Crossing Border NXT: Healing Literature for the Next Generation

“Imagination is a healing process,” writer Aya Sabi told NRC Handelsblad last year. “It teaches you to feel safer by imagining different versions of yourself.” Her latest book, Zo zingt de pijn (Thus Sings the Pain), explores whether intergenerational pain can be transformed into intergenerational solace. It is a poetic and restorative journey, both in mind and body, toward a sense of safety in the here and now.

If countless generations of trauma are imprinted within us, then surely generations of comfort reside there as well. The question is: can we move from trauma to solace? And if so, how?

Aisha Hassan lives and works in London. Her play Pickled Mangoes was staged at Soho Theatre. When the Fireflies Dance (De jongen die de vuurvliegjes) is her debut novel. She grew up in Lahore, Pakistan.

In When the Fireflies Dance, Hassan tells the story of young Lalloo, who works in Lahore. When Lalloo was only six, his brother was murdered outside the family’s small hut on the outskirts of the city. His parents still live there, laboring tirelessly in a brick factory to pay off their debts.

Now working for a wealthy family in the city, Lalloo, together with his loyal friend Salman, devises a plan to free his parents from their crushing debt and grueling work. But saving his family will demand enormous sacrifices, and then he reunites with his childhood friend Fatima, for whom he still harbors deep feelings.

A vivid and hopeful tale, rich with evocative language and surprising twists, exploring friendship, love, betrayal, and unwavering loyalty.

25-year-old singer-songwriter Julia Adriana, based in Rotterdam, discovered her love for music at an early age. Her musical journey began in childhood, when her grandmother Adriana took her to various choirs in Brabant. These early experiences laid the foundation for a passion that has since become the core of her artistic identity.

Inspired by icons such as The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, and Etta James, as well as Dutch bands like BLØF, Julia developed her own voice as a songwriter and performer. Her music lives in the realm of indie folk pop, drawing influences from artists including Lizzy McAlpine and Eva Cassidy, with harmonies and her captivating voice always at the forefront.

In May 2025, Julia released her debut EP Homemade Love, which she celebrated with a sold-out show in Amsterdam. Together with her five-piece band,  featuring guitarist Florian Verhagen, keyboardist Anton van Room, and backing vocalists Imme and Sveva she creates an intimate, acoustic live setting full of warmth and connection.

Earlier this year, Julia performed on the Musicmaker Stage at ESNS 2025 (De Drie Gezusters, Groningen). She has also appeared at Haarlem Vinyl Festival, Hit the City (Eindhoven), and played multiple days at Rapunzel Festival(Vleuten). This fall, she will be touring across the Netherlands as part of Popronde, performing both solo and with her band while giving audiences a taste of new music to come.

Asmae Amaddaou (2001) is a writer, poet, and spoken word artist. In collaboration with the literary organization Mooie Woorden, she created a trilogy exploring the theme of power. She has performed on the stages of Nacht van de Poëzie, the Royal Theatre, the National Opera and Ballet, and Paradiso, and made her television debut in the Vrouwejaars Conference.

In November, she signed with De Bezige Bij for her debut poetry collection. The work, a tribute to the many forms of love and violence within the diaspora, will be published in spring 2026.