Joost Oomen is a poet, writer, and theater-maker. His critically-acclaimed books and collections have been nominated for several prizes. As a theater-maker he, along with garage jazz band Kruidkoek brought the whole of the Netherlands to a halt. Joost is also a part of several productions with Explore the North, including Vruchtjes Eten and Tuut Tuut Kwantumschuim (ft. Kruidkoek), Blabbermouth, and LORCA.
His publications include poetry collections (Vliegenierswonden and De stort), novels (Het Perenlied and Visjes), a novella (De zon als hij valt), a vinyl single (Joost Oomen), and an album (Vruchtjes Eten, ft. Kruidkoek). Joost Oomen was also the University Poet of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, as well as the City Poet Laureate of Groningen. He won the Hendrik de Vries Stipend for New Literature in 2011. National news outlet De Volkskrant named him the Literary Talent of the Year in 2021. Besides being a writer and poet, Oomen was also active as an organizer with Kantoorpoëzie, Dichters in de Prinsentuin, Explore the North, and Het Personage. Oomen’s notoriety also grew in 2021 when he was a participant in the popular TV show, De Slimste Mens.