Poetic Liberation: Julia-Beth Harris on Finding Home and Voice in Amsterdam

This week on Dam Yankee, podcast host and Emmy-winning journalist Zack Newmark sits down with Julia-Beth Harris, the South African-born poet, performer, and creative force making her mark in Amsterdam. Having lived in the Netherlands for 14 years, Julia-Beth offers an intimate look at the immigrant experience, sharing how the complex emotions of homesickness and longing fuel her powerful, politically charged poetry.

Hear how the "silence" of her new home unexpectedly polished her ability to listen to "deeper voices," enabling her to become a working poet. Julia-Beth discusses her upcoming staged show, Where the Clouds Gather, and explains why her work—which delves into diasporic identity, ancestral knowledge, and collective liberation—is not just art, but a shared experience aimed at bridging fragmented cultures.

Plus, find out what simple thing still triggers a powerful sense of longing for Cape Town. 🇿🇦🇳🇱

Listen to this entire episode of Dam Yankee wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full videos on YouTube. During the episode, Harris recites her poem, "Forward," which will be part of her upcoming show, Where the Clouds Gather, on November 29 at the Keizersgrachtkerk during The Spirit of Amsterdam Festival.

Julia-Beth Harris announces her upcoming performances on Instagram and her website.

Keywords:

Julia-Beth Harris, Amsterdam, Poet, Poetry, South African, Expat, Immigration, Longing, Homesickness, Belonging, Cultural Identity, Poetic Activism, Diasporic Identity, Ancestral Knowledge, Collective Liberation, Performance, Amsterdam Artists, Dam Yankee Podcast, NL Times, Where the Clouds Gather, Dam Yankee