So many of us are looking for diversity in our Dutch literature. It is undeniable that BookTok and Bookstagram have made a big impact on the literary world. They’ve brought reading back into fashion for teenagers, changed the way books are marketed, and shone a light on diversity in literature. Now, more than ever, readers are looking for stories that go beyond their own experiences, with characters that represent a wide range of human experiences, including but not limited to different cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and abilities. This push for inclusivity in literature aims to amplify voices that have historically been marginalized, giving readers the chance to see the world through different perspectives.

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Some books have become wildly popular in this movement, such as Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, or pretty much anything by Alice Oseman. If you’ve been on BookTok for a while, you can probably name at least ten books with diverse characters, however, there is one thing they probably all have in common: they’re English titles. The selection of diverse English books has exploded over the past few years, influenced by social movements such as Black Lives Matter and Pride, as well as social media. These books have become hugely popular with readers. But when we look at the Dutch literary landscape, we don’t see the same trend. Dutch readers often have to switch to English books to find the diverse stories they’re looking for.

Why is there not a lot of diversity in Dutch literature?

There are several reasons for this. For one, social movements like those mentioned above haven’t been discussed as openly in Dutch-speaking countries as in the UK and the US. Also, the market for Dutch literature is much smaller. With a relatively small Dutch-speaking population compared to the vast English-speaking audience, publishers tend to be more cautious, opting for books that appeal to the mainstream rather than experimenting with diverse narratives.

But the tides are changing. Publishers are recognizing the demand for diverse books and are slowly trying to adapt. Many diverse books have been translated from English, but slowly, original Dutch books highlighting diversity are making their appearance. So if you prefer reading in Dutch and don’t want to deal with clunky translations, there are diverse Dutch books out there. You just need to know where to look. Here are a few tips to help you on your quest, and if you’re still having trouble, there’s a list of diverse, originally Dutch novels at the end of this blog post!

How to find Diverse Dutch Books

Follow National Book Prizes

Book prizes often select works that reflect societal needs. Prizes like “Beste Boek voor Jongeren” and “De Leesjury” frequently feature a diverse selection.

Follow BookTokers and Bookstagrammers for recommendations that highlight diversity in literature

Most of our book recommendations now come from social media. There are a few BookTokers who specifically promote diverse books and discuss diversity in Dutch literature. They’re usually up-to-date with new releases, so find some creators you like and follow them! A few Dutch creators I recommend on TikTok are @loonieslibrary, @billyleest, and @boleestenschrijft.

Online diversity platforms

Beyond the publishing world, others have recognized the need for diverse books. One platform I really like is Symfoon. They’ve created a reading list of books about, for, and by people with visual impairments. Another worth checking out is queerboeken.nl, which has a huge reading list of books with queer characters, both originally Dutch and translated works.

I hope these tips might help you on your search to diversify your book case. If you’re still a little confused, let me give you a list of some really worth reading, originally Dutch diverse books.

Original Dutch Diverse Reading List

1) Frambozenzomer – Lucas Versteeg

A book about a teenage boy struggling with body image. While on a weight loss camp his parents sent him on, he catches feelings for the son of the camp leader.

2) Maak je geen zorgen over ons – Koen Aelterman

A graphic novel about twenty-something Kobe, leaving for Australia to figure out his identity, sexuality and future plans, whilst dealing with a broken heart.

3) Cécile – Ish Ait Hamou

A heartfelt story about a Moroccan boy dreaming of leaving his small hometown and ending up in a risky, illegal trip to Europe, meeting interesting people along the way.

4) Confettiregen – Splinter Chabot

‘Confetti rain’ is a story about a kid who was raised in a loving, open family, allowed to be whoever he wanted to be, being confronted with the harsh reality of homophobia and gender stereotypes.

5) Gloei – Edward van de Vendel & Floor de Goede

‘Gloei’ is a bundle of biographical stories in which twenty queer young adults share their story about growing up queer. All young adults have a vastly different background, from a paralympic champion to a Syrian refugee.

6) Lily – Tom de Cock

A thrilling dystopian young adult novel with influencer Lily at the centre. With a new eye patch to match every hair look, she faces the world outside of her safe bubble, being confronted with people less fortunate than her.

7) In het vervloekte hart – Rima Orie

‘In het vervloekte hart’ is an action-packed fantasy novel with a fantasy world inspired by the Middle East. Main character Priya Chkadhari attends military school Kuwatta so she no longer needs to hide her magical powers, but finds other threats along the way.

8) Met jou is het anders – Hanne Eerdekens

In this story, a teenage boy is confronted with his sexuality after going viral on the internet, and is forced to figure out his identity under scrutiny of the world, his family and the friends who don’t shy away from homophobic jokes.

9) De jongen die van de klif viel en zacht terecht kwam – Stefan Raatgever

A book about a boy figuring out his sexuality and how to express it in the treacherous high school corridors.

10) De hemel is altijd paars – Sholeh Rezazadeh

Arghavan left Iran to live in the Netherlands and tries to adjust to her new life. She meets many interesting people, but is still plagued by the memories from her childhood.

Hanne is a Dutch author and book influencer with a love of YA and diverse voices. You can find her on TikTok and Instagram.