The Writers' Parliament

For the second year in a row, Bozar convenes the Writers' Parliament. Belgian authors gather once more for a collective conversation about the future. The Writers’ Parliament meets on the Terarken stage. Rising above the political upheaval, a group of writers and thinkers engage in a discussion about Belgium, examining the nation’s potential value to its citizens and the world in the context of its bicentennial celebration in 2030. The foundational principles that have guided the country since 1830 face mounting challenges, both domestically and internationally. How can we make them stronger?  

Today, Belgium is far more diverse than it was at its founding in 1830. The term ‘We Belgians’ no longer exclusively refers to Flemings, Walloons, or the German-speaking community. Will this affect our much-vaunted ‘unity’? Or will it receive a better (more positive) interpretation? What is the function of the monarchy? Does it serve as an enduring and essential bond between communities, or is it an increasingly outdated relic from a bygone era?   

Five gifted writers put their creativity at the service of their country. Skilled moderators Nicky Aerts and Pascal Claude lead the discussion. Gaea Schoeters, Velibor Čolić, Tülin Erkan, In Koli Jean Bofane and Joachim Pohlmann have confirmed their presence.

In Koli Jean Bofane was born in 1954 in Mbandaka (Democratic Republic of Congo) and lives in Belgium. His publications include Pourquoi le lion n’est plus le roi des animaux, awarded the Prix de la Critique of the French Community of Belgium, Mathématiques congolaises (2008), and Congo Inc., le testament de Bismarck (2014, winner of the Prix des cinq continents de la Francophonie). His work has been translated into English, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Korean, and Slovenian. His most recent book is Nation cannibale (2025).

Velibor Čolić was born in 1964 in Yugoslavia (now Bosnia) and has been living in Belgium for several years. He published several books in Serbo-Croatian before switching to writing directly in French. In 2024, he won the Prix Rossel de Littérature for his novel Guerre et pluie.

Tülin Erkan (1988) grew up in Ostend with a French-speaking mother and an English-speaking grandmother. She spent her summers with her father in Turkey. Her debut novel, Honingeter (2021), was shortlisted for the Boon Literature Prize. She is currently working on her second novel and was selected as one of the emerging Belgian authors for the European programme CELA 2024–2025 (Connecting Emerging Literary Artists).

Joachim Pohlmann (1981) made his debut in 2012 with the novel Altijd iets. He also published the philosophical novel Een unie van het eigen and the non-fiction book Volk & elite. De eeuwig wederkerende strijd om macht en waarom dat eigenlijk niet erg is. He was once a speechwriter and spokesperson for Bart De Wever and currently serves as chief of staff to Theo Francken, Belgian federal minister of Defence.

Gaea Schoeters (1976) is an author, journalist and librettist. Her work includes the travel book Meisjes, moslims & motoren and the novels De kunst van het vallen and Zonder titel #1. Her novel Trofee received multiple awards and will be translated into 16 languages. In Germany, more than 40,000 copies have been sold. In spring 2025, she was awarded the Ultima Literature Prize by the Flemish Community. Her latest book, Het geschenk, appeared this spring.