Swedish delegation: "Flanders is a treasure trove of literature"

In November, a small delegation from the Gothenburg Book Fair came to Flanders to prep and plan for our upcoming partnership in 2027. Director Frida Edman, programme director Oskar Ekström and editor Johan Kollén made literary discoveries in Antwerpen and Brussels. Read their impressions below.

Flanders Literature had put together a wonderfully ambitious programme for us, packed with inspiring meetings with publishers, authors and industry. We visited Cosimo, Inc., a combined publisher/bookstore/specialty coffee bar. (Oh dear, can we have this setup in Gothenburg, please?) We got to meet up with renowned illustrator Ingrid Godon, our friend, author and ALMA Laureate Bart Moeyaert as well as writer and dramatist Freek Mariën. At the picturesque bookshop De Groene Waterman star illustrator Carll Cneut showed us some of his beautiful work.

As if all these encounters weren’t enough: in Brussels we visited the cultural melting pot/bookstore Grafik and met with the internationally best-selling author Lize Spit (Det smälter, it-lit) journalist, writer and columnist Gaea Schoeters, author and illustrator Judith Vanistendael as well as poet Charlotte Van den Broeck who touched us all with her reading.

We could go on and on, but this travelogue is getting a bit lengthy. We can only conclude that the Flanders region is incredibly rich in literature and culture, and we are beyond excited to welcome Flanders and the Netherlands as Guest of Honour in 2027. 

Thank you Flanders Literature for an outright amazing programme. Also, the frituur was otherworldly. We are looking forward to offering you Räkmacka!