Tijl Nuyts Wins 2026 Boon Literary Prize for ‘Grondwerk’
Brussels-based author Tijl Nuyts has been awarded the 2026 Boon Literary Prize for fiction with his debut novel, Grondwerk. The novel, notable for its unique perspective, is written from the point of view of a naked mole rat navigating the city of Brussels. Benny Lindelauf and Ingrid Godon were also recognized, winning the Boon prize for children’s and youth literature for their work, The Woman and His Head, a story exploring themes of decline and acceptance.
A Novel Perspective: ‘Grondwerk’ and its Themes
Grondwerk, which translates to “Groundwork,” has garnered attention for its unconventional narrative. The story follows a naked mole rat exiled from its colony and thrust into the urban landscape of Brussels. According to Boon jury chair Kurt Van Eeghem, the novel offers “a sharp look at what is going wrong in the human world and in the capital” despite the mole rat’s near-blindness. The book is described as an “overfull and original novel of ideas that digs deep,” blending engaged climate fiction with social critique [Source: VRT News].
The narrative alternates between the mole rat’s adventures in Brussels, including an encounter with a climate activist and flashbacks to its life within a thriving colony in the Horn of Africa [Source: VRT News].
Other 2026 Boon Prize Winners
In addition to Nuyts’s win, Benny Lindelauf and Flemish illustrator Ingrid Godon received the Boon prize for children’s and youth literature for their book, The Woman and His Head. The book is described as a moving story about decline and acceptance [Source: VRT News].
Readers also selected Annet Schaap’s fairy tale, Krekel, and Gaea Schoeters’ political satire, The Gift, as winning titles [Source: VRT News].
About the Boon Literary Prize
The Boon Literary Prize is a prestigious award recognizing excellence in both fiction and non-fiction, as well as children’s and youth literature [Source: Boekblad]. The 2026 edition marks the fifth iteration of the prize [Source: Volkskrant].
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