Connie Palmen Awarded 2026 Constantijn Huygens Prize for Literary Oeuvre

Dutch author Connie Palmen has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Constantijn Huygens Prize, recognizing her entire literary body of work. The jury lauded Palmen, 70, for her "rare talent to write sharply and passionately about philosophy, love, and friendship in restrained language," calling her a "patroness of our literature." Palmen expressed her deep emotion and joy, stating that the award acknowledges her writing career and that for her, "it was always writing or dying," describing it as a "form of very radical living." She is thrilled that this radical approach has been rewarded. Palmen made her acclaimed debut at age 36 with "De wetten," a novel about a young philosophy student exploring her identity through encounters with seven men, which immediately established her literary reputation. Her notable relationships, including a high-profile one with journalist Ischa Meijer, who died in 1995, inspired her book "I.M.," later adapted into a drama series. She was also previously in a relationship with D66 founder Hans van Mierlo. Other well-known works include "Geheel de uwe," "Lucifer," and "Jij zegt het." Palmen recently submitted the manuscript for her new book, "Johnnie Walker," on July 1, the same day she learned of her prize win, a coincidence she found "fantastic." The Constantijn Huygens Prize, one of the Netherlands' most significant literary honors, comes with a €12,000 award and is named after the 17th-century poet and writer.