Ark Prize of the Free Word

The Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord (Ark Prize of the Free Word) is a symbolic award created in 1951 by Herman Teirlinck and the editorial team of the Nieuw Vlaams Tijdschrift (New Flemish magazine) to counteract ideologically driven restrictions on the freedom of expression.

Teirlinck wanted to spotlight those persons who actively promote the freedom of opinion. No financial reward is associated with the prize. The names of the laureates are engraved in an art object (the Ark) kept in the AMVC in Antwerp.

Laureates of the Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord

 * 1951  Christine D'Haen for 'Gedichten'
 * 1952  Hugo Claus for De Metsiers
 * 1953  Maurice D'Haese for De Heilige Gramschap
 * 1954  Frans Goddemaere for 'Nola'
 * 1955  Jos De Haes for 'Gedaanten'
 * 1956  Frans De Bruyn for 'Tekens in Steen'
 * 1957  Albert Bontridder for Dood Hout
 * 1958  Ivo Michiels for 'Het Afscheid'
 * 1959  Libera Carlier for 'Action Station - Go !
 * 1960  Ward Ruyslinck for De madonna met de buil
 * 1961  Hugues C. Pernath for 'Het Masker Man'
 * 1962  Georges Hebbelinck for 'De Journalist'
 * 1963  Paul Snoek for 'Richelieu'
 * 1964  Daniel Robberechts for 'Zesmaal'
 * 1965  Willy Roggeman for 'Blues for Glazen Blazers'
 * 1966  Astère M. Dhondt for 'God in Vlaanderen'
 * 1967  Jef Geeraerts for De Troglodieten
 * 1968  C.C. Krijgelmans for 'Homunculi'
 * 1969  Patrick Conrad for 'Mercantile Marine Engineering'
 * 1970  Roger van de Velde for Recht op Antwoord
 * 1971  Eddy Van Vliet for Columbus Tevergeefs
 * 1972  Marcel van Maele for Ik ruik mensenvlees, zei de reus
 * 1973  Rob Goswin for 'Vanitas Vanitas'
 * 1974  Fernand Auwera for 'Zelfportret met Gesloten Ogen'
 * 1975  Internationale Nieuwe Scene for 'Mistero Buffo'
 * 1976  Leonard Nolens for Twee Vormen van Zwijgen
 * 1977  Freddy de Vree for 'Steden en Sentimenten'
 * 1978  Roger M.J. De Neef for 'Gestorven Getal'
 * 1979  Frans Boenders for 'Denken in Tweespraak'
 * 1980  Lucienne Stassaert for Parfait Amour
 * 1981  Robbe De Hert for his movies.
 * 1982  Maurice De Wilde for 'De Nieuwe Orde'
 * 1983  Bert Van Hoorick for In Tegenstroom
 * 1984  Leo Pleysier for Kop in Kas
 * 1985  Daniel Buyle for his BRT-Journalism
 * 1986  Tone Brulin for his theatre work.
 * 1987  De Morgen and Paul Goossens for their journalism
 * 1988  Leo Apostel for his philosophical work
 * 1989  Stefan Hertmans for Bezoekingen
 * 1990  André De Beul for his political courage
 * 1991  Frie Leysen for ten year DeSingel
 * 1992  Paula D'Hondt for her work for immigrants
 * 1993  Jan Blommaert and Jef Verschueren for 'Het Belgisch Migrantendebat'
 * 1994  Gerard Alsteens (GAL) for his graphical work
 * 1995  Tom Lanoye for 'Maten en Gewichten'
 * 1996  Gie van den Berghe for 'Getuigen'
 * 1997  Wannes Van de Velde for his music
 * 1998  Pjeroo Roobjee for his art
 * 1999  Sophie de Schaepdrijver for De Groote Oorlog
 * 2000  ZAK for his cartoons
 * 2001  Ludo Abicht for Intelligente Emotie
 * 2002  Pol Hoste for 'De Lucht naar Mirabel'
 * 2003  Wim Distelmans for his contribution to the legalisation of euthanasia
 * 2004  Rik Pinxten for 'De Artistieke Samenleving'
 * 2005  Christine Van Broeckhoven, molecular geneticist
 * 2006  Marleen Temmerman for 'Onrust in de Onderbuik'
 * 2007  Roma vzw
 * 2008  David Van Reybrouck for 'Missie'
 * 2009  Luc Huyse for Seismograaf van de samenleving
 * 2010  Geert Buelens: Europa Europa
 * 2011 Philippe Van Parijs for his sociopolitical and ethical theories
 * 2012  Peter Holvoet-Hanssen for 'De Reis naar Inframundo'
 * 2013  Paul De Grauwe for reconsidering traditional economic models and arguing against the perversities of raw capitalism
 * 2014  Jeroen Olyslaegers for Winst/Occupy Antwerpen
 * 2015  Fikry El Azzouzi for Drarrie in de nacht (roman) en Reizen Jihad (theater)
 * 2016  Reinhilde Decleir for Tutti Fratelli
 * 2017  Apache.be, research journalism
 * 2018  PEN Vlaanderen, commitment to free speech
 * 2019  Anuna De Wever and Kyra Gantois, initiators of the Flemish Youth for Climate movement.
 * 2020  Jozef Deleu, founding editor of the reviews Ons Erfdeel and Het liegend konijn.
 * 2021  Caroline Pauwels