Tonight poses the question 'Are the Belgians Better?' and features Saskia de Coster, Bart Koubaa, Tom Lanoye, Yves Petry and David van Reybrouck, in conversation with Arjen Fortuin. Organised by SLAA.

Flemish literature is populated by the most diverse of writers: from Hugo Claus to Tom Lanoye, Monica Van Paemel to Saskia de Coster, Peter Verhelst to Yves Petry, Erwin Mortier to Bart Koubaa, Kristien Hemmerechts to Annelies Verbeke, Leo Pleysier to Tom Naegels... and so forth.

For years, established authors have held a prominent position. However, the young storming talents know how to focus attention on themselves. This seems apparent, not only from articles such as The Belgians are Better (Arjen Fortuin, 2006) and Ready with the Sorrow of Belgium (Rob Schouten, 2006), but also with mostly positive reviews. What is going on in the Flemish country?

Those who have followed the production of Dutch literature since 1965 don't come to the same conclusion as the provactive statement by Arjen Fortuin – that the Belgians are better. From their point of view, what the new Belgians have is a feeling for language and style. Television games have fuelled the cliché that the language-battling Flemish speak better Dutch than their northern neighbours. The lifeless senses which so often come out in Dutch prose, can't be found in the books of the new generation of Flemish writers. These Flemish aren't people who write because it's their hobby or because they want to make it their profession: they are people who must write. They want to know more – about themselves, their obsession, their longing, their history, their society. What the outside world thinks is of less importance.

The question of whether the Belgians are better is not answered by that, but Saskia de Coster, Bart Koubaa, Tom Lanoye, Yves Petry and David van Reybrouck shall make an attempt in that direction. Arjen Fortuin will sit around the table with all the writers in a conversation on all the ins and outs of Flemish literature.

Saskia de Coster wrote Vrije val (2002), Jeuk (2004) and Eeuwige roem (2006). She is currently living in Amsterdam as part of the Residency for Writers in Amsterdam project, a joint iniative by the Dutch Foundation for Literature and the Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature.

Bart Koubaa is a writer and photographer. He wrote Vuur (2000) and Lucht (2005).

Tom Lanoye is a writer and scenarist. He wrote, amongst others, poetry book Stadsgedichten (2005), the play Mefisto for ever (2006) and the novel Het derde huwelijk (2006).

Yves Petry wrote, amongst others Gods eigen muziek (2001), De laatste woorden van Leo Wekeman (2004) and De achterblijver (2006).

David van Reybrouck is a cultural historian, archeologist and writer. He wrote the play Die siel van die mier (toneel, 2004) and travel stories De plaag (2001). Slagschaduw came out in March 2007. Van Reybrouck spent Autumn 2006 in Amsterdam as part of the Residency for Writers in Amsterdam project, a joint iniative by the Dutch Foundation for Literature and the Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature.

Language: Dutch

Further information:
www.slaa.nl