This is Europe

The European Union is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. Why is Europe so important, and at the same time, why is no one really interested in it?


Dutch writer Mark Schalekamp set out to find answers to these and other questions and travelled to all 28 of the European Union’s member states to interview eight people in each capital city: a doctor, a police officer, a hairdresser, an entrepreneur, an artist, an immigrant, a sex worker and a local celebrity. What is Europe? Who feels like a European? What do people think of their own country and its relationship with Europe? How do we differ from one another, what are the similarities, and what makes us unique? 


Schalekamp’s colourful, humorous account of his journey provides an open view of Europe seen not from a political point of view, but through the eyes of an inquisitive European. It is the story of the people’s Europe.

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Mark Schalekamp’s (The Netherlands, 1968) debut in 1997 was the publication of the poem Voetbal & Meisjes in the magazine Hard Gras, followed by De Rebellenclub (Thomas Rap, 2000), a collection of short stories.

He subsequently founded the company Robin Good, a pioneer in the area of socially responsible entrepreneurship. After selling his company Schalekamp became a full-time writer and journalist.
The Parvenu (Arbeiderspers, 2011) was his first novel. In the Netherlands it was a great success, reaching best-sellerstatus in half a year, film rights being purchased by Eyeworks, the Netherlands' leading film producers.

His second book, non-fiction, is about creating your ideal work: Make Work of Your Dream (Business Contact, 2013).

Youropeans! is his latest project.

Schalekamp’s company, books and projects have drawn quite a lot of media attention, in the Netherlands and abroad, on TV, radio and in printed media. Schalekamp also writes for several Dutch magazines and newspapers: from columns and opinion pieces to travel stories and interviews.