About us

The Flemish Literature Fund is an autonomous governmental institution that promotes Dutch-language literature in Belgium and abroad. The emphasis is on literary production by Flemish authors.

How the foreign department works

The Flemish Literature Fund's foreign policy is, first and foremost, a translation policy. The promotion of literature from Flanders is aimed at generating as many high-quality literary translations as possible.

The foreign department is run by three members of staff, each specialized in a specific genre, an assistant who deals with special projects and an administrative assistant. They mutually prepare the decisions on the applications, ask advice from the respective advisory committees and take decisions during their joint meetings. Their decisions are confirmed by the director, and, at a later stage are ratified by the board of decisions. Furthermore, they actively promote Flemish literature while attending professional book fairs and in their contacts with foreign publishers.

To generate translations, the members of staff can make use of a grant system: a translation grant, a grant for illustrated books, a production grant and a travel grant.

International cooperation

The FLF works closely with the Dutch Foundation for Literature in the Netherlands. Together, both organisations publish and distribute information on literary activities in Flanders and the Netherlands. Every other year, they award prizes to high-quality translations in English, French and German. Occasionally, they jointly present translated Dutch-language literary works at foreign festivals.

Both organisations have joined forces with the Nederlandse Taalunie (Dutch Language Union) and the Centre of Expertise for Literary Translation in order to ensure a proactive, cross-border translation policy.

The FLF is present at the international book fairs of Frankfurt, London, Paris and Bologna. At such trade fairs and in certain projects, the FLF exchanges knowledge and information with literary institutes, cultural organisations and public services in other countries.

The FLF supports international literary events and happenings in consultation with the Flemish representatives. In the newsletter Arts Flanders, the FLF, together with five cultural organisations, informs the international public on Arts in Flanders and abroad.