Babs Gons is a writer, spoken word poet and host who has been a driving force behind stage poetry in the Netherlands for decades. She was at the cradle of initiatives such as Palabras and the Poetry Circle and has an undeniable influence on the development of the genre. In 2021, she made her debut with Doe het toch maar and wrote the Boekenweekgedicht that same year. Her work, passionate and committed, was awarded De Johnny (2022) and the Gouden Ganzenveer (2024). As 'Poet of the Netherlands' (2023-2025), she knows better than anyone how to connect poetry with current affairs and society.

Foto: Annaleen Louwes