HUMAN | The Public Tribune

Name: HUMAN | The Public Tribune
Start: 2026-10-17T15:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-17T15:00:00+02:00
Location: Tolhuistuin

took place · 17 Oct 2026

Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam

lecture culture free

Foto: De Balie · CC BY 3.0

Next show

Best of: Hans Dorrestijn

Thu, 5 Nov 2026 · Arthouse De Smeedplaats, Bennekom →

Description was written before the event

In HUMAN | The Public Tribune, Coen Verbraak talks with writer Anna Enquist, former politician Hedy d'Ancona, and cabaret performer Hans Dorrestijn about how to grow old in a pleasant way.

About: Coen Verbraak

With his measured, probing style, Coen Verbraak draws out stories from his guests that are rarely told so candidly. The Amsterdam-born journalist built his reputation at Vrij Nederland and NRC and is now the face of Over leven on NPO 2 - a programme that earned him his third Sonja Barend Award in 2025.

won the Sonja Barend Award (2013, 2020, 2025) - the first ever

editions of Kijken in de ziel (NTR, 2009-2018)

What's new

2026-05
The sixth season of Over leven premiered on May 30, 2026 on NPO 2, with new guests discussing setbacks and life's meaning.
2026-06
Alfabet Uitgevers releases the book Over leven on June 1, 2026, based on the television series of the same name.
2025-10
Verbraak won the Sonja Barend Award for the third time on October 14, 2025, for his interview with former criminal lawyer Bram Moszkowicz in Over leven - as the first ever to appear on the honor roll three times.

Tracks

Kijken in de zielAward-winning TV series (NTR, 2009-2018), 15 editions with psychiatrists, politicians, top trainers and others; won the Silver Nipkowschijf 2010

Over levenOngoing HUMAN program on NPO 2 about life purpose and setbacks; won the Sonja Barend Award 2025

De publieke tribuneMonthly radio program on NPO Radio 1 (HUMAN), with experience stories from ordinary citizens

Onze jongens op JavaDocumentary series (2019) about fourteen Indies veterans; won De Tegel 2020 for best interview

Getekend, veteranen in therapieDocumentary (2014) about veterans with PTSD; first time an independent journalist gained access to professional veteran care

About: Anna Enquist

Writing under the name Anna Enquist, Christa Widlund-Broer weaves psychoanalysis, piano music and poetry into a body of work that has made her one of the most celebrated voices in Dutch letters. Now in her eighties, she continues to publish and give readings, with ten novels and numerous poetry collections to her name.

1M+

sold copies of her work worldwide

novels published

15+

countries where translations appeared

10+

published poetry collections

What's new

2026-09
On 22 September 2026, Anna Enquist gives a lecture at Porgy and Bess in Terneuzen, with musical accompaniment by pianist Ieva M. van Goethem-Žukauskaitė.
2026-02
On 12 February 2026, her tenth novel The End of Erna Ankersmit was published by publisher De Arbeiderspers.
2025-03
In March 2025, The Underside, her tenth poetry collection, was published by De Arbeiderspers - a collection about embroidery, loss and old age.

Tour

Terneuzen

Tracks

SoldatenliederenDebut collection (1991), immediately won the C. Buddingh' Prize

Het meesterstukDebut novel (1994), major breakthrough with the general public

ContrapuntNovel (2008), based on Bach's Goldberg Variations; international success

De IJsdragersBook Week gift 2002, distributed in many tens of thousands of copies

De onderkantPoetry collection (2025), her most recent poetry

About: Hedy d'Ancona

As co-founder of Opzij and former Minister of Culture, Hedy d'Ancona has shaped the Dutch debate on women's rights for decades - and she remains a sought-after speaker and author.

Year member of the European Parliament (two terms)

20000+

Preference votes in EP elections 2024

What's new

2026-03
D'Ancona gave a lecture titled 'Feminism Then and Now' on 8 March 2026 (International Women's Day) in Almere-Haven, in which she connected the history of the women's movement with current actions against femicide.
2025-12
D'Ancona was a guest in December 2025 in the television programme Boerderij van Dorst, presented by Raven van Dorst.
2025-09
D'Ancona was listed as a list-pusher at position 80 on the candidate list of GroenLinks-PvdA for the Second Chamber elections of October 2025.

Tracks

Het persoonlijke is politiekAutobiography (2003, reissue 2025) about her life and the women's movement

Vrolijk vervalBestseller from 2021 about aging, on the bestseller list for weeks

Kouwe kermisBook from 2022, the downside of aging

OpzijFeminist monthly magazine that she co-founded and was editor-in-chief of

About: Hans Dorrestijn

For over fifty years, Dorrestijn has brought his sardonic, darkly comic perspective to Dutch stages - tackling everything from everyday misery to global catastrophe. The Ede-born writer and performer has published more than forty books and received the Dutch Oeuvreprijs Kleinkunst-Cabaret in 2022.

60.000+

sold copies of Dorrestijn's Bird Guide (2007)

20+

theatre programmes in his career

40+

published books

8×

reprints of Wishbird (2020)

What's new

2025-2026
Dorrestijn tours in season 2025-2026 with his solo program 'Nog Even Dit', after his son Jesse could not join the tour for practical reasons.
okt 2025
The performance 'Nog Even Dit' at the Utrecht Schiller Theater was sold out.
dec 2024
Dorrestijn told De Week van Gelderland that after 't Houdt he wanted to stop for a moment, but returned with a new program.

Tracks

Dorrestijns VogelgidsBestseller from 2007, more than 60,000 copies sold

't Houdt een keer opTheater program 2020-2024, his second-to-last tour

Nog Even DitCurrent solo program, season 2025-2026

Na regen komt DorrestijnSolo program from 1993, breakthrough with the Dutch press

BofkontDebut program from 1973, with which his cabaret career began

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