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Amarte collaborates annually with the Grachtenfestival to provide a platform for young musicians to showcase their talent. With the Grachtenfestival X Amarte: Roots outside of Europe open call, we aim to present a wide range of musical styles from around the world. Additionally, a second open call is launched each year to give recently graduated musicians the opportunity to perform together in a temporary formation with the newly established Grachtenfestival Ensemble.We are proud to announce the selected musicians:HarmonEast EnsembleAugust 8, 14:00Felix MeritisIn the program Echoes of the Court, the HarmonEast Ensemble blends the refined sounds of Ottoman court music with the elegance of European Baroque. With a unique lineup of ney, piano, cello, viola, and percussion, the ensemble explores how music has moved between cultures over the centuries.Works by Henry Purcell, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Dede Efendi, Callisto Guatelli, and Şerif Muhittin Targan reveal the surprising connections between European and Ottoman court cultures. The warm, meditative sound of the ney and the expressive possibilities of the piano create a remarkable combination.Julia Tavit (piano)Sukru Kirtis (ney – Turkish reed flute)Wilker Paredes (viola)Beste Yildiz (cello)Veysel Dzhesur (percussion)Click here to read more.Keroncong AnemoiaAugust 8, 16:00Felix MeritisIn this special recital, soprano Madeline Saputra and pianist/violist Apollon Kalamenios poetically merge Indonesian keroncong with Western art songs. Inspired by the letters of Kartini, they create a moving musical journey filled with memory, struggle, and hope.Classical composers such as Berg, Copland, and Saariaho alternate with Indonesian masters like Poniman, Marzuki, and Martohartono. A layered and innovative recital that connects cultures and eras.Madeline Saputra (soprano)Apollon Kalamenios (piano)Click here to read more.Ali Yarıcı & Linda LukasAugust 9, 14:00Stedelijk MuseumThe Stedelijk Museum sets the stage for a special concert by Ali Yarıcı and Linda Lukas. Drawing inspiration from giants like Béla Bartók, Arvo Pärt, and Olivier Messiaen, they present original compositions, improvisations, and influences from Estonian and Turkish folk music—perfectly fitting the museum’s rich cultural context.Ali Yarıcı (guitar)Linda Lukas (violin)Click here to read more.AuMEnsembleAugust 9, 16:00Stedelijk MuseumWith AuMEnsemble, embark on a musical journey through the spiritual and musical traditions of the Middle East, shaped by contemporary sonic experiments. The program explores repertoire inspired by Sufi and klezmer music, creating a dialogue between the Middle East and the West.The concert features original arrangements by the trio, based on music by composers such as Kinan Azmeh, Fazıl Say, Stephen Goss, and George Gurdjieff, reimagined for a chamber ensemble and electronics. Within the walls of the Stedelijk Museum, hypnotic rhythms and refined timbres transport the listener through a soundscape suspended between tradition and innovation.Alberto Radossi (percussion)Danielle Bolletta (saxophone)Marco Tencati Corino (guitar)Click here to read more.The Grachtenfestival Ensemble (made possible in part by Amarte)August 12, 20:00Pantar, De TuinderijThe newly formed Grachtenfestival Ensemble performs a program surrounded by the carnivorous plants of De Tuinderij. This specially assembled ensemble, created for the festival, takes the audience on a journey through music from different periods of history, interspersed with stories of growth and flourishing in the city.The Grachtenfestival Ensemble was formed through the Grachtenfestival X Amarte: Grachtenfestival Ensembleopen call. Young musicians were selected to come together this summer to form an ensemble. The lineup includes clarinet, trombone, accordion, percussion, violin, cello, and double bass. During the festival, the musicians collaborated on new repertoire and unique concert formats in unexpected locations.Livia Stefani (violin)Emma Warmelink (cello)Roberto Sanhermelando Blanes (double bass)Miguel Ramos (clarinet)Maarten Combrink (trombone)Helena Sousa Estévez (accordion)João Sequeira (percussion)Click here to read more.

During a private dinner in Amsterdam, the Amarte Literature Prize was awarded to Jolanda Kooijmans for her poetry collection Addertje. In attendance were board members and the Amarte team, the shortlisted and longlisted authors, representatives from de lage landen and deBuren, as well as press and other guests.The evening took place at Club RAUM and began with a performance by artist Daniel Simu, who previously received support from Amarte to develop a performance exploring technology and circus.The jury, consisting of Fiep van Bodegom, Maxim Februari, Lars Meijer, Bibi Dumon Tak, and Wytske Versteeg (chair), unanimously selected Addertje as the winner of the Amarte Literature Prize 2026. Jolanda received a cash prize of €15,000 and a unique trophy designed by artist Mickey Yang and presented by Julien Ignacio, winner of the previous edition.Click here to view the photos from the ceremony.Photos by Joke Schot.

Recently, the Amarte Fund awarded the Amarte Literature Prize 2026 to Jolanda Kooijmans for her novel Addertje. In addition to a cash prize of €15,000 to support her further literary development, Kooijmans received a unique trophy custom-designed for this edition by visual artist Mickey Yang. Editor and writer Steffie Van Neste also wrote a literary essay about the winning book specifically for the prize.To write this essay, Steffie was selected by Amarte in collaboration with de lage landen, the prestigious cultural magazine that provides context and interpretation for literature, art, language, and history from Flanders and the Netherlands. She was chosen as one of the promising young literary critics who have previously participated in the writing residency at deBuren, the leading Flemish-Dutch house for culture and debate, which is committed to developing Dutch and Flemish writing talent. She will receive feedback on her writing from de lage landen, where the essay is available both online and in print.Steffie studied language and literature and earned her doctorate in 19th-century French literature from Ghent University in 2022. She teaches French and cannot stop talking about books: she serves as an editor at De Reactor, leads a reading group at Bibliotheek De Krook, and regularly writes and speaks about literature. In 2017, she was selected for the Paris writing residency at deBuren, and in 2018 for Eenzame Avonturen, a talent development program for literary non-fiction by De Gids and deBuren. With Therapy with Bovary (Borgerhoff & Lamberigts, 2025), she made her debut as an author.Curious about the essay? You can read it now on the de lage landen website via the link below:https://www.de-lage-landen.com/article/amarteliteratuurprijs2026/

We proudly look back on an incredible edition of Amarte Wonderland!Since 2019, the Amarte Fonds has helped foster a thriving network of creators who, with their unique visions and projects, enrich the cultural landscape of the Netherlands. During the third edition of Amarte Wonderland at Club RAUM in Amsterdam, this diversity came together in an evening filled with discovery and inspiration. Visitors gained insight into the wide range of supported projects, from visual arts and theater to music, literature, and interdisciplinary presentations.A heartfelt thank you to Club RAUM for their hospitality, to all visitors for attending, and especially to the makers who made this edition possible with their dedication and creativity:Roger Anis, Gökay Atabek, Alix Bortoli, Kirsty Baker, Lester David, Tindra Eliason, Thana Faroq, Louka Hoogendijk, Illnoledge, Pedro Kastelijns & QBAE, Saghar Khadem, Jojo Knowles, Rebecca Lillich Krüger, Bent Lochtenberg, Diane Mahin, Ahmad Mallah, Heleen Mineur, Ghazale Moqanaki, Chris Nelck, Levi Overvest, Rita Osipova, Eva van Ooijen, Amos Peled, Dal Park, Minem Sezgin de Boer, Igor Schiller, Marilyn Sonneveld, Maurik Stomps, Werner van der Zwan, Jakob van Klinken, and Tessel de Zwart.Click on the link below to view the photos of Amarte Wonderland. Photography by Joke Schot.https://flic.kr/ps/47NWcuWe look forward to seeing you again for the fourth edition of Amarte Wonderland. Until then!

During a celebratory ceremony in Amsterdam, the jury, comprising Fiep van Bodegom, Maxim Februari, Lars Meijer, Bibi Dumon Tak, and Wytske Versteeg (jury chair), unanimously selected a winner from the five nominated titles on the shortlist. Jolanda Kooijmans’ poetry collection Addertje has won the Amarte Literature Prize 2026.The jury on Addertje: "We chose an author who, from the darkness, constructed a universe entirely her own, someone who wove together diverse registers and, in doing so, found a new language for one of the oldest figures in world literature. This literary work is a playful adventure brimming with imagination."You can read the full jury report here (in Dutch).With the Amarte Literature Prize 2026, Jolanda Kooijmans receives €15,000, intended to support her further literary development. The shortlist also included: Kijk es naar al dat licht by Alara Adilow, Korstmos by Rinske Bouwman, Ons gaan allemaal by Benzokarim, and Rouwdouwers by Falun Ellie Koos. Earlier this year, fifteen titles were nominated for the longlist. Books eligible for the Amarte Literature Prize are those realized with support from the Amarte Foundation.As a tangible recognition of her achievement, Jolanda Kooijmans also receives a unique trophy, specially designed for this edition of the Amarte Literature Prize by visual artist Mickey Yang. The trophy was presented by Julien Ignacio, who won the first edition of the prize in 2024 for his novel Goudjakhals.Additionally, editor and writer Steffie Van Neste wrote a special essayistic reflection on the winning book, Addertje, for the prize. Steffie Van Neste was selected for this commission in collaboration with de lage landen, the prestigious cultural magazine that provides context and interpretation for literature, art, language, and history from Flanders and the Netherlands. Steffie is part of a new generation of promising literature critics who participated in the writing residency at deBuren, the leading Flemish-Dutch house for culture and debate. During the writing process, Steffie received feedback from the editorial team of de lage landen, where the essay has been published online and will also appear in print.You can read the essay here.Photo by Joke Schot.