De Boon is a Flemish annual literary award for the best Dutch-language books published in Flanders and the Netherlands. The award was established in 2022 and awarded by the Flemish Government. It is awarded annually for two categories: one Boon for fiction and non-fiction and one Boon for children's and youth literature.
A jury of expert first puts together a longlist with 15 titles per category, followed by a shortlist of five titles and finally one winner. Laureates are awarded with €50.000 and a custom-made ring. Additionally, there is an audience award of €5.000 for both categories, which may overlap with the jury choice.
The award is named after Belgian author Louis Paul Boon. The goal of the award it to increase the visibility of literature in Flanders, recognise writers and illustrators and increase the reading, lending and buying of books.
List of laureates
Fiction and non-fiction YearFiction and non-fictionAudience award fiction and non-fictionReference2022Mijn lieve gunsteling - Marieke Lucas RijneveldMijn lieve gunsteling - Marieke Lucas Rijneveld2023Wat we toen al wisten: de vergeten groene geschiedenis van 1972 - Geert BuelensDe draaischijf - Tom Lanoye2024Alkibiades - Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer Alkibiades - Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer2025Oroppa - Safae el KhannoussiDe levens van Claus - Mark Schaevers2026Grondwerk - Tijl NuytsHet geschenk - Gaea Schoeters
Children's and youth literature YearChildren's and youth literatureAudience award Children's and youth literatureReference2022Een zee van liefde - Pieter GaudesaboosEen zee van liefde - Pieter Gaudesaboos2023Misjka - Edward van de Vendel, Anoush Elman and Annet SchaapMorris - Bart Moeyaert and Sebastiaan Van Doninck2024Neem nooit een beste vriend - Erna Sassen and Martijn van der Linden Kijk dan toch! - Elvis Peeters and Sebastiaan Van Doninck2025Wat ons nog rest - Aline SaxHet grote kippenboek - Evelien De Vlieger and Jan Hamstra2026De vrouw en zijn hoofd - Benny Lindelauf and Ingrid GodonKrekel - Annet Schaap
References