Biography
Babs Gons (1971) is a writer, poet, performer, host, and former Poet Laureate of the Netherlands. For more than two decades, she has been a leading voice in Dutch literature. She is renowned for her humanity, social commitment, and clear language, as well as for her dedication to providing a platform for others. As a creator, curator, and initiator, she played a decisive role in the development of spoken word poetry in the Netherlands.
Gons possesses an unparalleled ability to connect people. In her poetry, performances, and shows, she focuses on what unites people, without shying away from differences. Her voice is often described as warm, thoughtful, and inviting, but it can also be fierce, witty, and outspoken. She gives voice to feelings and experiences that aren’t always easy to put into words and creates space for different perspectives.
Long before her name became known to a broad literary audience, Gons was already a central figure in the Dutch spoken word-scene. She tirelessly built stages, networks, and communities and organized the monthly Palabras event at Paradiso for nearly a decade. She was also one of the founders of Poetry Circle, which grew into a major hub for spoken word in the Netherlands. In doing so, she paved the way for a new generation of poets and performers.
Her pioneering work was recognized in 2018 with a Black Achievement Award for Art and Culture. In 2019, she compiled Hardop, an anthology featuring work by eighteen spoken word poets. Two years later, her official poetry debut, Doe het toch maar, was published and nominated for several awards. In 2021, Gons wrote the Book Week poem and received a Poëziester. A year later, her first children’s book, Het begint met een droom, was published, and she received De Johnny, a lifetime achievement award for Dutch-language performance poetry. In 2024, she received the Gouden Ganzenveer. In 2026, her collection Wie zijn we morgen was published.
From 2023 to 2025, Gons served as Poet Laureate of the Netherlands. In that role, she worked to make poetry accessible to a broad audience and brought poetry to unexpected places. She also performs outside the Netherlands and uses her voice to advocate for social issues and human rights.
In addition to her work as a poet, Gons is active as a host and organizer. Since 2017, she has been the driving force behind Babs’ Woordsalon, a literary-musical revue where poets, writers, thinkers, comedians, and musicians come together.
Gons also writes essays, stories, and columns. Bringing people together is central to everything she does. She has not only built an impressive body of work of her own but has also made a lasting contribution to the development of spoken word and Dutch performance poetry.
Babs Gons is a member of the Academy of Arts and lives and works in Amsterdam.
Remembrance Day 2026, Plein 40-45 Amsterdam.
Photo: Sanne Couprie
Babs’ Woordsalon with Pink Oculus, Museum Night Statenpassage Tweede Kamer in The Hague 2017.
Photo: Jorn Baas
Wie zijn we morgen, 2026, Atlas Contact
Babs Gons, host of Babs’ Woordsalon. Photo: Jean van Lingen
Presentation of the book petition to the House of Representatives, Perscentrum Nieuwspoort, 2025.
Photo: Bas van Hattum
Alles wat je liefhebt wordt mooi, 2022, Atlas Contact
Babs Gons with Onias Landveld and Gery Mende, ode to Keti Koti at Theater Oostblok, Amsterdam 2017. Photo: courtesy of Babs Gons
Grachtenfestival Dichter bij de Bar 2018.
Photo: Melle Meivogel
Documentary Precies goed, 2025, directed by Bibi Fadlalla, broadcaster NTR, co-produced by Tangerine Tree
Poetry Meets Symphony, Noord-Nederlands Orkest at De Oosterpoort Groningen 2024.
Photo: Mariska de Groot
Babs’ Woordsalon, Museum Night, Statenpassage Tweede Kamer in The Hague 2017.
Photo: Jorn Baas
Tropenmuseum Spoken 2014. Photo: De Fotomeisjes
Doe het toch maar, 2021, Atlas Contact
Opening Night of Poetry International 2024 at LantarenVenster Rotterdam.
Photo: Rosa Quist
Hardop, Spoken word in Nederland, 2019, Atlas Contact
Babs Gons, winner Johannes Vermeer Award 2026.
Photo: Dana van Leeuwen
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Oeuvrelijst Babs Gons
PUBLICATIONS
Wie zijn we morgen, 2026 (Atlas Contact)
Alles wat je liefhebt wordt mooi, 2022 (Atlas Contact)
Ik draag mijn tong in mijn borst, 2022 (VU Press)
Het begint met een droom, 2022 (Gottmer)
Doe het toch maar, 2021 (Atlas Contact)
Hardop: Spoken word in Nederland, 2019 (Atlas Contact)
International performances
Versi, Ptuj, Slovenia, 2026
Cave Canem Awards, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Haus für Poesie – Vocations, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Pa Gya!-festival, Accra, Ghana, 2025
International Poetry Festival Stockholm, Sweden, 2025
Premio Strega, Rome, Italy, 2025
Festival Poetas, Madrid, Spain, 2024
Spoken Word Festival Bonaire, 2024
Festival Internacional de Poesía de Medellín, Colombia, 2024
Studiedag van de Hongaarse Neerlandistiek, Budapest, Hungary2021
Tuin van Digters, Wellington, South-Africa, 2021
Poetry & Beyond, Paramaribo, Suriname, 2020
Festival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2019
Wintertuin Curaçao, 2019
Flup Festival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2018
Open Book Festival, Cape Town, South-Africa, 2018
Karmakol International Festival, Karmakol, Sudan, 2017
Contacting the World, Johannesburg, South-Africa, 2015
Selected performances
Poëzie in Carré
1000 Dichters-tour
Februaristaking
Herdenking Slavernijverleden
Wereldmuseum
Noord Nederlands Orkest
Oerol
Tilt
Poetry International
Dichters in de Prinsentuin
Winternachten
Wintertuin
Frontaal
Zuid-Afrika Huis
Read My World
Literatuurmuseum
Koninklijke Bibliotheek
Lowlands
School der Poëzie
Poëzieboys
Theater Rotterdam
Lectures
Jacoba van Tongerenlezing, 2026
Anna Maria van Schurmanlezing, 2025
Lezing spoken word op Springlevend, 2025
Uit de kunst!-lezing – Akademie van Kunsten, 2022
Abraham Kuyperlezing VU, 2021
Lezing Dag van Taal, Kunsten en Cultuur, 2024
Awards and nominations
Gouden Ganzenveer, 2024
De Johnny, 2022
Poëziester, 2021
Black Achievement Award voor Kunst en Cultuur, 2018
Internationale Spoken Word-wedstrijd Slam-o-Vision, 2019
Nominatie Poëziedebuutprijs, 2022
Nominatie Herman de Coninckprijs, 2021
Nominatie De Johnny, 2021
Nominatie Gieskes-Strijbis Podiumprijs, 2020
Juries
ILFU-schrijfwedstrijd, 2022
Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren, 2021
Martin Luther King Spoken Word-wedstrijd, 2019 & 2021
Film by the Sea, 2020
Editio Debutantenschrijfwedstrijd, 2020
Annie M.G. Schmidtprijs, 2020
Nieuwe Stukken, 2019 (Fonds voor Podiumkunsten)
De Grote Poëzieprijs, 2019
J.M.A. Biesheuvelprijs, 2017 & 2018
Columns
Columnist Flow Magazine, 2026-heden
Columnist Awater, 2023-2025
Columnist NPO nieuwsbrief Cultuur, 2022
Columnist Het Parool, 2019-2022
Gastcolumnist blad Auteursbond, 2022
Gastcolumnist Poëziecircus online, 2018
Gastcolumnist Het Parool, 2018
Contributions to various publications
Ik sta in wilde schoonheid, 2025 (Lebowski)
Goedenacht vrienden, 2025 (Uitgeverij Brandt)
Mothering Myths: An ABC of Art, Birth and Care, 2025 (Uitgeverij Valiz)
Stip op de horizon, 2025 (Uitgeverij Xsaga/De Bezige Bij)
Over ziek zijn, 2024 (Uitgeverij HetMoet)
Het beest in ons, 2022 (Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam)
Pennen over penselen: 200 schilderijen, schrijvers, Mauritshuis, 2022 (Uitgeverij Waanders)
Bloei, kortverhaal, 2021 (Storytel)
Ik lees thuis, 2020 (CPNB)
Afrolit: Moderne literatuur uit de Afrikaanse diaspora, 2020 (Uitgeverij Pluim)
Kus of ik zoen, 2020 (Rainbow Pockets)
Selected presenting/hosting
Babs’ Woordsalon, host en maker, 2017-heden
Host uitreiking P.C. Hooftprijs, 2021
Host Kindernacht van de Poëzie, 2017/2018/2019
Host NK Poetry Slam, 2018/2019
Host Mapping Slavery – YouTube-serie Sporen van Slavernij, 2018
Other
Lid Akademie van Kunsten sinds 2022
Redactie Nacht van de Poëzie sinds 2023
Adviesraad Letteren Raad van Cultuur, 2018
Redactielid Revisor, 2018
Vast panellid Leesclub Le Monde, 2018-2020 (Paradiso-SLAA)
Bestuurslid Nowhere
Bestuurslid Zus & Zo
Bestuurslid NIA