Finale: Doe Maar Dicht Maar

The poetry competition for young people in the Netherlands and surrounding areas is, of course, Doe Maar Dicht Maar by Poëziepaleis! This phenomenon celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and has been the launching pad to success for many poets. This year, thousands of secondary school students between the ages of 12 and 19 submitted their self-written poems. A professional jury, including Ingmar Heytze and Yentl van Stokkum, selected the hundred best poems from all these submissions. On June 15th, during the festive finale of Doe Maar Dicht Maar, the winners of the grand prize will be announced. The ten best poets, five from age category 12–14 and five from age category 15 -18, will receive a unique gift with their poem on it. The winners from these categories, chosen by the jury, will receive the grand prize. Additionally, the anthology presentation will take place. This special annual poetry event for young people will be held for the first time at the Poetry International Festival.

Renée Luth

Renée Luth (Eibergen, 1979) is a versatile Dutch poet, visual artist, and literary organizer. She served as the city poet of Groningen from 2019 to 2021. Her poetry is known for its vivid imagery and strong rhythm. She has published three collections with publishing house Passage: Pingpongtong (2011), Preparaat (2016), and Mermaids Don’t Sink (2021). Luth teaches poetry and spoken word in primary and secondary education and organizes cultural events. Through projects like “Green Poetry,” she brings poetry and ecology together in public spaces, using mediums such as moss and rain poetry. She has served as a jury member for the Groningen Culture Prize and is actively involved in literary initiatives such as De Dichtclub. Her work uniquely blends art, nature, and social themes.