Fifteen public figures and fifteen listeners of De Taalstaat will sharpen their pens for Het groot dictee der Nederlandse taal, airing live on November 21, according to De Nuk and NPO Radio 1.
The annual spelling event takes place from the Bibliotheek Utrecht at the Neude. NPO Radio 1 and KRO-NCRV’s De Taalstaat organize the broadcast.
Ronald Giphart steps into the role of host for the first time. “I look forward to being host of this special language celebration, especially now that it lands in my city of Utrecht,” Giphart said, as reported by De Nuk. Gerdi Verbeet will read the dictation text written by Wim Daniëls.
The lineup of prominent participants features political figures, writers, and cultural personalities. State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science Judith Tielen joins the writing ranks alongside Volt House of Representatives group leader Laurens Dassen and Utrecht Culture Alderman Afke Groen.
The roster also includes children’s book author Annet Schaap, singer and writer Aafke Romeijn, writer and columnist Babah Tarawally, columnist Jerry Goossens, and Bibliotheek Utrecht director Deirdre Carasso.
Rounding out the fifteen prominent figures are cabaret artist Andries Tunru, culinary journalist Joël Broekaert, KRO-NCRV Pointer presenter Jos de Groot, radio presenter and publicist Natasja Gibbs, Omroep Max presenter Jörgen Tjon A Fong, and singer Bertolf Lentink, according to NPO Radio 1.
Musical accompaniment for the broadcast comes from Spinvis and Saartje van Camp, as noted by De Nuk. The judging panel features Wim Daniëls, Vibeke Roeper, and Dikke Van Dale editor-in-chief Ton den Boon.
Listeners at home can tune in and write along on November 21 between 11:00 and 13:00 CET. The broadcast runs across NPO Radio 1, the NPO Radio 1 YouTube channel, and NPO 1 Extra, alongside simultaneous events hosted in libraries across the country.
