Wageningen World:  ESSERS  IS  RENKUM’S  VILLAGE  POET

Sander Essers (Human Nutrition 1980, WUR PhD 1995) became the municipality of Renkum’s new village poet on 1 January for a period of two years. Societies, companies, the municipality and its residents can use him as the village poet in their activities and expect a customized poem. ‘He addresses major issues in an original manner with a light touch,’ said the jury. At WUR, Essers worked on the global food problem until his job became redundant about ten years ago. Now he writes short texts, stories, columns, songs and poems. They can be full of satire but sometimes he calls for sympathy for people who want to make a better go of life but can’t. ‘I like to write lyrics about the little things in life, the imperfections, the beauty, and about topical issues,’ says Essers. He bought his first guitar when a student in Wageningen. He had guitar and singing lessons and took workshops in cabaret but only composed songs for special occasions. After he left WUR, he did a weekend course at the Paul van Vliet Academy for cabaret and started a new career as the cabaret artist Dr. Anders. ‘That might be taking more time because I’m a little older but I also have more experience of life that I can draw on. And given that I’m already 67, I don’t want to take forever.’ Info: doctoranders.nl

Interviews in Wageningen World, p 50 (English / Nederlands)