About

Crossing Border annually organises the multi‑day international literature festival Crossing Border Festival in November and runs its own literary venue Borderkitchen, where events take place throughout the year.

For information about the 2026 festival edition, check the festivalinfo page.

For upcoming Borderkitchen events, check our agenda.
Address: Kerkstraat 13, The Hague

Crossing Border Festival

Crossing Border Festival is a multi‑day international literature festival that takes place every November in The Hague. Founded in 1992, it is one of the oldest and renowned literature festivals in the Netherlands. It is a pioneer in crossover programming, being the first Dutch festival to bring literature to the stage in combination with pop music and other art forms.

At the Crossing Border Festival you’ll see conversations, readings, and performances by more than 120 international and Dutch literary writers across many stages, renowned established names alongside exciting new talent.In addition to the literary programme, other art forms are presented as well, with storytelling and linguistic artistry as the connecting thread, along with international music acts and interdisciplinary programmes.  For festival highlights, check our gallery. 

Alongside the main programme, there are special events during festival week:

Kids Programme – an extensive children’s book programme featuring international authors and illustrators, workshops, and the Border Kids Book Club for children aged 4–8.
In collaboration with The Hague libraries and primary schools.

Crossing Border NXT – a Young Adult programme for readers aged 16+.

You’ll have to scream LOUDER – programmes spotlighting Dutch‑language talent.

The Chronicles – a unique annual residency project for talented authors and translators.

The Addict – networking events for national and international book professionals.

Programmes for students and secondary schools

Crossing Border Festival Antwerp

Following the edition in The Hague, the Antwerp edition of the festival will take place. A selection of international writers will perform at both festivals, and there will be an extensive Belgian programme featuring established names and exciting new talent.
The festival takes place in Arenberg theatre and is part of the November Book Month. It is organised in collaboration with Antwerp Boekenstad and many other local partners.

"It was the first European arts festival I’d attended, and since then I’ve never been to a better one, anywhere. It was electric, eclectic, fun-loving, and highly democratic."

- Dave Eggers

"For many, many writers, musicians and artists, Crossing Border Festival IS Holland and the Netherlands – it is what we associate the country with: an engine of meeting and discoveries and memorable concerts and book events.”

- Alan Warner

Organisation

Crossing Border is organized by Stichting Other World Productions, a non-profit organization which aims to promote literature and reading through compelling live events in which audiences can interact with writers from all over the world.

Past events include Het Voorwoord, Walk the Line Festival, The Music in My Head, Crossing Border Antwerpen, Crossing Border Enschede, and Words on Fire (Crossing Border Maastricht).