Cees Nooteboom, born in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 1933, is considered the most important contemporary Dutch writer. His literary travelogues, translated into many languages, have earned him global renown. He is equally famous for his novels (Rituals, All Souls Day, among many others) and his poetry. He has received numerous awards, including the P.C. Read More Hooftprijs, the Österreichischer Staatspreis für europäische Literatur, and will receive in the Fall of 2009 the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren.