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.
Wannes Van de Velde, born Willy Cecile Johannes Van de Velde, in Antwerp, was a Flemish folk singer, guitarist, musician, poet, puppeteer and artist. He is most famous for his songs Ik Wil deze Nacht in de Straten Verdwalen (1973), Mijn Mansarde and De Brug van Willebroek (1990). His work is often categorized as kleinkunst. Van de Velde was known for singing in his local dialect.
Herman Louis Cesar Teirlinck was a Belgian writer. He was the fifth child and only son of Isidoor Teirlinck and Oda van Nieuwenhove, who were both teachers in Brussels. As a child, he had frail health and spent much of his time at the countryside in Zegelsem, with his paternal grandparents. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature six times.
Edmond André Coralie Schietekat pseudonym Paul Snoek, was a Belgian poet. He was a son of Omer William Schietekat, a textile manufacturer, and Paula Sylvia Snoeck. In 1961, he married Maria Magdalena Vereecke (Mylène), and together they had three children, a twin Jan and Paul in 1963 and in 1966 Sophie. He died in a car accident in Egem.
Leo Pleysier is a Belgian writer.
Marcel van Maele was a Belgian playwright and sculptor. He was one of the leading figures of the magazine Labris, in which an experimental style was prominent. He was a member of the Zestigers. Van Maele was completely blind for the last 20 years of his life. He died on 24 July 2009 at the age of 78 after a long and harsh sickbed.
Christine D'haen was a Flemish author and poet. She was born in Sint-Amandsberg and died at Bruges.
Frans Juliaan Corneel De Bruyn was a Flemish writer. De Bruyn was born in Boom, Belgium, in 1924.
Albert Bontridder was a Belgian architect and writer, born in Anderlecht. In 1953, he married Olga Dohnalova, a Czech refugee, and together they had two children.
Henri Paul René Ceuppens, who wrote under the pseudonym Ivo Michiels, was a Belgian writer.
Libera Carlier was a Belgian seaman and writer. He attended the Hogere Zeevaartschool and was a member of the resistance during World War II. When sixteen years old he ran away from home during the war and tried to reach the United Kingdom, but only got to France and was sent back. He was married to Joanna Pairoux and has 3 sons: Guy, Robert and Mark.
Hugues C. Pernath was a Belgian writer. Together with Paul Snoek, he founded the avant garde magazine Gard Sivik, and he was a member of the Pink Poets. The literary award Hugues C. Pernath-prijs is named after him.
Georges Hebbelinck was a Flemish writer.
Daniël Robberechts was a Belgian writer.
Astère Michel Dhondt is a Flemish writer.
Roger van de Velde was a Belgian author and journalist, known for his collections of short stories written while he was interred in psychiatric institutions.
Rob Goossens pseudonym Rob Goswin is a Belgian artist and poet.
Leon Helena Sylvain Nolens, pseudonym Leonard Nolens, is a Belgian poet and diary writer. He graduated from the Hoger Instituut voor Vertalers en Tolken in Antwerp.
Roger M.J. De Neef is a Flemish writer and poet.
Frans Boenders is a Belgian writer. He graduated in Germanic philology and philosophy at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. He worked for the Belgian radio as a producer.
Anuna De Wever Van Der Heyden is a Belgian climate activist and was one of the leading figures in the School strike for climate movement in Belgium.