"While the descriptions of nature that characterized Tweede Asem poets remain, these depictions of the landscape are harnessed to attempts to create mood and atmosphere within the poet's own soul.1

The leading figures of the Dertigers are the brothers N. P. van Wyk Louw and W. E. G. Louw, Uys Krige, and Elisabeth Eybers.Also associated with this movement are C. M van den Heever, and I. D. du Plessis.