Dutch rail passengers in possession of a copy of author Joost Zwagerman's book Duel have been allowed to travel free - this Sunday only.

Each copy of Duel - selected as this year's gift to anyone buying a Dutch-language book during national Boekenweek (Book Week) - contained a free rail ticket. This is the ninth time the main Dutch passenger rail company NS has offered this service. The NS says around 210,000 people used the free ticket - compared to 180,000 in 2009 - and that the action was great success. The most popular routes were from and to the capital Amsterdam, and to the cities of Maastricht and Groningen. Mr Zwagerman himself spent an hour as a conductor on the line between Amsterdam and Den Bosch.

Book Week, which is dedicated to Dutch literature, was first held in March 1932. The week opens with the Boekenbal (Books Ball), attended by writers, critics and publishers. Events are then held across the country, including book-signing sessions, literary festivals and debates.

For each Book Week a well-known Dutch or Flemish author is asked to write a book, usually a novella, called the Boekenweekgeschenk (Books Week Gift). Gift book authors of past include Maarten 't Hart, Hugo Claus, Harry Mulisch and Hella Haasse. Book Week ends on Saturday.

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