This article presents the findings of 51 interviews with foreign national prisoners in Flanders (Belgium). Following an appreciative inquiry stance, the aim is to understand how foreign nationals experience (accessibility to) prison activities (for example, education, work, sports activities and worship) and to investigate if and how this differs between foreign-speaking and Dutch-speaking foreign nationals. A thematic analysis of the interviews revealed several components of the activities offered that were perceived by the foreign nationals to be ‘working well’ and revealed several dreams concerning the activities for foreign nationals. Within each theme considered, similarities and dissimilarities among foreign-speaking and Dutch-speaking foreign nationals are described. This article argues that foreign nationals are confronted with a new pain of imprisonment, namely ‘the pain of (non-)participation’. The findings could enable a shift from supply-driven to tailor-made activities for foreign national prisoners.

本文介绍了在法兰德斯（比利时）对51名外国外国囚犯进行访谈的结果。按照欣赏性询问的立场，目的是了解外国人如何体验（参加）监狱活动（例如，教育，工作，体育活动和敬拜），并调查说外国语和说荷兰语之间是否有区别以及如何区别外国公民。对采访进行的专题分析显示，外国人认为所提供活动的几个组成部分“运作良好”，并揭示了与外国人活动有关的一些梦想。在考虑的每个主题中，都描述了说外国语和说荷兰语的外国公民之间的异同。本文认为，外国国民面临着新的入狱痛苦，即“（非）参与的痛苦”。这些发现可能使外国囚犯的活动从供应驱动转变为量身定制。