The Biblionef Netherlands Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Sint Maarten Library, the Help Our Children Foundation, and the University of St. Martin (USM), is pleased to announce the Third Reading Festival: Sint Maarten Edition, which will take place on September 25 and 26, 2026.
The two-day festival aims to inspire a love for reading among children, parents, and educators through engaging activities such as storytelling, workshops, interactive games, and visits from local and international authors. The event is made possible thanks to the support of the Dutch Foundation for Literature (Nederlands Letterenfonds) and local sponsorship managed through the Help Our Children Foundation.
The festival will begin on Friday, September 25, with a special program for first and second-year students (Form 1 and Form 2) from the participating high schools, with activities taking place both on the school campuses and at USM.
The students will enjoy author visits, reading activities, workshops, and educational games. First-year students (Form 1) will participate in the activities at USM, while second-year students (Form 2) will remain at their respective schools. Transportation will be provided for the first-year students.
On Saturday, September 26, the festival will be open to the general public from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at USM. Families will be able to enjoy readings by the authors, creative workshops, and a variety of literacy-focused activities. Parents or guardians are requested to accompany children 12 years old or younger.
More than 2,500 new books, educational materials, and language games will be distributed to schools and children across the island. Festival participants will also have the opportunity to win exciting prizes.
After the festival concludes, the books and materials used during the event will be available through the Sint Maarten Library.