The award was first given in 1988.[2] The winner of the prize receives €15,000, the highest amount among Dutch literary awards for children's literature.[1][2][3][update] The award is awarded annually in March or April.[3]
The award is named after the character Woutertje Pieterse in Ideeën written by Multatuli.[3] The award's name refers to the character's curiosity and tendency to go against society's morals.[3][4] Similarly, the Woutertje Pieterse Prijs is awarded to books that differ from children's literature with a didactic or moralistic nature.[4]
The prize money has been provided by various organisations over the years, including the Lirafonds and Bruna.[2] The award was sponsored by Lirafonds until 2014 and by Bruna in 2015, 2016 and 2017.[2] The 2018 edition of the award was sponsored using one-off funding. The 2019 and 2020 editions of the award were sponsored by the Brook Foundation and Stichting De Versterking.[2]
Winners
1988 - Imme Dros, Annetje Lie in het holst van de nacht[12]