Surinamese author Iraida Martha Ooft has achieved literary recognition with her novel ‘Toen de val’ (When the Fall), securing a coveted spot on the longlist for the prestigious Libris Literatuur Prijs 2026. The selection committee, chaired by Noraly Beyer alongside jurors Sander Bax, Liesbeth D’Hoker, Roos van Rijswijk, and John Vervoort, meticulously reviewed 188 submissions before choosing eighteen exceptional works for this year’s longlist.
Set against the tragic backdrop of the 1989 SLM air disaster, Ooft’s novel explores the profound human connections between those who lost loved ones and the victims themselves. Through intricate narrative weaving, the author reveals the interconnected stories of waiting parents, a father and daughter, the pilot and his beloved, and a pyjai’s spiritual quest. The work serves as both a historical examination of late-1980s Suriname and a deeper exploration of the nation’s cultural roots, while simultaneously addressing the universal human struggle to embrace life after unimaginable loss.
Published by Uitgeverij Van Oorschot in November 2025, ‘Toen de val’ received its official presentation in Paramaribo on November 23rd. The publishing house celebrates additional recognition with two other longlisted titles: Ester Naomi Perquin’s ‘Tot alles in beweging komt’ and Emma Laura Schouten’s ‘Nachtschade’.
The Libris Literatuur Prijs stands as one of the Netherlands’ most distinguished literary awards. The shortlist announcements are scheduled for March 9th, followed by the grand reveal of the winner during a ceremonial event in Amsterdam on May 11th. This year’s laureate will receive a €50,000 cash prize accompanied by a bronze commemorative medal.
