v.v. EIGENBELANG
These are the founders of v.v. EIGENBELANG.
Meet Liek, Jesse, and Joep. On the outside, they may look like members of a grunge rock band or (artful) football players, but these are three young, emerging literary talents from Breda.
Joep (27) started writing his first words on paper in 2018 with the idea of eventually presenting them on a stage. The ball started rolling, and since then, Joep has gained a lot of experience at various stages in Utrecht. He has been back in Breda for a few years now and is dedicated to bringing the open stage for literature to Breda together with v.v. EIGENBELANG.
Jesse (26) is a hairdresser with a passion for writing and music. He was born in Breda and grew up in Lage Zwaluwe, but he is now settling down back in Breda. About five years ago, he wrote his first poem, which came to life between the moments of performing his songs. He really enjoyed it, sometimes even more than his actual tracks. He says: "Much of my poetry is about depression, sex and drugs and all sorts of other things. Actually about everything. I use a lot of humour, which I think is important."
Liek (29) is the odd one out of the three. She approached writing in a different way by first setting up the stage and then stubbornly and steadfastly immersing herself in writing. Liek is a creative jack-of-all-trades: from all-rounder at Electron, to graphic designer and now the head programme manager at Pier15.
The three creatives had a shared dream of setting up an open stage for the literary arts. And that happened in 2021, amidst the pandemic. They released a promotional video, and in March 2022, the first open mic night took place at the former BANK15 (now Bühne) with great success.
What does v.v. EIGENBELANG mean?
We asked the three about the meaning of the chosen name. Liek and Joep respond: "v.v. EIGENBELANG stands for Voordracht Vereniging Eigenbelang." Joep continues: "We originally called ourselves just 'Eigenbelang' because that was exactly what it was. There was no accessible platform for literature in Breda and we selfishly wanted a stage, so we made one ourselves. Besides 'Eigenbelang', we thought we wanted something more enthusiastic, something hooligan-like. That's where the 'v.v.' came in. The v.v. stands for voordacht vereniging, and it's a nod to the club feeling of football associations." And so v.v. EIGENBELANG entered the Eredivisie of Dutch literature.
This is what you can expect
So, what can you expect from v.v. EIGENBELANG? Regular open mic nights at Pier15, where people can try out their written pieces on stage. But also events like 'The Literary House Party' or their New Year's Eve: evenings filled with carefully selected top authors. In addition, the team from v.v. EIGENBELANG can also be found at various festivals, of course always with a typewriter, so that every passerby can put their inspiration on paper.
we especially long for loud, shouting, and expressive applause.
Poetry doesn't have to be dusty.
But what is the goal of V.V. Eigenbelang? Joep replies: "Poetry can be more enthusiastic. Many people, especially young people, view poetry as something for older individuals. But that is such a missed opportunity because there are also many young people like us who approach it in a very different way. It can be very loud, expressive, and sexy, but it can also be very dusty and boring. The latter is what people are used to or think of the most. And that's a shame because it can really be so much more!"
That is what v.v. Eigenbelang wants to achieve: literary events that feel more like a rock 'n' roll show and do not shy away from sharp edges. "Some poetry events are associated with compliments by snapping fingers. That's soft and safe; we long for loud, screaming, and expressive applause."
Special rule
Liek continues: "Our rule of thumb when looking for an event location is that there should be a bar within 10 metres." Joep adds: "A bar within sight does something to the audience. The moment the audience can just turn around and whisper 'five more beers', that just works really well."
The Writers' Canteen
In addition to the events organised by v.v. EIGENBELANG, you can also go there to develop your own writing talent. In the so-called ‘Writers’ Canteen’, anyone interested in writing can participate and share their work. This takes place twice a year over a period of six weeks. The Writers’ Canteen has unintentionally transformed into a form of talent development. The people who participate automatically join after getting to know v.v. EIGENBELANG. A true community has emerged. “We now know our community quite well; if someone is looking for a writer for a specific job, we are able to find the perfect match. We are, in a way, a kind of literary estate agent.”
The future of v.v. EIGENBELANG
We ask what the wishes are for the future. Liek responds: “We don’t really have the ambition to become large outside of Breda. The focus is more on the community within Breda. It should become an entity that can stand on its own.” For Joep, it would be a dream to become a full-time writer and Jesse thinks it would be fantastic to perform at Lowlands.
Jesse, Liek, and Joep are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. They make time in their free hours for something they are passionate about, namely establishing a writing climate in Breda. Has this interview piqued your interest? Find more information about v.v. EIGENBELANG and all upcoming events via their Instagram.