Niña Weijers wins E. du Perron Prize
The winner of the E. du Perron Prize 2022/23 is Niña Weijers for her book Cassandra. The prize will be awarded on May 16 at the kickoff of the 'Night University Festival' on the campus of Tilburg University. The biennial prize (€ 10,000 and an artwork) is intended for writers, artists, or public intellectuals who, like Du Perron in his time, identify and break down boundaries to stimulate mutual understanding among different population groups.
From the jury report: "Du Perron is the author who is commemorated with this Prize. He is also the author who valued courage, honesty, and originality, and it is these qualities that stand out when reading Cassandra, the book that Niña Weijers wrote following a period of guest writing in Almere. In her writing, Weijers examines the story of the disappearance of a seventeen-year-old girl, Cassandra van Schaijk, in March 2007. The girl's body was found in the Noorderplassen in April 2007.
Weijers initially seems to write a true crime story, but is interested in something else: how the prosperous and yet fragmented community of Almere deals with the behavior of groups of young people who are increasingly sympathetic to right-wing populism. The author wonders what it means to live in a Dutch provincial city designed on the drawing board, what happens when facts are presented in a certain way, what the consequences are of looking away. Is a non-fiction story really non-fiction, or are there moments of imagination and visualization that obscure and make the observation of facts more exciting?
Weijers writes in a crystal-clear language in which she intertwines facts and perspectives and also examines herself in her very personal circumstances of pregnancy and motherhood. Her style is her gaze: with her writing, she involves us in an analysis of the time and invites us to reflect on changes in society. Cassandra is an extremely fascinating book that beautifully connects with Du Perron's writing and thinking."
Presentation ceremony
The presentation ceremony for the E. du Perron Prize takes place on Thursday, May 16, at 16:30 hrs. at the kickoff of the 'Night University' festival on the university campus. The Prize will be presented by Marcelle Hendrickx of the City of Tilburg Executive. The author will give a brief thank-you speech. Ellen Deckwitz will deliver the E. du Perron Lecture. The program is further enhanced by the Tilburg City Poet, Frederike Luijten, and by singer and violinist Claire Adams.
E. du Perron Prize
The E. du Perron Prize is an initiative of the City of Tilburg and Tilburg University. The Prize is intended for writers, artists, or academics who, like Du Perron in his time, identify and break down boundaries to stimulate mutual understanding among different population groups. The Prize, which is awarded biennially, consists of a cash prize of € 10,000 and an object of textile art, designed by studio 'by aaaa' (Moyra Besjes and Natasja Lauwers) and manufactured at the Textiel Museum in Tilburg. Previous winners include Margot Vanderstraeten (2017), Stefan Hertmans (2016), Mohammed Benzakour (2013), and Ramsey Nasr (2011).
Note for the press
The E. du Perron Prize 2021/22 will be presented on May 16. For times and program, see www.tilburguniversity.edu/nl/campus/studium-generale/e-du-perronlezing. More information about the Prize can be found at: www.tilburguniversity.edu/duperronprijs (o.m.heynders@tilburguniversity.edu, +31 13 466 3131).