The annual book week festivities kicked off on Tuesday night with the traditional Book Ball featuring a who’s who of Dutch literature and non-fiction.

This is the 76th book week, which actually runs for 10 days until March 26. This year’s theme is written portraits.
Iranian writer Kader Abdolah has written this year’s book week gift De Kraai (the crow) which will be given free to everyone who buys more than €12.50 of books during the period.
Media coverage of the ball paid a lot of attention to the absence of writer Harry Mulisch, a traditional fixture at the event and who died last year.