenweek poem and published a children's book, Het Begint Met Een Droom. In 2022, she received De Johnny, a lifetime achievement award for performance poetry, and in 2024, she was awarded the prestigious Gouden Ganzenveer. She presents various literary programs and is the host of Babs’ Woordsalon, a musical-literary show. In addition to poetry, she writes stories, articles, and columns. A selection of her columns for Het Parool was published in June 2022 under the title Alles Wat Je Liefhebt Wordt Mooi. Gons serves as Poet Laureate of the Netherlands from 2023 to 2025. 

Jennifer Muntslag

Jennifer Muntslag is a presenter who blows through the room like a breath of fresh air, full of enthusiasm and humor. Jennifer, also known as JNM the Naked MC, is a born performer who has realized from a young age that she feels at home in the spotlight. Her moderation jobs range from a weekly late night talk show at Pakhuis de Zwijger, annual host during Oerol, Kunstbende, Amsterdam Roots Festival, vlogging for Shot of Culture, conferences and Spoken Word events to club nights at the Paradiso, Melkweg and many clubs/festivals at home and abroad.