Named in memory of Paul van Ostaijen (1896–1928), Flemish poet who influenced Belgian and Dutch poetry with his avant-garde writings. His second volume of poetry, Het Sienjaal (1918), inspired the Humanitarian Expressionist movement in Flanders. However, compromised as a political activist, he had to leave the country. He went to Berlin, where he was very disappointed by the artistic and political climate. Soon he developed his own poetic system, aiming at “pure poetry”, without any personal and humanitarian confessions. His First book of Schmoll (1928) contains his best and most original poems. (M 34631) _ _.