Erik Jan Harmens (1970) is a writer, poet and much sought-after speaker and interviewer. In 2002 he became the first winner of the NK Poetry Slam and since then he has built up a versatile oeuvre, with fifteen books, including the memoir Hallo muur (2015) and a biography about rapper Hef. His work explores themes such as addiction, vulnerability and neurodiversity, which he also discusses in Het grote autismeboek (2024) and his essays in NRC. In addition to writing, he teaches creative writing and mentors new talent. He is currently working on the biography of Menno Wigman and an album with Dutch songs.

Foto: Els Zweerink