Sanneke van Hassel (1971) studied theatre arts and cultural history. Her debut collection of short stories IJsregen (Ice Rain), published in 2005, was nominated for several literary awards. Her stories are published in literary magazines and were included in several anthologies. In 2006 she wrote about every day life in Sarajevo: Pieces of Sarajevo. In 2007 her second collection of short stories titled Witte veder (White Feater) came out. For this book she received the BNG Literary Award. In April 2010 she organised and curated a international short story festival in Amsterdam, called Hotel Van Hassel. In the summer of 2010 her first novel was pubished: Nest, followed by a third collection of short stories: Ezels (Donkeys) in 2012. Together with Flemish writer Annelies Verbeke she compiled an anthology with short stories from all over the world: Naar de stad, To the City (April 2012). From September 2013 until July 2014 she wrote every week a story of 500 words that takes place in a big city. These stories were inspired by a picture young photographers from Rotterdam, Van Hassel lives and works in Rotterdam. Her work is published by De Bezige Bij, www.debezigebij.nl