The Nederlands Letterenfonds Fellowship 2026–2027 offers an established literary writer from the Caribbean Parts of the Kingdom a five-month residency at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in Amsterdam. The selected fellow will pursue an individual writing project within a multidisciplinary academic community from February to July 2027. Applications close on 25 August 2026 at 12:00 noon CET.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: Nederlands Letterenfonds Fellowship
Category: Literary writing fellowship and residency
Hosts: Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study and Dutch Foundation for Literature
Country: The Netherlands
Location: Amsterdam
Duration: Five months
Fellowship Period: February–July 2027
Application Deadline: 25 August 2026 at 12:00 noon CET
Funding: €3,500 monthly stipend, travel reimbursement and subsidised accommodation
About the Nederlands Letterenfonds Fellowship
The fellowship continues the former Writer-in-Residence programme developed through the longstanding partnership between NIAS and the Dutch Foundation for Literature, also known as Nederlands Letterenfonds.
The programme enables a literary writer to work full-time on a project of their choice. At the same time, the fellow joins an academic community bringing together scholars from the humanities, social sciences and other disciplines.
For the 2026–2027 edition, the organisers are inviting writers based in the Caribbean Parts of the Kingdom. The fellowship aims to strengthen the presence of Caribbean literary voices within the NIAS community and encourage exchange between literature, scholarship and society.
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Fellowship Benefits and Support
One writer will be selected for the 2026–2027 fellowship period.
The selected fellow will receive:
✓ A personal stipend of €3,500 per month
✓ Reimbursement for an international return ticket
✓ Subsidised accommodation in Amsterdam
✓ A private office at NIAS
✓ Access to research facilities and library services
✓ Participation in NIAS academic and community programmes
✓ Opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue with other fellows and scholars
The residency is a full-time commitment. The fellow must be present at NIAS for four working days each week throughout the fellowship period.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is open to established literary fiction and non-fiction writers based in the following Caribbean Parts of the Kingdom:
• Aruba
• Bonaire
• Curaçao
• Saba
• Sint Eustatius
• Sint Maarten
Applicants must write in one or more of the languages specified by the organisers:
• Papiamentu
• Papiamento
• English from the Islands
• Dutch
Applicants should have an established literary track record and a body of work demonstrating sustained literary quality and professional practice.
The programme is intended for writers at a mid-career or senior stage. Candidates should also feel comfortable working within an academic and international environment.
Writing Project Requirements
Applicants must propose a literary project that would clearly benefit from a residency at NIAS.
The proposed project must:
• Be beyond its initial conception stage
• Be sufficiently developed for productive work during the fellowship
• Be suitable for a five-month period of focused writing
• Benefit from NIAS’s multidisciplinary academic environment
English is the working language at NIAS. Applicants must therefore have a good command of English to participate effectively in the institute’s activities and academic community.
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Fellowship Participation Requirements
The selected writer is expected to engage actively with the NIAS community rather than work only independently.
Participation includes:
✓ Attending weekly academic seminars
✓ Joining workshops and other institute activities
✓ Taking part in informal intellectual exchanges
✓ Engaging with scholars from different disciplines
✓ Contributing to discussions connecting literature, scholarship and society
The fellowship gives the selected writer dedicated time for their project while also requiring meaningful participation in the institute’s interdisciplinary environment.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must prepare a complete application containing:
• A project proposal and motivation
• A bibliography or overview of the applicant’s literary work
• A digital copy of a recent publication
The project proposal should clearly explain the proposed literary work and why a residency at NIAS would support its development.
Applicants should also ensure that their submitted work demonstrates their literary experience, professional practice and suitability for the fellowship.
Selection Process
The Dutch Foundation for Literature first reviews submitted applications to confirm eligibility.
Eligible applications are then evaluated by an independent ranking committee appointed by the Foundation. The committee considers:
• The literary quality of the applicant’s work
• The quality of the proposed project
• The feasibility of completing meaningful work during the residency
• The applicant’s suitability for the NIAS environment
• The project’s connection with the institute’s academic setting
Following this assessment, the Dutch Foundation for Literature submits a ranked recommendation to NIAS. NIAS makes the final selection after consulting its Academic Advisory Board.
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How to Submit an Application
Applications must be submitted by email to the Dutch Foundation for Literature using the contact address provided in the official announcement.
Applicants should:
• Confirm that they meet the residency and literary-profile requirements
• Prepare a developed literary project proposal
• Write a clear motivation for undertaking the project at NIAS
• Compile a bibliography or overview of their literary work
• Attach a digital copy of a recent publication
• Submit the complete application before the deadline
Key Dates
• Applications opened: 6 July 2026
• Application deadline: 25 August 2026 at 6:00 Caribbean time
• Application deadline in the Netherlands: 25 August 2026 at 12:00 noon CET
• Fellowship period: February–July 2027
• Number of fellowships available: One
Apply Here
Read the official announcement carefully and follow the stated email application instructions.
➤ Read the Official Nederlands Letterenfonds Fellowship Announcement
