Training the Next Generation of Literary Translators in Sweden

This spring, the Dutch Language Section at Stockholm University organised the course ‘Översättning nederländska–svenska i praktik’, a hands-on introduction to literary translation from Dutch into Swedish. Aimed at Swedish students, the course combined theory with practice and concluded with an intensive translation workshop.

The workshop was led by Associate Professors of Dutch Annika Johansson and Sara Van Meerbergen, together with literary translator Joakim Sundström. Dutch author Edward van de Vendel joined the sessions as a guest, and students translated an excerpt from his work. This close interaction allowed students to discuss the translation process in depth and explore the specific linguistic and cultural challenges of translating from Dutch into Swedish, together with teachers, a professional translator and the author himself.

The course pursued two complementary goals: to train new literary translators, and to stimulate the translation of Dutch-language literature in Sweden. At the same time, it offered a valuable platform for current and future translators to meet, exchange experiences and share insights into the profession.

In the weeks leading up to the workshop, students attended four online lectures that introduced them to key aspects of literary translation in both theory and practice.

Because the workshop at the end of the course would focus on children’s literature, the first lecture addressed the specific challenges of translating for young audiences. Delivered by Sara Van Meerbergen (Associate Professor of Dutch at Stockholm University and a researcher in translation studies and children’s literature) the session explored questions such as: what can and cannot be included in a translation for children? And how does the approach differ when translating a picture book, a poetry collection or a young adult novel?

Students discussed typical challenges including the translation of proper names, spoken language, rhyme and song, as well as culture-specific references such as place names, holidays, food and elements of the school system.

The second lecture delved deeper into the translation of culture-specific elements, this time from a postcolonial perspective. Guest lecturer Franco Paris (Professor of Dutch-language literature at Università L’Orientale in Naples and a literary translator from Dutch into Italian) guided the students through excerpts from postcolonial works by Dutch-language authors, including ‘Oeroeg’ by Hella S. Haasse, Revolusi by David Van Reybrouck and Jaguarman by Raoul de Jong.

One of the key questions discussed was how to translate the Dutch adjective ‘Indisch’ into Swedish, since it’s a term deeply rooted in Dutch colonial history, referring to the former Dutch East Indies, present-day Indonesia. How can a translator convey such layered meanings without losing cultural nuance?

The third lecture tackled a topical and much-debated subject: the role of AI in literary translation. In this guest lecture, Bojana Budimir (Associate Professor of Dutch at the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, translation researcher and literary translator from Dutch into Serbian) introduced students to AI as a tool and “sparring partner” in the translation process.

The session addressed practical and ethical questions: how can AI be used responsibly in literary translation? What are its limitations and risks? And how can translators formulate prompts that genuinely support their work? Students experimented with these questions using an excerpt from Minoes, the classic children’s book by Annie M.G. Schmidt, who is often described as the Dutch equivalent of Astrid Lindgren.

The final lecture, given by Annika Johansson, focused on the translation of style. Johansson, Associate Professor of Dutch at Stockholm University and a literary translator from Dutch into Swedish, invited students to reflect on non-verbal language and what is communicated “between the lines”.

How do you translate a text in which the author invents words or imagery to create a particular mood or atmosphere? And how do publishers and editors respond to such creative freedom in translation? Students worked on excerpts from works by Bart Moeyaert (Flanders) and Anjet Daanje (the Netherlands). 

‘Översättning nederländska–svenska i praktik’ is part of the new Master’s programme in Dutch Studies at Stockholm University. The course was developed by Sara Van Meerbergen and Annika Johansson as part of a collaborative cultural project with the Centre of Expertise for Literary Translation, Flanders Literature and the Dutch Foundation for Literature, in preparation for the Gothenburg Book Fair 2027, where Flanders and the Netherlands will be Guest of Honour. The project is co-funded by the Union for the Dutch Language (Nederlandse Taalunie).

The course will be offered again in spring 2027, with Gaea Schoeters, bestselling author from Flanders, as the literary guest. More information (in Swedish) can be found on the university website.