Sample translations in 2026

All year round, translators from Dutch can apply for a grant for a sample translation. With this grant, they buy time to translate an excerpt from a Flemish literary work, and to bring that work to the attention of publishers in their language area. We have selected 8 samples of books we are actively promoting. Discover here why translators chose them.

Isabel Hessel is translating an excerpt from Aline by Heleen Debruyne into German. 

“I don’t know of any female protagonists whose author has allowed them to be so angry. In the past, women in literature who were unable or unwilling to conform to the roles expected of them were killed off. In 2025, this is no longer the case. Feeling sympathy for Aline – let alone identifying with her – isn’t always straightforward, but she certainly has an impact on me. That’s what I’d like to convey. And I’m convinced that a book like this will find its readers in Germany, where, in my view, feminism is a genuine part of the public discourse and is actively debated (and fought for).”

Lisa Mensing is translating an excerpt from 'The Storms' by Maaike Neuville into German. 

“I think the author has succeeded in exploring the subject – what it means to be a woman – on a deeper level. Not only is it a gripping story, but the novel is also very well constructed from a narrative point of view. What’s more, Neuville’s writing is incredibly skilful – the two perspectives have their own style, and both styles are convincing. The characters are very authentic. I’m interested to see how the different styles come into their own in German, too.”

Florian Kranz is translating an excerpt from 'Corpus Britney' by Dominique De Groen into German. 

“'Corpus Britney' represents a blend of ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture, humour and philosophy, irony, sociology and a certain Y2K aesthetic – including in terms of language – and this blend is currently completely absent from German-language literature. In my view, there are few books that dare to blend different styles and registers with such expertise, particularly in German, where ‘high’ literature still maintains a certain conservative distance from this sort of experimentation with a more informal language.”

Noëlle Michel is translating an excerpt from The Dropout by Elvis Peeters  into French. 

“‘The Dropout’ strikes me as an interesting read for French-speaking readers because it tackles themes such as activist burnout, personal crisis and the search for hope – topics that are currently striking a chord in France. At a time when there are heated debates about climate change, political powerlessness and mental health, this book offers a literary and philosophical perspective on questions that preoccupy many: how to deal with hatred, how to find hope in small gestures, and what it means to ‘flee’ in a world that allows no escape. The combination of historical depth, contemporary urgency and literary quality makes this book particularly well-suited to a French readership which appreciates both style and substance.”

You can read an English sample on our website.

Daniel Cunin is translating an excerpt from Groundwork by Tijl Nuyts  into French.

“Tijl Nuyts’s first novel really impressed me, particularly because of the maturity displayed by this young writer and the originality of both the narrative style and the story itself – in which a repulsive animal (a naked mole-rat) acts as the narrator. The ecological, political and social themes (immigration, climate change, the colonial past, activism, the West’s technical and technological supremacy and its loss…) that the author addresses are treated with nuance and the necessary detachment, and all this with a generous helping of humour.”

You can read English and German samples on our website.

Emmanuelle Tardif is translating an excerpt from Brittlebrave by Sabien Clement  into French.

“Burnout is a highly topical issue in France and French-speaking countries. As far as I know, only a few comic books on this subject have been published in French, and they often take a medical, psychological or sociological approach. In any case, there has never been one in such a personal form, where every drawing is a work of art and the text sometimes borders on poetry. The scheme for translating excerpts is giving me the chance to try my hand at translating a graphic novel for a change. It’s a genre I’ve never broached before.”

Orsolya Varga is translating an excerpt from Gen X has left the chat by Annelies Verbeke into Hungarian.  

“This text is very contemporary and linguistically complex. As a reader, I am particularly struck by how Verbeke manages to discuss difficult social issues in an accessible and often humorous way. The dialogue is lively, believable and relatable, which makes the characters come across as authentic. Furthermore, the author avoids simplistic judgements: no single character is entirely right or wrong, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the text.”

You can read an English sample on our website.

Stana Anzelj is translating an excerpt from The Animals Within by Lieselot Mariën into Slovenian. 

“One of the thoughts that kept coming back to me while reading was that, as the author of such a personal book, you can feel very vulnerable towards your readers, even though the book is not strictly autobiographical. A translation could convey this intimate theme without external pressure, both to Slovenian writers and to Slovenian readers. The theme of motherhood is universal, but even amongst my own circle of friends I’ve noticed that ‘difficult’ or ‘strange’ feelings surrounding motherhood aren’t easily or openly discussed. This book would be a good icebreaker for a discussion.”

You can read English and German samples on our website.