As of 1 June 2026, Arnon Grunberg will be appointed Writer in Residence at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He takes over the baton from Thomas Heerma van Voss. Grunberg is getting a second chance because his appointment in 2019 fell precisely during the coronavirus period.
'In 2019-2020 I was a guest writer at VU. Covid came.
Now, just like Jesus, I will rise again; I will return as a guest writer at VU.
Without wishing to compare myself further to this great Son, I nevertheless hope to explore redemption and saviors there at VU,' said Grunberg about his appointment.
Grunberg is the nineteenth Writer in Residence at VU and the successor to Thomas Heerma van Voss and previous Writers-in-Residence such as Annelies Verbeke, Bas Heijne, Ernest van der Kwast, Ronald Giphart, Renate Dorrestein, and Abdelkader Benali. His appointment lasts for one year.
'With Arnon Grunberg, we at VU are bringing in a writer who looks at institutions, people, and societal relations with a sharp and curious eye. I look forward to seeing how he gives substance to the annual theme ‘Free Thinkers’ from his idiosyncratic perspective and challenges our students and staff to reflect on freedom, responsibility, and the role of the university- and their own role- in society,' says Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts.
About Arnon Grunberg
Arnon Grunberg (1971) is a Dutch writer, essayist, and columnist. He was born in Amsterdam and lives in New York. After being expelled from school at a young age, he built up an extensive and internationally acclaimed literary oeuvre.
In 1994, he made his debut with the novel *Blauwe maandagen*, for which he received the Anton Wachter Prize. The book became an international bestseller and appeared in many translations. This was followed by novels such as *Figuranten*, *De asielzoeker*, *Tirza*, *Huid en haar*, and *Moedervlekken*. His work has been awarded prizes including the AKO Literature Prize, the Libris Literature Prize, the Golden Owl, the F. Bordewijk Prize, and the Constantijn Huygens Prize for his entire oeuvre. In 2022, he received the P.C. Hooft Prize.
In addition to novels, Grunberg writes essays, reports, and columns for Dutch and international media. For his journalistic work, he regularly finds himself in exceptional circumstances: for instance, he stayed with soldiers in Afghanistan, visited slaughterhouses and psychiatric institutions, and investigated the dynamics of power, violence, and human behavior up close.
Grunberg's work is characterized by a sharp, analytical style and a continuous interest in themes such as identity, alienation, morality, and the vulnerability of democratic societies.
About the Writer in Residence
The Writer-in-Residence appointment at VU is co-sponsored by VUvereniging. Arnon Grunberg will also lecture at the School of Humanities during his Writer in Residence.
Photo: Sander Voerman