10 Dutch books to start with (in English)

This post is part of a paid advertisement with New Dutch Writing and the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

If you’re trying to pick up more translated literature, or simply want to explore the world via books, it can be hard to know where to start for each country. I was born and raised in the Netherlands, but developed an interest in British literature pretty early on and because of this wasn’t very knowledgeable on Dutch classics or modern writing!

This year I took on the challenge to familiarise myself with some brilliant Dutch works of fiction and especially ones that are also available to an English-speaking audience (since most of the people that follow my reviews on Instagram and YouTube don’t speak Dutch).

I’ve had so much fun finally picking up some of the classics I avoided reading in school and also seeing which new voices are being published at the moment. Below you’ll find some of my favourite choices from Dutch authors that have been translated into English and there should be something for everyone in there. Of course there is much more to explore, and I can’t wait to pick up more brilliant books by Dutch authors in translation.

The Penguin Book of Dutch Short Stories

This Penguin cover is slightly misleading, as a lot of the stories in this collection are a lot more modern than the image might suggest! This features an excellent introduction, both about short stories in general and about how these particular authors came to be gathered in this collection. If you’re keen to really dive into Dutch literature but you’re not sure which authors to start with, this will make for an amazing jumping-off point. Plus, there’s a good variety of super short and novella-length short stories to choose from.

Verzet Collection

By Strangers Press

If new and exciting voices are what you’re looking for, the Verzet collection is the way to go. All these authors are being translated into English for the very first time, and their short stories have been collected in a series of 8 pamphlets. The design looks fantastic, and the separate pamphlets also make it very accessible to pick up and bring with you.

The Evenings

by Gerard Reve, translated by Sam Garrett.

Often compared to The Catcher in the Rye, The Evenings follows a young man in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve. When this book was released in 1947 is really struck a chord with young people in the Netherlands and it still holds up really well. It’s often read by Dutch readers in the ten days leading up to New Year’s Eve, as it matches up perfectly with the setting of the book.

Shocked Earth

by Saskia Goldschmidt, translated by Antionette Fawcett

There are more and more Dutch authors writing ‘cli-fi’ or climate fiction, and this particular book is set in the North East of the Netherlands, where a woman is trying to modernise the family farm while her mother wants to stick to traditions. All of this takes place against the backdrop of earthquakes, which are caused by local drilling for gas.

We Had to Remove This Post

by Hanna Bervoets, translated by emma Rault

This novella follows a young woman who is a social media content moderator, and has to watch and flag inappropriate photos and videos day in and day out. You follow the slow decline of her new relationship, her interactions with her colleagues and the struggle with the reality of her work. An eerie read with a Black Mirror-like atmosphere.

The Discomfort of Evening

By Marieke lucas Rijneveld, translated by Michelle Hutchison

A book like no other, The Discomfort of Evening is the winner of the 2020 International Booker Prize. I listened to the audiobook, which was fantastic, and I might return for a reread of the physical version at another time. When Jas’ brother Matthies dies after falling through the ice while skating, the strictly religious farmers’ family quietly implodes. This book is incredibly dark and raw, and with an intricate, blunt and stunning writing style that will draw you in. (I’d definitely doing a quick content warning check before picking this up.)

Two Blankets, Three Sheets

by Rodaan Al Galidi, translated by Jonathan Reeder

I had the chance to attend an interview with author Rodaan Al Galidi a few years ago, and I immediately knew I would be picking up this book. It tells the story of an asylum seeker in the Netherlands, who spends years making his way through Dutch bureaucracy, and describes incredibly dark events and moments of compassion with a wonderful sense of humour. Absolutely eye-opening and essential reading.

Winter in Wartime

By Jan Terlouw, translated By Laura Watkinson

I read this children’s classic when I was young, and it left a huge impression on me. When 16-year-old Michiel discovers a crashed British pilot during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, he has to risk his family’s safety to keep this secret. This classic has also been adapted into a film with Jamie Campbell-Bower as the British pilot.

The Dinner

by Herman Koch, Translated by Sam Garrett

This contemporary Dutch bestseller takes place during a single meal, and is divided up over the different courses. You follow two couples who are meeting over dinner to discuss an event that’s happened between their sons and a dark and twisted story soon unfolds.

The Discovery of Heaven

by Harry Mulisch, Translated by Paul Vincent

The best comparison titles in English I could come up with for this are: The Da Vinci Code meets The Secret History. It’s a massive book (The Dutch version is almost 1000 pages, while the translation has around 750. Not because it got shortened, but because of how it’s been printed) and it’s a bit of a challenge. The story starts off with two angels who are influencing happenings on earth to make sure that one specific person will be born, and to make sure that events turn out the way they want to. But I found it very exciting that this book has sold SO many copies and was voted the best Dutch book ever published., in a country where hardly anything speculative gets published.

I couldn’t include all the books I read in this list, so for some more recommendations, check out my video below. And if I read more in the future, I’ll definitely keep sharing about them.

If you’ve got any of your own recommendations or if you end up picking up any of the books above, let me know in a comment!