Photography

Images through an observing eye

  • Guiding One’s Soul

    January 10, 2016

    In the Bait Al-Rahmaan Mosque in Ridderkerk (Netherlands) a funeral was unexpectedly held during the first Friday Prayer of Ramadan. This photo essay is about a funeral according to Moluccan Islamic tradition. In respect to Islamic customs, the deceased […]

  • Performing Tradition

    August 18, 2015

    A cultural exchange between two Christian village congregations from Maluku and Papua took place at the conference center of a resort on Ambon Island. Through this event, I try to visualize the impact of such an exchange on Moluccan adat, the traditional customary law in Moluccan villages.

  • Empowering Youth

    April 30, 2015

    This third photo essay is about an angkatan Muda. It’s about a youth service that is being held every Thursday for people in the age of 18 years to about 35 years. angkatan Muda means ‘young generation’. As if a daily practice takes place they go to one of these services […]

  • Women in Worship

    April 22, 2015

    This second photo essay is about an ibadah wanita . This church service is only intended for women. Every Wednesday an ibadah wanita is being held in each specific area (unit-sector) in the village. ibadah wanita means “women who worship God”. In such a church service […]

  • Spiritual Devotion

    April 15, 2015

    Prayers influence everyday life in the Moluccas. These cultural and religious expressions are embedded in many social activities that are rooted in the core of Moluccan society, among Muslims and Christians, today. In the following series of three photo essays, different church services […]

  • Waiting for the Pelni

    December 16, 2014

    Almost 9 hours after schedule time the Pelni* service arrived from Saumlaki [Tanimbar Islands] in the port of Tual [Kai Islands]. In this part of the world timetables for public transport are far from ideal, given the fact that these passenger ships through rough seas visit various islands […]

  • Bapa Latu

    November 14, 2014

    Every Wednesday there’s a morning market on the Island of Saparua. A small island in the Banda Sea. Early in the morning villagers are visiting the marketplace. It is a social event that reaches beyond the island. Villagers from surrounding islands, Nusalaut and Haruku and Seram […]

  • Mata Panas

    September 18, 2014

    Sunday afternoon in the village of Suli, Ambon Island. A mother with her child visiting a healer. This is a ritual healing of an infant who has been attacked by a so called suangi. A suangi is said to be a witch. People believe that a suangi drinks the blood or eats the internal organs […]

  • Bringing together

    April 25, 2013

    This essay is about a community maintaining their culture in the diaspora: The familiar that is yet unknown. The prayers with its strict protocol illustrate how interwoven politics is with Dutch Ambonese Christianity. The hoisting of the national flag on April 25 is an important event […]

  • Following the Fire

    May 15, 2010

    This photographic essay shows the annual Pattimura day in Central Maluku. It is a ceremonial event in remembrance of kapitan [title for a “army commander”] Pattimura. Hereby many people in Central Maluku commemorate Pattimura. They are remembering the battle on the Island […]

  • Moment of Silence

    January 1, 2010

    Each new year’s eve this ritual is passing by, it seems as a “tradition” for years as I can remember. The clock strikes twelve o’clock and we all stand still for a couple of minutes. The piring Natzar [“offering plate”] as the central point in our gathering; we are standing in a circle to have a […]