The new Tiny Mulder Prize is awarded to Rymke Zijlstra for her book It geheim fan Gurja. The prize consists of €4,000 and a certificate. Deputy Eke Folkerts (Province of Fryslân), will present the award on Friday, October 30.
It geheim fan Gurja is an exciting and spectacular story. In their report, the advisory committee members—Liuwe Westra, Kate Schlingemann, and Lara Kool—write that Rymke Zijlstra’s translation “taps into a piece of international youth literature that was previously unknown in Friesland. The thrilling story is told accessibly and engagingly, and even though the landscape is not very Frisian, as a reader you never feel linguistically abroad. This is a testament to excellent translation work!”
About the Tiny Mulder Prize
This year, the provincial Tiny Mulder Prize is being awarded for the first time for youth and/or children’s literature translated into or from Frisian. The prize is named after writer, poet, journalist, and translator Tiny Mulder (1921–2010), who made a significant contribution to both Frisian literature and children’s literature. The new prize is awarded by the Provincial Executive of Friesland, which receives advice from an advisory committee. The committee assessed works published between 2020 and 2025.
About the Winner
Rymke Zijlstra (1975) is a literary translator. Since 2024, she lives in Norway. Previously, she translated works such as De bruorren Liuwehert by Astrid Lindgren and Lampke by Annet Schaap into Frisian. In 2025, It geheim fan Gurja—her translation from Norwegian to Frisian of a book by children’s author Julia Kahrs—was published.
Honorable Mention
In addition to this prize, the advisory committee awards an honorable mention to the best book in the picture and read-aloud books category: It bijeboek, translated by Ytsje Steen.
