Since 2000, poetry has been placed in the spotlight every year at the end of January. On the initiative of Poetry International, the last Thursday of January was declared Poetry Day. A broad coalition of poets, literary organizations, schools, libraries, and other associations helped ensure that the dark January days in Flanders and the Netherlands were filled with poetry.

The campaign for the very first Poetry Day in 2000 kicked off with the election of the most beautiful poem. After a widely supported voting campaign, Denkend aan Holland by Hendrik Marsman triumphed over, among others, De moeder de vrouw by Martinus Nijhoff.

For each edition, a poet was invited to write 10 poems related to the Poetry Day theme. The first Poetry Day collection was written by Toon Tellegen, followed in later years by renowned poets such as Hugo Claus, Tom Lanoye, Remco Campert, Judith Herzberg, Antjie Krog, and many others.

Due to the success of Poetry Day, it was decided in 2013 to expand it into a full Poetry Week. Accordingly, the Poetry Day collection was renamed the Poetry Gift.

By bringing together both large and small poetry initiatives, the organizers aim to create greater visibility and reach for poetry.

Poetry Week 2026 is organized by Poëziecentrum in collaboration with Poetry International, and with support from: Antwerpen Boeken en Letteren, Creatief Schrijven, de Schrijverscentrale, Iedereen Leest, Literatuur Vlaanderen, Nederlands Letterenfonds, NOORDWOORD, Perdu, Poëzietijdschrift Awater, School der Poëzie, Stichting Dichter der Nederlanden, Stichting Lezen, de Taalunie, Poëziepaleis, OBA, and Probiblio.