The literary nonfiction book De eilanden van goed en kwaad by Adwin de Kluyver from Leeuwarden has been nominated for the 2026 Amarte Literature Prize. De Kluyver is on the longlist of fifteen titles eligible for the prestigious award.
In De eilanden van goed en kwaad De Kluyver takes readers on a confrontational journey around the world. He shows how humans have used islands for centuries as laboratories for both natural and social experiments. A fusion of travelogue, essay, and history about philosophers and fantasists, scientists and con artists.
The book was published in April 2024 by Uitgeverij Spectrum and received unanimous praise. A German translation will also be published this year. De Kluyver previously wrote Het gedroomde Noorden and Niemandsland, for which he was nominated for the Jan Wolkers Prize. Later this year, he will debut as a children’s book author with Lemniscaat Publishers.
The jury will present the shortlist at the end of April. The winner will be announced in May 2026 and will receive €15,000, an essay, and a trophy.
Foto: Tryntsje Nauta
