Femke de Heer

The new poet-in-residence of the University of Groningen also began her master's degree in Quantum Universe in September 2024. Femke de Heer (2002) completed the bachelor's degree in Astronomy in Groningen and took some courses at the art academy. As a poet, she was already a regular guest on Groningen stages.

This year marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the poetry residency fellowship at the Usva. Since 2000, the university has appointed a student poet who writes poems during the academic year. Previous poets-in-residence have included Daniël Dee, Joost Oomen, Lilian Zielsta and, Groningen's current city poet, Esmé van den Boom. The house poet's first performance is during the opening of the academic year.

“My recitation went well last during the Opening of the Academic Year. Of course I had practiced, but such a large audience in the Martinikerk is new. There are a few repetitions in the poem and as a result I did drop a silence for a moment, but the poem can have that.”

“During the vacations I was able to prepare mentally. In June I got an email that I was the new poet-in-residence and then I did jump in my little dorm room. I did a lot of reading and writing. I also performed at the Arts Festival and I wrote a poem for that. For other upcoming performances, I didn't have to create any new work.”

At the opening of the academic year, Femke recited her poem Mollusk/City Man. “The starting point is the relationship between city and countryside, as I am from Drenthe, and the distance between being a student and your parents at home. How a poem turns out is not predictable with me, I write something and slowly steer it to the theme. A poem also has a will of its own.”

Maarten Praamstra's full interview with Femke can be read on the Noordwoord website.