Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven libraries all nominated "The Twin" for the International Dublin Literary Award. Bakker received it in Dublin on 17 June 2010. He was the first Dutch writer to win the prize, the world's most lucrative individual literary award, with a €100,000 prize. "The Twin" defeated 155 titles from more than 40 countries. The judges said his writing was "wonderful: restrained and clear" and that Bakker "excels at dialogue". "The Twin" has also received praise from J. M. Coetzee. Bakker spoke of the need "to lie down for a while" when he was announced as the winner and said "It's wonderful". Opting not to give a speech he instead played a tape recording of "Waar is de zon?", the Dutch entry in Eurovision Song Contest 1994 (which also occurred in Dublin).