Mountain Literature

In recent years, the DMFF has been focusing increasing attention on mountain literature with its Bergen&Boeken programme. Things will be no different at this year’s festival. Wherever possible, our guests this year will be zooming in on the festival theme: Bergen&Bouwen (in English, ‘Mountains and man-made structures).

Visitors should take note that many of the mountain literature events will be in either Dutch or German, so this may present an extra challenge for those unfamiliar with these languages!

Friday

Friday 8 November 19:00 20:00, Literary Café Vers

This part of the programme is in German.

Get ready for an evening full of entertaining stories of outdoor adventure. DMFF’s very own Hannah Kuhn will be talking to authors Christoph Wenzel and Jürgen Nendza about the importance of nature and how the upland environment around us influences their work. They will be joined by artist Anett Frontzek, whose exhibition will be opened during the evening. Her sculptures and installations explore the interaction between archaeology, sociology and geology.

We will also be screening poetry films from Borderlines: Euregional Stories, in which authors and (slam) poets will be giving their vision on the border region.

Admission to the literature cafe part of the programme is free.

Those who have a Festival Friend ticket can reserve a seat and a coffee by sending an email festival@dmff.eu beforehand mentioning Berge & Bücher Aachen.

Afterwards, the film Ein Ganzes Leben will be screened at the Apollo Kino.

Free admission

Saturday

Saturday 9 November, Royal Theater

This part of the programme is in Dutch.

This year, we are delighted to be able to present the StauSeeSteig, a 125-kilometre-long trail through the German Eifel, and the Hautes Fagnes and Ardennes in Belgium. The trail wends its way through deep valleys and dark forests, crosses countless streams, traverses boggy moorlands and skirts dramatic crags. We asked author Max Hermens to hike the trail and to write a literary travelogue for us.

In his peregrinations, he describes how the impenatrable forests, the evening campfires, and the solitude of the wilderness stir the imagination. Along with Frank Husslage’s superb photopgraphs, the StauSeeSteig makes for an unique trail guide, immersing the reader in the wilderness, in both word and picture. Max Hermens will be reading passages from the trail guide (in Dutch) during the festival on Saturday 9 November.

Sunday: Mountain Literature & Brunch

Sunday 10 November 12:00 - 13:30, Royal Theater Balcony

This part of the programme is in Dutch.

On Sunday we will be serving brunch on the balcony in the Royal Theater. Benti Banach will be interviewing authors Sholeh Rezazadeh, Kaya Erdinç and Max Hermens about how mountains feature in their work and in their minds.

Dutch-based writer Rezazadeh writes poetry and prose and has recently had a novel nominated for the European Prize for Literature. Nature plays an important role in her work, from the mountains in Iran (her country of birth) to the Amstel in Amsterdam. Kaya Erdinç is a local poet who we asked to write an essay especially for the festival about the link between the Wilhelminatoren (close in Vaals and a mountain in Turkey. Not only has Max Hermens written the literary guide to the StauSeeSteig, his first novel – which also debuted this year – has been nominated for a literary award in the Netherlands. Nature plays a big part in both works.

Each of authors will be reading passages from their own works (in Dutch). If that weren’t enough, singer Mahnaz Heygharnejadi will be performing a song from her childhood in the Iranian mountains, and Andrew Davies will be telling the audience about the forthcoming DMFF book Mapping the Mountains (see below).

Tickets

Guests

Jürgen Nendza

Anett Frontzek

Christoph Wenzel

Max Hermens

Kaya Erdinç

Sholeh Rezazadeh

Mahnaz Heygharnejadi

Merlijn Huntjens

Gerard’s mountain-book fair

Friday 8 to Sunday 10 Nov, Royal Theater

After last year’s success, Gerard van Sprang will once again be attending with his festival book stall. As well as books, Gerard will also have maps on sale, all going for a bargain. Check out his full range of books at: boekwinkeltjes.nl/v/bergboek

Publications

StauSeeSteig - Een oefening in verdwijnen

Recently published (in Dutch): the long-awaited sequel to the Dutch Mountain Trail

Author Max Hermens followed our new trail through dense forests, across desolate moorlands, along craggy outcrops and past seven reservoirs, the latter which give the trail its name.

StauSeeSteig – Een oefening in verdwijnen, for the time being available in Dutch only, describes Max’s experiences as he hikes the trail. The new trail guide includes stunning photos and detailed 1:25,000 maps for the whole of the trail.

Mapping the Mountains

The next DMFF publication is also about to roll of the presses. Author, translator, geographer, map fanatic and DMFF team-member, Andrew Davies, has written a book about the history of mountain cartography, which – as well as featuring epic tales of adventure – is richly adorned with historical maps and illustrations. This stunning book, written in English, has been designed by Roelant Meijer. Publication is to be funded by a crowdfunding campaign. More information on this will follow.

Overal op deze wilde wereld

Last year, during Dutch Mountain Film Festival #13, we presented ‘Overal op deze wilde wereld’. This is a collection of works written by contributors at DMFF#13: Auke Hulst, Yentl van Stokkum, Christoph Wenzel, Max Hermens, Merlijn Huntjens and (author in residence at DMFF#12) Daniela Costa. There are still a number of copies available!

Fietsend door de Himalaya

Another book hot off the press, written by writer, geologist and mountaineer, Myra de Rooy. Fietsend door de Himalaya interweaves adventure with inspiring stories of friendly locals in an imposing mountain environment and the experience of cycling through a vast, empty landscape. The book will be on sale at Gerard’s book stall during the festival.