The Belgian Stefan Hertmans was awarded the Literary AKO 2014 on Thursday, for his book “Oorlog en terpentjin” (War and turpentine, NDLR). According to the jury, presided over by the former leader of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) and mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen, the writer from Gant has delivered “a masterpiece that has become one of the classics” of Dutch literature. The prize giving, during which he received 50,000 euros, took place in the royal theatre of La Haye. Stefan Hertmans also got a statue of Eugène Peters.
Two other Flemish writers, one of whom is Tom Lanoye, were among those nominated.
The AKO is the Flemish literary prize that has been awarded since 1987 in the Netherlands. It is given to the best Dutch language book of the year.
(Source: Belga)
