HARDOP! - Declamation competition

Hardop! brings poetry to the stage at the 55th edition of Poetry International Festival, with performances that touch and encourage reflection. Twelve voices, twelve poems, each delivered with rhythm and expression. Under the guidance of Babs Gons, we celebrate the art of declamation with poets who responded to our open call. What poem did they choose and what would be your personal poem of choice?

Do you want to participate in this program? Send in a video of your performance by Friday, June 6th. Read more about our open call here.

Babs Gons

Babs Gons has been a driving force behind numerous poetry platform initiatives for decades. From 2000, she curated Palabras in Paradiso in Amsterdam for nearly ten years—an evening dedicated to showcasing the work of young and emerging poets and spoken word artists. Following that, she played a key role in founding and developing the Poetry Circle. 

In 2021, Gons made her literary debut with the poetry collection Doe het toch maar. That same year, she wrote the Boekenweek poem and released a children’s book titled Het Begint Met Een Droom. Her contributions to performance poetry were recognized in 2022 with De Johnny, a lifetime achievement award. In 2024, she received the Gouden Ganzenveer, further cementing her influence in the literary world. 

A dynamic presence in the cultural scene, Gons hosts various programs, including the musical-literary show Babs’ Woordsalon. She is also a writer of stories, articles, and columns—a selection of which was published in June 2022 under the title Alles Wat Je Liefhebt Wordt Mooi, drawn from her work for Het Parool. 

Since 2023, Babs Gons has served as the Poet Laureate of the Netherlands, a role she holds through 2025. The selection committee hailed her as “one of the most compelling poets the Netherlands currently has, with a voice full of fire—burning and warm—both on stage and on the page.” They praised her as “a poet who, with passion and deep engagement, gives voice to the issues of our time, forging a powerful connection between poetry and society.”