During the Read My World Festival 2026, we are organizing an exclusive masterclass with Djûke Poppinga, winner of the prestigious Cultuurfonds Translation Prize Martinus Nijhoff — Europe’s most important translation prize, awarded to a translator with an exceptional body of work. Djûke has been translating from Arabic since 1985 and has made the work of authors including Naguib Mahfouz, Hanan al-Shaykh, Ghayath Almadhoun, Hassan Blasim, Khaled Khalifa, and Adania Shibli accessible to Dutch-speaking readers. In this masterclass, organized in collaboration with the Expertisecentrum Literair Vertalen, she will share her views on literary translation, the choices translators make, the challenges they encounter, and her working methods.

Do you already speak Arabic? Sign up and discover more about what literary translation is and what it can be. Even if you don’t speak the language but are interested in Arabic and in translating literature more generally, you are very welcome to join us. Ask Djûke and our host your questions and exchange experiences with fellow participants. The masterclass will take place right in the middle of the festival’s vibrant book market.

The workshop will be held in Dutch.