Literature

A continued reading offensive

The results of the international PISA study into (among other things) the reading enjoyment of fifteen-year-olds are alarming. According to the latest figures from 2023, the reading skills of Dutch youth declined again between 2018 and 2022. Currently, one in three 15-year-olds has insufficient reading skills. As a result, the Netherlands is performing below the OECD average for the first time and has the second-lowest score in Europe (Meelissen et al. 2023, Leesmonitor 2023d).

The figures fit into a long trend of studies that collectively show that both young people and adults have been reading less for years. Moreover, these studies indicate that young people find reading increasingly less enjoyable as they get older, with reading media often losing out to other media in their free time (Leesmonitor 2023c, 2023d, 2024d). At the same time, it appears that the reading frequency of Dutch has remained stable over the past six years; the proportion of people who read a book occasionally fluctuates between 81 percent and 86 percent (KVB Boekwerk 2025c). However, the proportion that never reads in Dutch or reads less than once a year is increasing.

'De-reading' and declining reading skills are nevertheless among the most important themes within the field of Literature. With numerous campaigns, interventions and programs the sector is trying to counter this. Tens of thousands of young people are reached every year with programs such as BookStart and the Library at school, the teaching programs of The School Writer, the author appearances of The Writers' Center and campaigns like the Book Week, Children's book week, The National Reading Aloud Days, The whole of the Netherlands Reads, Good Story (successor of Young People's Book Week) Of Young Jury, Read2Me, Step on the Red Carpet!, READ app en The National Reading CompetitionThe multi-year awareness campaign ' has been running since the end of 2024.He who reads has a good story', organized by the Reading Coalition, which will be further developed in the coming years. Research shows that such programs have positive effects on reading motivation, reading proficiency, and reading enjoyment (De Schoolschrijver n.d., De Schrijverscentrale n.d., Leesmonitor 2021, 2023b, 2024a, 2024b, 2024c, 2024e, 2024f).

In addition, there is considerable attention paid to the place that reading and literature occupy in the standard educational curriculum. At many schools, various efforts are made to prevent negative reading experiences and to offer positive ones. For instance, there is increasing attention to free reading in primary schools, and in secondary education, attention to Young Adult literature as a bridge between youth and adult literature is growing (Leesmonitor 2024g, 2023a). Recent research among school leaders and Dutch language teachers in secondary education shows that virtually all schools have a vision on reading education, and three-quarters of the teachers in the study allow their students to read freely every week (Rossum et al. 2025). Furthermore, research demonstrates that teaching methods such as book clubs with an explicit focus on personal growth—for example, through Young Adult literature in which students recognize themselves and their environment—strengthen students' personal development and, in conjunction with this, can also stimulate reading motivation (De Kleijn 2025).

Additionally, it is positive and important that the plans for the new education curriculum call for a greater place for reading motivation, that an extra 29,7 million (rising to 58,7 million in 2025) has been made available for libraries, among other things for the benefit of reading enjoyment and reading proficiency, and that the subject renewal committee delivered in 2024. draft examination programDutch up, of which the definitive conceptual core objectives published in 2025 effective from August 1, 2026. Simultaneously, the eight-year research project is running. ReadEvolution that developed a monitor for reading progress, and has supported the Scheme since 2025 Promoting reading Practical projects to reverse declining reading skills.

It is clear that the literary sector and education are collaborating more intensively in promoting reading. The Reading Coalition and other parties previously called upon politicians in the autumn of 2020 to adopt a joint approach in a Reading offensiveLibraries also play an important role in this. Former State Secretary for Culture and Media Gunay Uslu wrote in her 2022 Culture Policy Paper in May 2022 that the Cabinet continues to work on future-proof library services in every municipality, and that the Ministers of Education, Culture and Science remain jointly committed to strengthening cooperation between schools, libraries, and the environment surrounding young people in the field of reading promotion (Uslu 2022a).

Since February 2026, public libraries in the Jetten cabinet have no longer been primarily oriented towards the policy area of ​​culture, but have been placed under the State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Adult Education, Judith Tielen (VOB 2026). Consequently, libraries are increasingly positioned in national policy as part of the education chain. Also in the Masterplan Basic Skills Under former Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Dennis Wiersma, much attention was paid to increasing reading skills and motivation (Wiersma 2022). As part of this plan, €74 million was invested at the end of 2023 in BoekStart in childcare and the Library at School, intended for the period 2023-2025. From 2026, this was converted into structural funding: €25 million in 2026, rising to €50 million per year from 2028, with broadened target groups that now also include adults with limited basic skills, alongside the traditional focus on children and young people (VOB 2025). Municipalities are additionally obligated to provide a future-oriented library service for their residents (Uslu 2022b, Uslu 2022c, Stichting Lezen 2022b). In 2023 and 2024, over 65 million euros were made available to municipalities as an investment for libraries and reading promotion (Bruins 2024). In 2022, the Library Act was amended so that everyone under the age of 18 can become a member of the for free. library (Stichting Lezen 2022a). In early 2026, the Council of Ministers met agreement with a subsequent amendment to the Library Act: effective from the end of 2026, municipalities will have a statutory duty of care to provide a fully-fledged public library in every municipality.

On Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, significant efforts are being made to strengthen the library network. In recent years, various measures have been taken to elevate library services in the Caribbean Netherlands, including a 5 million investment (2022-2025) and the opening of a new Biblioteka Públiko Boneiru in 2025. Library membership varies significantly by island: 4 percent of the population is a member on Bonaire, 26 percent on Sint Eustatius, and 16 percent on Saba (an average of approximately 5-7 percent across the BES islands). Since then, library members have also been able to borrow e-books and audiobooks via the online library (KB 2025b). The libraries collectively hold nearly 250.000 items, the majority of which consists of physical books (Bibliotheeknetwerk 2024c).

AI and writers

The book industry cannot ignore it: the rise of AI is a theme within the literary sector. Translators, authors, libraries; multiple groups within the sector are dealing with it. AI is a topic of discussion at various levels within the literary sector. Research by the Boekman Foundation (Struijke 2025) among 713 cultural professionals shows that writers and translators are hit hardest by generative AI: 22 percent of writers report fewer assignments (in the sector as a whole, this percentage was 18 percent). Among translators, as many as 33 percent report a significant decline in income. Freelance writers and translators experience a 28 percent loss of income (compared to 12 percent among salaried employees), despite the fact that 59 percent use AI for terminology research or brainstorming. This makes them a vulnerable vanguard of a rapid AI revolution in the sector.

Some see opportunities and call upon the book industry to get started with this today, for example by supporting authors in the creative process with good prompts (Dessing 2024b). Translators also indicate that AI can be a useful tool for quickly researching specific topics appearing in a book with which they are not yet familiar, or for collecting synonyms (Liebreks 2025). Others also see the risks and call for cooperation to handle AI responsibly (Bibliotheeknetwerk 2023). The question of how the sector deals with copyright in relation to generative AI is also topical and remains unanswered (Auteursbond 2023b, 2023c).

Despite this, the applications of AI in the book industry are becoming increasingly visible, and opinions are divided. A much-discussed but as yet unevaluated innovation was the switch in March 2022 from 700 human reviewers to AI-generated acquisition information at NBD Biblion. Although this software can make book information available to libraries more quickly, there are concerns regarding the quality of the artificial texts and the consequences thereof for library collections and knowledge about books (Jong 2022). To date, there is a lack of an independent, long-term evaluation that provides insight into the influence of these texts on library selections and the diversity of the collections. From publishers who experiment with English translations made by AI, to writer and former publisher Wouter van Oorschot who in NRC states that the attitude of the Authors Association is opposed to this initiative as 'too defensive' and that AI offers opportunities 'to all those writers who currently remain untranslated'. Nevertheless, publishers, teachers, and translators alike express the wish not to let the quality of books come at the expense of the potential efficiency gains that AI offers (Andel 2025).

Growth and development of book consumption and sales

Book consumption

Data shows that, in general, older age groups read more than younger age groups and more women than men read (KVB Boekwerk 2022d, 2022e, 2023b, 2024c). The VTO 2024 confirms that in 2024, women (84 percent) read significantly more often than men (72 percent); reading frequency is also higher among women than among men (31 percent daily compared to 22 percent among men) (Hoog and Swartjes 2026). However, the VTO figures show that the proportion of readers (reading a book at least once a year) decreases with age, although older people (65+) do read daily more often than young people aged 20 and over. This difference likely arises from measurement levels: VTO defines 'reader' broadly as anyone who reads a book at least once a year, which may be excluded among older people due to less occasional reading. KVB Boekwerk, on the other hand, focuses on intensive frequency (more than 3 times a week), where older people actually dominate.

The VTO 2024 also shows a correlation with library visits in the literature domain: 39 percent of Dutch people (aged 6+) visited a library at least once in 2024, an increase compared to 2020 (31 percent). Of these visitors, 62 percent borrowed books, which is lower than in previous years (70 percent). This trend aligns with the decline in physical loans over the years (from 80,3 million in 2014 to 54,3 million in 2024), offset by the growth in online loans (e-books from 2,8 million in 2016 to 5,8 million in 2024) (KB 2026c).

KVB Boekwerk reports that reading frequency in 2025 has remained stable over the past 10 years, but shows a slight decrease compared to 2024 (KVB Boekwerk 2025c). For instance, in 2025, 32 percent read or listen to a book at least three times a week to every day, compared to 37 percent in 2024 and 29 percent in 2020. Whereas in 2024 the number of Dutch people who never or read very little had decreased for the first time in years from an average of 38 percent in the 2020-2023 period to 32 percent in 2024, this percentage rises again to 38 percent in 2025 (KVB Boekwerk 2025c). Thus, 2024 appears to be an outlier in an otherwise stable long-term trend: the share of non-readers has not declined structurally, but is once again at the level that was normal in recent years.

Against this backdrop of a stable to slightly declining reading frequency, research from 2026 by KVB Boekwerk offers more insight into who reads and how they consume books (KVB Boekwerk 2026b). KVB Boekwerk has launched a new research line focusing on the cohesion and exchange between libraries and other parts of the book field. The first study in this series maps three main profiles: buyers, borrowers, and combinations (KVB Boekwerk 2026b). Within the buyer profile, 51 percent read at least once a week and purchases are made online relatively often: 44 percent of all purchases take place via online channels. 57 percent of buyers are female, on average 50 years old, and predominantly highly educated. Reading frequency is highest among borrowers: 68 percent read at least once a week. They buy their books relatively more often at a fixed physical bookstore (38 percent) than online (30 percent). Within this group, 65 percent are women, with an average age of 49 and a large representation of those over 65; one-third have a secondary education level, 43 percent are highly educated, and 22 percent are low educated.

Book sales

Book sales in 2025 amounted to 44 million books; this number declined after the peak year of 2024 (46 million books). Revenue in 2025 remains virtually unchanged compared to the previous year. In 2025, book sales via physical stores decreased by 5 percent compared to 2024, while sales via e-commerce remained stable. Compared to 2023, turnover on both channels decreased by approximately 1 percent. At 54 percent, the sales share of physical stores in 2025 is larger than that of e-commerce channels, although revenue remains the same on both channels (KVB Boekwerk 2026a). Over the past seven years (2018-2025), there appears to be a trend that has been partly influenced by the coronavirus pandemic; The e-commerce share rose from approximately 30 percent in 2018 to 45 percent in 2020 and reached a temporary peak of 51 percent in 2021, since which it has oscillated around 44 to 46 percent (KVB Boekwerk 2023a, KVB Boekwerk 2026a). The physical share dropped to a low of 49 percent in 2021 and appears to have stabilized around 54–56 percent since then. These figures align with the VTO 2024, where print reading remains dominant (72 percent), with slight growth in readers of e-books (from 17 percent in 2012 to 28 percent in 2024) and audiobooks (from 15 percent in 2022 to 17 percent in 2024) (Hoog and Swartjes 2026). The stabilization of physical reading since 2021 confirms the view that digital reading is supplementary and does not displace printed reading.

In 2023, the number of bookstores (580) decreased by almost 15 percent compared to 2019, when there were 685 bookstores. This dip largely coincides with the corona years 2020-2021, when physical stores were closed for extended periods and many smaller bookstores did not survive. By 2025, the number of bookstores will have risen again to 640 (CBS 2025c), which shows that the sector is recovering after the corona period, but continues to move within a longer, reasonably stable range (the number of bookstores has fluctuated around 650-700 for years) (CBS 2025c). The 2024 Booksellers Monitor shows that the number of CB connections (i.e. the branches that place and have their book orders delivered via Centraal Boekhuis, the largest book distributor in the Netherlands) rose from 1.325 in 2023 to 1.347 in 2024, mainly due to the growth in the number of chain stores during that period (from 551 to 598) (KVB Boekwerk 2025f). Furthermore, the number of independent bookstores with a specific CB connection decreased from 484 to 448, while the number of purchased titles and copies remained virtually unchanged; This suggests that independent bookstores are facing increasing difficulties and are gradually being taken over by regional chains, rather than actual closures (KVB Boekwerk 2025f). Furthermore, data from the Chamber of Commerce shows that the number of online bookstores has more than doubled in the past five years (Chamber of Commerce 2024). However, like the CBS data based on Chamber of Commerce registrations, the KVB Boekwerk figures do not show exactly how many bookstores there are in the Netherlands, because not every point of sale with a substantial book selection is connected to the CB. They primarily reveal market developments, such as the growth of chain stores (Dessing 2025).

For creators, the number of mediations for author appearances has been increasing since 2021 (De Schrijverscentrale 2024). At the same time, lending rights fees decreased in 2023 compared to 2022; however, this decline says nothing about the overarching trend, as 2022 included one-off payments for Belgian Lending Rights covering the period 2016-2022 (Lira 2024). The most recent figures Data from Lira (Lira 2024) show that the distribution in 2024 actually rises again to 31,2 million (an increase from 27,7 million in 2023), which indicates that the underlying trend of lending right fees is reasonably stable.

The closure of language studies at universities is also a cause for concern. This concerns, for example, the intended dissolution of the Bachelor's programmes in German, French, Arabic, Italian, and Celtic at Utrecht University from 2026. Decisions of this kind are a direct consequence of the more than 1 billion in cuts to higher education that took effect on January 1. It has consequences for the quality and diversity of language education in the Netherlands and, consequently, for the profession of the translator (Dutch Literature Fund 2024b).

The digitization of the book market also presents challenges for authors, for example due to the rise of streaming and subscription services for e-books and audiobooks, where payment to publishers and authors is often still unclear or a subject of discussion, such as whether payment follows after a certain reading time, number of pages, or only upon full listening. Recently, this led to a public debate, with the Dutch Writers' Union criticizing rates of approximately 8,5 cents per fully listened-to book as unacceptably low (Michel 2026). A recent Volkskrant article emphasizes that good money is being made from the 'Spotifyification' of the book, but that the profits go primarily to tech platforms (such as Storytel or Audible) and less to the creators (Rek and Frijters 2026). On the other hand, some, such as writer Lex Paleaux, emphasize that it is in fact a matter of negotiations between publishers and platforms; Authors enter into contracts with their publisher, not directly with the streaming service, and might be better off viewing audiobooks as a marketing channel to increase visibility rather than as a primary source of income (Moraal 2026).

Recent studies by CB show that revenue from CB-distributed e-books and audiobooks via subscriptions will grow by 36 percent in 2025, following 21 percent growth in 2024. As a result, the revenue share of subscriptions in total digital e-commerce will rise further from 55 percent in 2024 to 62 percent in 2025, meaning that subscriptions represent a larger share than single-copy sales for the second consecutive year, and their dominance in digital book revenue will be strengthened. This underscores the 3 percent decline in sales of single e-books, while revenue remains virtually stable (KVB Boekwerk 2026c).

In 2022, then-State Secretary Uslu announced an additional investment of 3,15 million euros in digital lending by public libraries for the benefit of authors and their publishers (Uslu 2022a). Subsidies from municipalities and provinces have increased in recent years (CBS 2024b). In 2023, Uslu allocated a further 29,7 million euros to strengthen libraries, rising to a structural total of 58,7 million euros from 2025 onwards (Uslu 2023). This is a relevant investment; the number of e-book and audiobook loans is becoming increasingly popular. The range is growing, and more users are reading and listening via the online library (Bibliotheeknetwerk 2024b). In 2023, nearly 7,8 million e-books and audiobooks were borrowed, rising to nearly 8,4 million in 2024 (CBS 2025b).

Diversity, equity and inclusion in the arts

That too little attention is paid to diversity and inclusion in the literature sector seems to be widely acknowledged and longer known. Various studies underline this image. For example, the work of female authors is structurally less valued in the literary field (Koolen 2018), Dutch youth books mainly focus on the white perspective (Bossche 2020), (unconscious) (pre)judgments play a role in the publishing industry that work to the disadvantage of authors of color (Koren et al. 2019, Saha et al. 2020) and 'the image of the white, male writer from the Netherlands' dominates reading lists in secondary education (Dera 2019). Even a number of years after these studies, no structural solution seems to have been found for this.

According to discussion partners, awareness of the need to take action on diversity has increased since 2021 increased significantly. One of those actions is to gain more insight into the state of affairs in the field of diversity and inclusion within the humanities. At the beginning of 2022, KVB Boekwerk therefore published an initial exploratory study into where the book trade stands in the field of diversity and inclusion. The results are mainly indicative, but show that diversity and inclusion are considered important by a large proportion of respondents, and that a significant proportion also pay attention to this. At the same time, this attention is often not structural or embedded in an organization. There is also room for improvement: for example, the diversity of the book supply only receives a narrow pass mark, and the book trade is still mainly seen as a white and highly educated stronghold (KVB Boekwerk 2022b).

Diversity research done on diversity. The KB, national library and TU Delft are working together on a study as a possible basis for new recommender technology 'that does more justice to the diversity and polyphony of the library' (Bibliotheeknetwerk zja). Since 2022, the KB, national library and CBS have jointly published a dashboard that gives public libraries more insight into the members and non-members in their area of ​​work. At three quarters of libraries, the diversity of the staff composition is a policy objective (Library Network 2024a). A study by Library Network (Library Network 2026b) shows that in 2024, library staff consisted largely of women (83 percent women within library staff vs. 47 percent in the entire working population), primarily with a higher professional and secondary vocational education background (47 percent higher professional, 38 percent secondary vocational, 10 percent university) and aging (47 percent are over 50 years old, compared to 33 percent in the entire working population). Earlier in June 2022, a study was published showing that while diversity and inclusion in school library collections are considered important, in practice... various reasons (Bruijn et al. 2022).

Many organizations in the chain have expressed ambitions to contribute to a more inclusive literary sector, or have already taken steps to that end. In 2022, the Auteursbond signed the Code of Diversity and Inclusion and the manifesto. Diversity is a fact, inclusion is an act published to provide guidance on how they can apply the code (Auteursbond 2023a). The Reading Guide for diversity and inclusion in youth literature helps educators and youth to use books for conversations about this (Stichting Lezen 2024b). And we see developments such as the obligation arising from European legislation (European Accessibility Act, since June 28, 2025) that Dutch publishers must make their e-books accessible to people with reading disabilities (for example, those who are visually impaired or blind). In the Netherlands, a special knowledge base has been established for this, Inclusive Publishing.

KVB Boekwerk already inventoried 31 initiatives for diversity in the book industry in 2022 (KVB Boekwerk 2022c). In 2026, KVB Boekwerk will publish a new study on innovation with a focus on diversity in the book industry. Recent developments show progress: the Dutch Literature Fund registered more debut authors with diverse backgrounds in 2024-2025 (Jaeger 2025); for instance, in 2024-2025, more debut authors with diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds received a project grant for their second book. There is also increasing attention for multilingualism in books and education, particularly for the home languages ​​of Dutch children who do not speak Dutch or not only Dutch at home, such as Arabic, Turkish, Polish, or Chinese, as Stichting Lezen emphasizes in publications expats must register with the local municipality and obtain a symposium in 2025 that was dedicated to this.

For a diverse and inclusive selection of (children's) books, bookbuyers can, for example, visit a bookstore. EduCulture. This more diverse range of books comes from publishers such as Rose Stories, Wilde Haren Publishers of Pluim Publishers in collaboration with the podcast Dipping Sauce. Organizations like Alphabet Street ('guild for Black (visual)linguists'), Poetry Circle ('the national platform for writing performers and performing writers') and El Hizjra ('literary bridge builder between the Netherlands and the Arabic-speaking world') are also committed to a diverse group of authors, and connect them with each other or with the public. Writers collective Fix this was founded to raise awareness about gender inequality.

Artistic freedom

On September 20, 2025, the Readers' March place, organized by the ILFU literature festival as a response to censorship and broader developments in which free speech is increasingly under pressure (ILFU n.d.). The march was also the beginning of The Week of the Forbidden Book, which is inspired by the American Banned Books Week and that is organized by the Dutch library system to celebrate free speech, as well as the 'democratic values ​​underlying the public library' (Goosen 2025). These initiatives are a response to a globally rising trend in censorship. With the return of Donald Trump to the White House and the further radicalization of the Republican Party, we see the movement driven by parents and conservative school board members, which has been part of the Culture Wars between Republicans and Democrats since the 1960s, flaring up again. For instance, there are now hundreds of local ban initiatives for books on topics such as racism, gender, and climate change (Werf 2025).
 
In the Netherlands, we saw similar developments; for instance, Pim Lammers withdrew as the author of the Children's Book Week poem in 2023 after a campaign and even threats against the writer were launched from various quarters (including the radical right-wing website reactionair.nl and the activist group Gezin in Gevaar) (Jaeger 2023). However, this is not an isolated incident; research from Ipsos (Bruijn et al. 2024) showed that one in seven authors experienced a form of aggression or intimidation in that year, particularly via online channels. In June 2024, a special reporting point was established for this, WritersSafe However, the aforementioned Ipsos study shows that the vast majority of surveyed authors are not familiar with this initiative (Bruijn et al. 2024).

Innovation within and outside the book

Innovation is taking place in all sorts of ways around the paper book. For example, innovation is taking place with new ways to let books and readers find each other. In 2020, in the context of the so-called 'Delta Plan for the book trade', consideration was given to greater efficiency and cost savings in the chain. This resulted in six innovation projects and a research project, some of which have now been completed (KVB Boekwerk 2021a, 2022a).

Work is also being done to make book production and distribution more sustainable. For one-fifth of book buyers, sustainability plays a role in the choice of book type (KVB Boekwerk 2023d). In the same study, we see that the role of sustainability is hardly a factor in the choice of a book: only 2 percent of consumers take sustainability into account when choosing a book. Currently, efforts to improve sustainability are mainly being made on a small scale. The sector must work towards collective solutions to be future-proof, in which publishers and printers play an important role (KVB Boekwerk 2024f). Publishers are optimizing print runs and seeking sustainable printing methods (Klein Lankforst 2019, Dessing 2022a, GAU nj), and distributors are making progress in the areas of packaging materials and transport (see, for example, Bol.com nj, CB nj). More and more bookstores are also taking sustainable steps (Dessing 2022b). Libris p. asks publishers, for example, starting from the summer offer in 2024, to upload their catalogues so that bookstores can handle the entire order digitally (Dessing 2024a).

A form of innovation that originated not from the book industry, but from readers, is BookTok. This is a community within the social media platform TikTok, where users create videos about books they have read and share reading recommendations. BookTok is particularly popular among young people; 42 percent of young people get book recommendations from social media, and a quarter of them say they read books they have seen on TikTok. English-language books are especially popular in this regard, with a third of 16-25-year-olds preferring to read in English (KVB Boekwerk 2023c). The popularity of BookTok is unprecedented and encourages the sector to capitalize on this, for example through more English-language publications, via special BookTok tables in bookstores ('Known from BookTok'), or the BookTok Top 10. Libraries are also engaging with this; for instance, NBD Biblion (the book supplier for many libraries) provides monthly updates on current trends via #BookTok in newsletters for collection managers.

Innovation is also taking place outside the traditional book, for example in the field of digital reading and digital literature. A large part of the entries on the longlist for the innovation prize Renew the Book 2024 related to digital reading. In addition, CPNB and KB collaborate to promote digital reading (KB 2025c). Other examples include research into the possibilities of making digital literature part of library collections, the interactive and digital Reading and Writing Annual Line by De Schoolschrijver, or the collaboration between the Youth Book Week and Readification to get more young people reading through stories and book recommendations in games (Library Network zjb, Stichting Lezen 2024a).

Finally, alongside digital literature, spoken literature is also on the rise. The emergence of podcasts and audiobooks is not a recent development, but their rapidly increasing popularity is. For instance, over 2,6 million audiobooks were borrowed via the national digital library in 2024, compared to 171 in 2015 (CBS 2025b), and in 2023, no less than 51 percent of Dutch people listened to a podcast at least occasionally, whereas in 2019 this figure was 28 percent (Petit et al. 2024). Another form of spoken literature is the work of spoken word artists and performance artists. Although performance art is certainly not new either, it is a form that is attracting increasing attention. Since 2018, for example, these creators have been able to join De Schrijverscentrale, and from 2021 onwards, they can apply for structural funding from the Nederlands Letterenfonds for the first time. Additionally, in 2022, the fund opened a new subsidy scheme for 'creators outside the book'. This pilot scheme will be evaluated from the end of 2024 (Dutch Literature Fund, n.d.).

Numbers

More figures about the domain of Letters can be found in the Dashboard of the Culture Monitor. You have the possibility to search nationally and regionally.

CBS (2025a) 'Public libraries'. On: www.cbs.nl, September 11nd.

CBS (2025b)'National digital public library, 2015-2024'. On: www.cbs.nl, September 11nd.

The Writers' Center (2025) Annual Report 2024. On: www.deschrijvenscentrale.nl.

KB (2025a)Library Statistics Dashboard. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, September 11nd.

KB (2026a)Library locations and facilities'. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, 12 January.

KVB Boekwerk (2023f) 'Authors' income 2022'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 14.

KVB Boekwerk (2025a) 'Makers Monitor 2023'. Onwww.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 15.

KVB Boekwerk (2025d) 'Dashboard top titles 2024. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 12th of June.

KVB Boekwerk (2026a) 'Sales figures 2025'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 22 January.

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Authors Association (2023b) 'The rapid rise of ChatGPT'. On: www.auteursbond, 7th of June.

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Berg, N. van den et al. (2022) Regional culture monitor: 2022 edition. Amsterdam: Atlas Research and Boekman Foundation.

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Curriculum.nu (2019) Building together the primary and secondary education of tomorrow. Sl: Curriculum.nu.

The School Writer (zj) 'Our story'. On: www.deschoolschrijven.nl.

The Writers' Center (zj) 'About us'. On: www.deschrijverscentrale.nl.

The Writers' Center (2024) '2023 annual report'. On: www.deschrijvenscentrale.nl.

The Writers' Center (2025) Annual Report 2024. On: www.deschrijvenscentrale.nl.

Dera, J. (2019) The practice of the reading list: a study into the content and appreciation of reading lists for the school subject Dutch at HAVO and VWO. Amsterdam: Reading Foundation.

Dessing, M. (2022a) 'Sustainability at publishing houses: “It does not always make sense to set strict requirements”'. On: www.boekblad.nl, 29th of June.

Dessing, M. (2022b) 'Sustainability is on the agenda of more and more bookstores'. On: www.boekblad.nl, 30th of June.

Dessing, M. (2024a) 'Libris Page asks publishers to upload catalogs'. On: www.boekblad.nl, 16 January.

Dessing, M. (2024b) 'Seminar 2024: AI – Possibilities and opportunities. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 25 January.  

Dessing, M. (2025) 'Number of bookstores with CB connection increased. On: www.boekblad.nl, 14th of April.

European Parliament and Council of the European Union (2019) Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC. Brussels: European Parliament and Council of the European Union.

FEP (2023) European Book Market Statistics 2022-2023. Brussels: Federation of European Publishers.

FEP (2024) European Book Market Statistics 2023-2024. Brussels: Federation of European Publishers.

GAU (zj) 'Sustainability'. On: www.algemene-uitgevers.nl.

Goosen, N. (2025)Call: Participate in the Week of the Forbidden Book (September 20 to 28)'. On: www.bibliotheekblad.nl, 22th of July.

Hoog, T. and B. Swartjes (2026)Cultural Participation in Figures: report on the Leisure Omnibus (VTO) 2024'. Amsterdam: Boekman Foundation.

ILFU (n.d.)This was the Readers' March!'. On: www.lezersmars.ilfu.com.

Ipsos I&O (2024) Aggression and intimidation towards authors. Amsterdam: Ipsos I&O.

Jaeger, T. (2023) A children's book author in the Netherlands threatened with death. How is that possible?'. On: www.nrc.nl, February 6.

Jong, L. de (2022) 'From now on, libraries will choose books based on computer reviews'. On: www.volkskrant.nl, 11 March.

Chamber of Commerce (2024) Many more online bookstores, no increase in sales. On: www.kvk.nl, August 20, 2024.

KB (2024a) Library Statistics File 2023. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, September 12nd.

KB (2024b) 'Diversity in the library'. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, October 8.

KB (2024c) 'Activities and events in the library'. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, October 9.

KB (2024d) 'Library locations and facilities'. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, October 9.

KB (2025a)Library Statistics Dashboard. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, September 11nd.

KB (2025b) 'Public libraries in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: research article. The Hague: Royal Library.

KB (2025c) 'KB and CPNB sign cooperation agreement to promote digital reading. On: www.kb.nl, 18 March.

KB (2026a)Library locations and facilities'. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, 12 January.

KB (2026b) 'Library visits'. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, 16 March.

KB (2026c) 'Public library loans. On: www.bibliotheeknetwerk.nl, 19 March.

Klaren, M. and B. Schrijen (2025)Library Statistics 2024. The Hague: KB.

Kleijn, A. de (2025)Reading motivation and personal growth in literature educationGroningen: University of Groningen.

Klein Lankforst, M. (2019) 'From forest to bookcase: this is how we make De Correspondent's books sustainable'. On: www.decorrespondent.nl, May 20.

Koolen, CW (2018) Reading beyond the female: the relationship between perception of author gender and literary quality. Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam (dissertation).

Koren, T. and C. Delhaye (2019) 'Depoliticizing literature, politicking diversity: ethno-racial boundaries in Dutch literary professionals' aesthetic repertoires'. In: Identities, jrg. 26, no. 2, 184-202.

KVB Boekwerk (2021a) 'Working method and decision-making Delta plan'. At: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 1th of July.

KVB Boekwerk (2022a) 'Completion of the Delta Plan Program'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, February 17.

KVB Boekwerk (2022b) Diversity and inclusion in the book market: an exploratory study. Amsterdam: KVB Boekwerk.

KVB Boekwerk (2022c) Inclusion(f) on your own initiative. Amsterdam: KVB Boekwerk.

KVB Boekwerk (2022d) 'How reading behavior has changed due to corona'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 2th of June.

KVB Boekwerk (2022e) 'Reading frequency stable since corona'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 1th of July.

KVB Boekwerk (2023a) 'Sales figures 2022'. On www.kvbboekwerk.nl, February 23.

KVB Boekwerk (2023b) 'More Dutch people read after the corona period than before'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 23 March.

KVB Boekwerk (2023c) 'In the reading world of young people'. On www.kvbboekwerk.nl, September 12nd.

KVB Boekwerk (2023d) 'Customer journey 2023: the role of TikTok and sustainability'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 1.

KVB Boekwerk (2023e) 'Makers Monitor 2022'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 14.

KVB Boekwerk (2023f) 'Authors' income 2022'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 14.

KVB Boekwerk (2024a) 'Seminar 2024: AI capabilities and opportunities'. On www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 25 January.

KVB Boekwerk (2024b) 'Sales figures 2023'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 7 March.

KVB Boekwerk (2024c) Who is the reader: 2023. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 14 March.

KVB Boekwerk (2024d) 'Majority of book buyers have low or medium education'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 17th of June.

KVB Boekwerk (2024e) 'Publisher Monitor 2023'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, October 12.

KVB Boekwerk (2024f) ''Collective approach needed for a more sustainable book sector'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 18.

KVB Boekwerk (2025a) 'Makers Monitor 2023'. Onwww.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 15.

KVB Boekwerk (2025b) 'Publishers Monitor 2024. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, October 2.

KVB Boekwerk (2025c) 'Long-term trends in reading, buying, and borrowing behavior. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 23th of June.

KVB Boekwerk (2025d) 'Dashboard top titles 2024. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 12th of June.

KVB Boekwerk (2025e) 'Minimum royalties a reality for most translators'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, September 25nd.

KVB Boekwerk (2025f) 'Bookstore distinguishes itself by its assortment'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 10th of April.

KVB Boekwerk (2026a) 'Sales figures 2025'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 22 January.

KVB Boekwerk (2026b) 'Distinguish buyers and borrowers into eight personas. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 26 January.

KVB Boekwerk (2026c) 'Market sales decline after peak year 2024. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, 22 January.

Reading Monitor (2021) 'BoekStart stimulates language development'. On: www.lezen.nl, October 28.

KVB Boekwerk (2024f) ''Collective approach needed for a more sustainable book sector'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, December 18.

KVB Boekwerk (2025) 'Sales figures 2024'. On: www.kvbboekwerk.nl, February 26. 

Reading Monitor (2023a) 'Primary schools mainly make time for free reading and reading aloud'. On: www.lezen.nl, May 16.

Reading Monitor (2023b) 'Writers tour reaches almost 8.000 young people'. On: www.lezen.nl, September 27nd.

Reading Monitor (2023c) 'Reading less popular than other media activities'. On: www.lezen.nl, October 9.

Reading monitor (2023d) 'Gap between strong and weak readers is growing'. On www.lezen.nl, December 6.

Reading Monitor (2024a) 'Number of participating schools The National Reading Competition continues to grow'. On: www.lezen.nl, February 2.

Reading Monitor (2024b) 'More than 30.000 first-graders participate in the Read2Me reading competition!'. On: www.lezen.nl, February 13.

Reading Monitor (2024c) 'More than 130.000 students receive the junior edition of Nederland Leest'. On: www.lezen.nl, February 13.

Reading monitor (2024d) 'Reading pleasure declines with age'. On: www.lezen.nl, 9th of April.

Reading monitor (2024e) 'BoekStart reaches four in ten young parents'. On: www.lezen.nl, May 3.

Reading Monitor (2024f) 'The library at school is becoming increasingly popular'. On: www.lezen.nl, May 3.

Reading monitor (2024g) 'Young Adult Literature is often included on the reading list'. On: www.lezen.nl, May 3.

Reading monitor (2024h) 'Parents mainly read to children when they are young'. On: www.lezen.nl, November 27.

Liebreks, S. (2025) The position of literary translators (1): translation practice. Amsterdam: Boekman Foundation.

Lira (2024) 2023 annual report. Hoofddorp: Lira Foundation.

Meelissen, M. et al. (2023) PISA 2022 results at a glance. Enschede: University of Twente.

Michel, T. (2026).Writers' Union angry about streaming service rates: '8,5 cents per book listened to''. On: www.nos.nl, February 16.

Moraal, A. (2026)The audiobook is on the rise, but is that really good for the reader? And for the writer?'. On: www.nrc.nl, February 25.

Nagelhout, E., Richards, C. and L. Qing (2024) Read, read and buy books. Regular measurement 2024 (measurement 67). Bilthoven: Book Trade Market Research Foundation.

Dutch Literature Fund (nj) 'Makers outside the book'. On: wwww.letterenfonds.nl.

Dutch Foundation for Literature (2024a) 2023 annual report. Amsterdam: Dutch Foundation for Literature.

Dutch Foundation for Literature (2024b) Closure of language studies threatens the quality and diversity of literature in the Netherlands. On: www.letterenfonds.nl, November 6.

Dutch Literature Fund (2025)2024 annual report'. Amsterdam: Netherlands Literature Fund.

NVPI (2022)'Copyright Directive'. On: www.nvpi.nl, 28th of April.

Petit, M. and M. Merk (2024) Podcastmonitor, 11th edition. Eindhoven/Amsterdam: Market Effect Research Agency.

Rek, by W. and S. Frijters (2026)The 'Spotifyification' of the book is making good money. But by whom, exactly??'. On wwww.volkskrant.nl, 16 March. 

Rossum, van V. and M. Nadorp (2025) 'Attention to reading in secondary education: a 
               research among school leaders and Dutch teachers in VMBO, HAVO and VWO'. Amsterdam:
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Saha, A. and S. van Lente (2020) Rethinking 'diversity' in publishing. London: Goldsmiths, University of London.

Cities, by, R. and D. Oldenhof (2025)Windows on connection: the societal significance of public librariesThe Hague: Socires. 

Reading Foundation (2021) 'Appropriate school library lending system necessary'. On: www.lezen.nl, 1th of July.

Stichting Lezen (2022a) 'Library free for everyone under 18'. On: www.lezen.nl, February 24.

Stichting Lezen (2022b) 'Strong boost to promoting reading through the Basic Skills Master Plan'. On: www.lezen.nl, September 27nd.

Reading Foundation (2023) 'Launch of LeesEvolution research'. On: www.lezen.nl, December 15.

Stichting Lezen (2024a) 'Most young people do not finish game stories, but appreciation is positive'. On: www.lezen.nl, 12 January.

Stichting Lezen (2024b) ''Reading guide for diversity and inclusion in children's literature'. On: www.lezen.,nl, May 22.

Struijke, S. (2025) 'The impact of generative AI on work and income in the cultural and creative sector'. Amsterdam: Boekman Foundation.

Teunis, B. (2024) 'Updating core objectives and examination programs'. On: www.slo.nl, November 28.

Uslu, G. (2022a) Culture outline letter 2022: recovery, renewal and growth. The Hague: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Uslu, G. (2022b) The power of creativity: culture at the heart of society. The Hague: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Uslu, G. (2022c) A subscription to the whole world: strengthening the public library system. The Hague: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Uslu, G. (2023) Letter to Parliament on the state of affairs of strengthening the public library system. The Hague: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

VOB, SPN and KB (2021) Public library facilities network agenda 2021-2023Utrecht, Assen and The Hague: Association of Public Libraries, Foundation of Collaborative POI's Netherlands and KB, National Library.

PDB (2022)'Lending right fee for dBos loans'. On: www.debibliotheek.nl, 19th of July.

VOB (2023) Network agenda: harvesting and safeguardingThe Hague: Association of Public Libraries.

PDB (2025)'Budget Day 2025: consequences for library organizations. On: www.debibliotheek.nl, September 17nd.

PDB (2026)'Libraries shift towards education in the Jetten Cabinet. On: www.debibliotheek.nl, February 4.

Werf, M. van der (2025)Analysis: A wave of book bans in the US. How Trump's censorship policy is following in the footsteps of the Soviet Union. On: www.boekenkrant.com, September 16nd.

Wiersma, D. (2022) Basic skills master plan. The Hague: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.