Nationalism concern stirs around new Dutch nat'l poet

Joke van Leeuwen was named Poet of the Netherlands on Saturday. She is now the poet of the Netherlands and Flanders. Poet of the Netherlands was created by the General Netherlands Association (ANV) to contribute to the commemoration of 200 years of United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands and Belgium became one country between 1815 and 1830.

The function is only a few days old and there is already criticism. And that from the face of the Poetry Week, Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer. He accuses Van Leeuwen of "accepting that poetry is turning into a vehicle for propaganda for nationalist political purposes". Pfeijffer also states that he finds the ANV "fascist".

Van Leeuwen is surprised by Pfeijffer's criticism. "I find it insulting if he thinks I'm a nationalist flag waver", says Van Leeuwen.