| Whatever I do, | |
| my eyes see me: the peafowl -- | |
| of my clear conscience. | |
| Wat ik doe of laat, | Jedenfalls, meine |
| mijn ogen zien mij: de pauw -- | Augen sehen mich: der Pfau -- |
| van mijn geweten. | meines Gewissens. |
Julianadorp, 2011-12-26
Keyword: Ethics: conscience
| The afterfeathers | |
| are blown up in the wind, cold -- | |
| shivers down my spine. | |
| De vogelveertjes | Die Vogelfedern |
| waaien op in de wind, koud -- | wehen auf in dem Wind, kalt -- |
| krijg ik het ervan. | wird es mir davon. |
Amsterdam, 2012-01-14
Keyword: Death: silence / lifelessness
| The gull does not flee | |
| from their stench, no, it attacks -- | |
| them: the garbage bags. | |
| De meeuw vlucht niet weg | Die Möwe flieht nicht |
| voor hun stank, hij valt ze aan: | vor ihrem Gestank, greift sie -- |
| de vuilniszakken. | an: die Müllsäcke. |
Amsterdam, 2012-04-08
Keyword: Life: survival (effort)
| People gathering | |
| in the middle of the square: | |
| circles of silence. | |
| Midden op het plein | Menschen sammeln sich |
| verzamelen mensen zich -- | in der Mitte des Platzes: |
| in kringen stilte. | Kreisen der Stille. |
Amsterdam, 2012-09-21
Meditation for peace on the International Day of Peace (Museum Square, Amsterdam)
Keywords: Peace: social, Silence (calm)
| With flags of freedom, | |
| you will not occupy peace -- | |
| but you do resist. | |
| Met vrijheidsvlaggen | Mit Freiheitsflaggen |
| verover je geen vrede -- | wird kein Frieden erobert -- |
| maar pleeg je verzet. | es ist Widerstand. |
Amsterdam, 2014-05-30
Keyword: Freedom: fight for
| The silvery sea, | |
| through cloud veils: the glinting sun -- | |
| cuts into my eyes. | |
| De zilveren zee, | Das silberne Meer, |
| door wolksluiers heen: de zon -- | die Sonne blitzt und schneidet -- |
| snijdt in mijn ogen. | mir in die Augen. |
Amsterdam, 2014-11-28
Keyword: Sun: light, white light
| Hope can gnaw, if it | |
| is mostly a postponement -- | |
| of disappointment. | |
| Hoop kan knagen, als | Hoffnung kann nagen, |
| hij vooral een uitstel is -- | wenn sie eine Verschiebung -- |
| van teleurstelling. | der Enttäuschung ist. |
Amsterdam, 2018-05-27
Keywords: Hope (futile), Doubt
| The grain in the barn | |
| is very safe in the claws -- | |
| of Cool Captain Cat. | |
| Het graan in de schuur | Die Weizenernte |
| is veilig in de klauwen -- | ist sicher in den Krallen -- |
| van Kapitein Kat. | von Captain Katze. |
Amsterdam, 2020-06-11
Keywords: Culture: skill / competence, Animals: cat
| Picking blackberries; | |
| on my arms and on my cheeks -- | |
| the scratches tickle. | |
| We plukken bramen; | Brombeeren pflücken; |
| op mijn armen, mijn wangen -- | an den Armen und Wangen -- |
| schrijnen de krassen. | brennen die Kratzer. |
Amsterdam, 2022-05-12
Keyword: Nature: plants
| Temples: holiness. | |
| Roof tiles for convenience -- | |
| with walls and a door. | |
| Tempels: heiligheid. | Tempel: Heiligkeit. |
| Voor het gemak dakpannen -- | Dachziegel zum Komfort, mit -- |
| muren en een deur. | Wänden, einer Tür. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-30
Naiku, the shrine near Ujitachi, is demolished and rebuilt every twenty years
Keywords: Religion: holiness, Japan
| The green of the tree | |
| in the puddles does reflect -- | |
| its gasping for breath? | |
| Het groen van de boom | Das Grün des Baumes |
| in de plassen weerspiegelt -- | in den Pfützen scheint seine -- |
| zijn ademtekort? | Atemnot wider? |
Amsterdam, 2025-04-21
With a photo of the Vondelpark in Amsterdam (July 19th, 2012)
Keywords: Nature: trees, forest, Amsterdam
Dedicated to: Lotte W
| Just in broad daylight | |
| I am groping in the dark -- | |
| lying in the trunk. | |
| Op klaarlichte dag | Am helllichten Tag |
| tast ik in duister, liggend -- | tappe ich im Dunkeln, im -- |
| in de kofferbak. | Kofferraum liegend. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-02
With a photo of Paul lying in the trunk of his car, to fix a film roll problem in this dark room (September 20th, 1986, Rekem) - The perfectness of doing something by touch
Keyword: Body: senses
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Paul J
| We are doing well, | |
| we are not afraid of death -- | |
| only of decay. | |
| We hebben het goed, | Uns geht's gut, keine |
| zijn niet bang voor de dood, wel -- | Angst vor dem Tod, nur Angst vor -- |
| voor aftakeling. | der Altersschwäche. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-07
Keyword: Old age: ailments / defects
| Eighty or eighty? | |
| Their eighty is old, but I -- | |
| am not one of them. | |
| Tachtig of tachtig? | Achtzig Jahre alt? |
| Hun tachtig is oud, maar ik -- | Ihre achtzig ist alt, ich -- |
| hoor daar echt niet bij. | gehör nicht dazu. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-07
Keyword: Old age: ailments / defects
| It's a desire path, | |
| but the inconvenience -- | |
| prevents time saving. | |
| Een olifanten- | Ein Trampelpfad, ja, |
| pad, ja, maar het ongemak -- | aber die Beschwerlichkeit -- |
| verhindert tijdwinst. | spart dir keine Zeit. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-26
With a photo of Pieter, Madelief, and Florentin in the forest at Melano (July 14th, 2009)
Keyword: Journey: discomfort
Dedicated to: Madelief dK, Pieter W, Florentin dK
| My toes on the ledge, | |
| thinking how scary it is -- | |
| before I do it. | |
| Tenen op de rand, | Die Zehen am Rand, |
| bedenken hoe eng het is -- | sich zunächst davor scheuen -- |
| voor je het gaat doen. | bevor man es tut. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-01
With a photo of a diver in the Jacob van Lennep Canal, on the Jean Dulieu Bridge (July 26th, 2013, Amsterdam) - Jean Dulieu is the author of 'Paulus de boskabouter' ('Paulus the woodgnome')
Keywords: Teenager (daring), AmsterdamF
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK
| The movie actress | |
| sits on horsehair, you see it -- | |
| because she feels it. | |
| De actrice zit | Die Schauspielerin |
| op paardenhaar, je ziet dat -- | sitzt auf Rosshaar, man sieht es -- |
| omdat zij het voelt. | weil sie es ja spürt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-12
The Phoenician Scheme (Wes Anderson) - 2025
Film - Liesl sits on a horsehair mattress
Keywords: Perception: impression, Animals: horse / pony
Tribute to: Anderson, Wes
| Whenever my arms | |
| are doing the work, all the -- | |
| other muscles bend. | |
| Wanneer mijn armen | Wenn meine Armen |
| het werk doen, buigen zich de -- | arbeiten, beugen sich die -- |
| andere spieren. | anderen Muskeln. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-16
With a photo of Madelief taken during a video call (October 11th, 2011, Grossdietwil)
Sedentary work, from school desk to computer table
Keyword: Body: functioning
Dedicated to: Madelief dK
| We go on solving | |
| problems till there are no more -- | |
| inconveniences. | |
| Problemen blijven | Probleme lösen |
| we oplossen tot er geen -- | wir so lange, bis alles -- |
| ongemak meer is. | komfortabel ist. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-15
Due to a silver shortage, Sweden began using copper plates as currency in 1644, known as kopparplåtmynt. Because their weight was inconvenient, the Stockholms Banco issued securities in 1661, backed by copper plates. This continued until 1665. From 1666 to 1668, banknotes were issued with silver coins as collateral. After that, paper money became common currency.
Keywords: Together: civilization, Human: mankind
| Our cherry orchard | |
| is full of glitter-garlands -- | |
| Do the birds party? | |
| Onze kersentuin | Unser Kirschgarten: |
| hangt vol met glitterslingers -- | voller Glitzergirlanden -- |
| Een vogelfeestje? | Feiern die Vögel? |
Amsterdam, 2012-04-13
Keywords: Culture: agriculture, livestock, Flying: bird, bird of prey
| The anger swells up | |
| in elephant-words, too big -- | |
| for us to embrace. | |
| De boosheid zwelt op: | Und die Wut schwillt an: |
| olifant-woorden, te groot -- | Elefantenworte, zu -- |
| om te omhelzen. | groß zum Umarmen. |
Amsterdam, 2017-04-14
Keyword: Anger / Rage
| Nuclear plants: harsh | |
| are people to the people -- | |
| across the border. | |
| Kerncentrales: hard | Kernkraftwerke: hart |
| zijn mensen voor de mensen -- | gegenüber die Menschen -- |
| net over de grens. | jenseits der Grenze. |
Amsterdam, 2018-07-04
Keyword: Neighbourhood
| There are dogs hunting | |
| through the city, yellow eyes -- | |
| with cruel muzzles. | |
| Er jagen honden | Die Hunde jagen |
| door de stad, gele ogen -- | durch die Stadt, gelbe Augen -- |
| met wrede muilen. | grausamen Mäuler. |
Amsterdam, 2020-01-18
Waltz with Bashir (Ari Folman) - 2008
Animation documentary "Vals im Bashir", about the 1982 Israeli attack in Lebanon
Keyword: War: death / victims
Tribute to: Folman, Ari
| Warfare is shooting | |
| and killing, the traitors first -- | |
| every dog that barks. | |
| Oorlog is schieten, | Ein Krieg ist schießen, |
| doden, de verraders eerst -- | töten, Verräter zuerst -- |
| elke hond die blaft. | jeder Hund, der bellt. |
Amsterdam, 2020-01-18
Waltz with Bashir (Ari Folman) - 2008
Animation documentary "Vals im Bashir", about the 1982 Israeli attack in Lebanon
Keyword: War: death / victims
Tribute to: Folman, Ari
| Shooting randomly, | |
| then, the terrible silence -- | |
| of dead families. | |
| Lukraak schieten, dan | Chaotisch schießen, |
| is het verschrikkelijk stil -- | dann die schreckliche Stille -- |
| dode gezinnen. | tote Familien. |
Amsterdam, 2020-01-18
Waltz with Bashir (Ari Folman) - 2008
Animation documentary "Vals im Bashir", about the 1982 Israeli attack in Lebanon
Keyword: War: death / victims
Tribute to: Folman, Ari
| The stone lion roars, | |
| the square is empty, beaten -- | |
| bicycles, scattered. | |
| De stenen leeuw brult, | Der Löwe brüllt, leer |
| het plein is leeg, verslagen -- | ist der Platz, geschlagene -- |
| fietsen om hem heen. | Fahrräder, verstreut. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-31
With a photo of bicycles on Dam Square (March 2nd, 2011, Amsterdam)
Keywords: City (stone & steel), AmsterdamF, Animals: lion(ess)
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK
| I'm looking pretty, | |
| so what, it only flatters -- | |
| you, your vanity. | |
| Ik zie er mooi uit, | Ich sehe hübsch aus, |
| nou en, dat streelt alleen jou -- | na und, das schmeichelt nur dir, |
| in jouw ijdelheid. | deiner Eitelkeit. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-18
Keyword: Prestige: conceit
| From deep sockets, eyes | |
| look to the left, to the right -- | |
| very far past me. | |
| Uit diepe kassen | Aus tiefen Höhlen |
| kijken ogen links en rechts -- | blicken Augen links und rechts -- |
| heel ver langs mij heen. | weit an mir vorbei. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-14
With a painting of Victor Vasarely, a piece of 'Optic Illusion Art' (1968, a double 'Oerveng')
Keyword: Identity: being seen
Tribute to: Vasarely, Victor
Dedicated to: Martha S
| The immigrants come | |
| to us to indulge themselves: | |
| fa fee fi fo fum. | |
| De immigranten | Die Einwanderer |
| komen zich hier verwennen: | wollen sich hier verwöhnen: |
| va vle vi vo vu. | Fa Fle Fi Fo Fü. |
Amsterdam, 2025-11-11
[fa-] fee-fi-fo-fum = [see] food, good-to-eat, sufficient-for, hunger
Keyword: Migration: economic
| Unstable weather. | |
| Now the mountains up here look -- | |
| like the underworld. | |
| Wisselvallig weer. | Wechselndes Wetter. |
| Nu lijken de bergen op -- | Die Berge sehen jetzt aus -- |
| de onderwereld. | wie die Unterwelt. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-24
Keywords: Nature: landscape, Fear: fantasy
| Music erupts, the | |
| film starts. No emergency -- | |
| exits anywhere. | |
| De muziek barst los, | Musik brecht aus, der |
| de film begint, en er zijn -- | Film beginnt. Notausgänge -- |
| geen nooduitgangen. | gibt es aber nicht. |
Amsterdam, 2026-05-15
Film review by Joseph Roth - 1923
About "Rosita" (1923, Ernst Lubitsch). The review has been reprinted in "Schijnwereld. Filmkritieken 1919-1935" (2026, translated into Dutch by Steven Jacobs and Els Snick)
Keyword: Fear: violence
Tribute to: Roth, Joseph; Lubitsch, Ernst
| Sorry for the smell, | |
| the fact is, I ate onions -- | |
| It's my period. | |
| Sorry voor de geur, | Verzeihung bitte, |
| ik heb uien gegeten -- | dass ich nach Zwiebeln rieche -- |
| Ik ben ongesteld. | Tja, Monatsblutung. |
Amsterdam, 2024-12-13
Keyword: Body: functioning
