Poetry night in Amsterdam

Yesterday, from the train to Amsterdam: a great cormorant flying.

I discovered I had forgotten to bring anything to write with me.

So thanks, Natacha, for your pencil! Or this report would not have been here.

I was first onstage at the poetry night, with poems on a carp; Dutch Princess Mabel; two moorhens; and a gazelle.

Then Simone, performing for the first time.

Well known poet Simon Vinkenoog, member of the jury with Sven Ariaans, read from his recently published collection of poems.

After a pause, the first poet in the second part of the first round was Guy Seret, 21 years old from Utrecht.

In a loud voice, he read poems, mostly rhyming, on suicide and other subjects.

Then Peter Sanders, 52, inspired by Chinese philosopher Lao Tse, with two poems.

After him, Jacob Aachenende, 74.

With a poem on nineteenth century Dutch king William III.

Then, Jan Voetberg, whose poems included one on a whale.

Then Bonne, who also writes raps.

Finally, Guyano, Surinamese-Dutch from the West of Amsterdam, with poems like Creator or carnivore.

The jury decided that Mr Aachenende, Guy, Guyano, and Jan Voetberg would proceed to the second round.

From the second round, the jury and an audience vote decided Guyano and Jacob Aachenende proceeded to the final.

Jacob Aachenende won, with poems on the chess player Jan Hein Donner, and a pastiche of Willem Kloos.