| Dear bride and groom, dis- | |
| solve a layer of yourselves -- | |
| like contact glue does. | |
| Bruid en bruidegom, | Braut und Bräutigam, |
| los een laag van jezelf op -- | löst etwas von euch selbst auf -- |
| zoals contactlijm. | wie Kontaktkleber. |
Amsterdam, 2026-05-14
Great love advice (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2026
Column "Geweldig liefdesadvies", in the NRC of May 12th, 2026
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen
| On our wedding day, | |
| we dance on soggy grass: in -- | |
| balance together. | |
| Op onze bruiloft | Unsere Hochzeit, |
| dansen we op zompig gras: | tanzen auf matschigem Gras: |
| samen in balans. | Gleichgewicht halten. |
Amsterdam, 2026-05-02
Unbroken (Eimantas Belickas) - 2026
Statement by Natallia Pinchuk (married to Ales Bialiatski) about her wedding day, in the documentary "Unbroken": 'It had rained, and the grass was soggy and springy as we danced. It gave me a premonition that our marriage would not be very stable.'
Collection: Tightrope walk
Tribute to: Belickas, Eimantas
| She is annoying, | |
| she ever puts up with my -- | |
| dissatisfaction. | |
| Ze is irritant, | Sie ist ärgerlich, |
| de hele tijd schikt ze zich -- | ständig fügt sie sich meiner -- |
| naar mijn onvrede. | Unzufriedenheit. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-17
Out of the world (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 1998
Novel "Ute av verden" (translated in 2023), part 2, chapter 6
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
|
Our house still stands |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-17
Five poems by Frida Vogels, her letter of May 1970 to her husband, and diary fragments from November 27th, 1968 and February 3rd, 1969
August 27th, 1967 - Stones fall between them
January 23rd, 1969 - We looked at each other
July 13th, 1969 - Asking for accommodation
July 26th, 1969 - Going home
January 13th, 1970 - I am still expected
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
|
Silently, we pass the dishes |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-16
Three poems by Frida Vogels, and her letter of May 1970 to her husband
November 12th, 1968 - The red soft fruit
November 12th, 1968 - The gestures
July 10th, 1970 - How two stars speed apart
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
|
We search for each other within each |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-13
Six poems by Frida Vogels
June 3rd, 1964 - Forcing yourself to
September 27th, 1965 - Choosing wrongly, loosing one's way
May 23rd, 1966 - How someone, at the place where he arrived
September 12th, 1968 - How between two
September 15th, 1968 - I was in a place with no view
September 15th, 1968 - Choosing: not when one is at the crossroads
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Not happy with you, | |
| and not unhappy either: | |
| I simply need you. | |
| Niet gelukkig zijn | Weder glücklich sein |
| met jou, noch ongelukkig: | mit dir, noch unglücklich: ich -- |
| ik heb je nodig. | brauche dich einfach. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-18
Diary 1970-1971 (Frida Vogels) - 2011
"Dagboek 1970-1971" - October 18th, 1970, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I'm closest to you, | |
| so it's my duty to be -- | |
| the one who saves you. | |
| Ik sta het dichtste | Ich bin am nächsten, |
| bij jou, dus het is mijn plicht -- | deshalb ist es meine Pflicht -- |
| om jou te redden. | dein Retter zu sein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-18
Who walked in front of me suddenly found himself on thin ice (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Wie voor me liep, stond plotseling op dun ijs", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage]), and in "Diary 1970-1971" (2011) - November 7th, 1970, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Two silent stars, thrown | |
| far apart, are shining peace- | |
| fully side by side. | |
| Twee stille sterren, | Weit auseinander |
| uiteengeslingerd, stralen -- | leuchten zwei Sterne friedlich -- |
| vredig naast elkaar. | nebeneinander. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-16
How two stars speed apart (Frida Vogels) - 2011
Verse "Hoe twee sterren uit elkaar spoeden", published in "Diary 1970-1971" - July 10th, 1970, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| It can't be other- | |
| wise, we do want each other -- | |
| despite the bad times. | |
| Het kan niet anders, | Es muss ja so sein, |
| wij willen elkaar, ondanks -- | wir wollen einander, trotz -- |
| de slechte dagen. | der schlechten Zeiten. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-14
When one (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Wanneer men", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part IX, Marriage], and in "Diary 1970-1971" (2011) - January 15th, 1970, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| We've been together | |
| all these years, and yet I feel -- | |
| awkward coming home. | |
| We zijn al zoveel | Zurück zu Hause, |
| jaren samen, en ik kom -- | bei dir, dennoch fühle ich -- |
| toch onwennig thuis. | mich unbehaglich. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-11
We looked at each other (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Wij keken elkaar aan", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage]) - January 23rd, 1969, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Slowly the snail crawls | |
| out of its broken shell, and -- | |
| extends its feelers. | |
| Langzaam kruipt de slak | Die Schnecke kriecht aus |
| uit zijn kapotte huis, stulpt -- | ihrem zerbrochenen Haus -- |
| zijn voelhorens uit. | streckt die Fühler aus. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-11
A snail (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Een slak", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage]), and in "Diary 1968-1969" (2010) - March 4th, 1969, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Neither war nor peace, | |
| we silently hand over -- | |
| the serving dishes. | |
| Oorlog noch vrede, | Weder Frieden noch |
| zwijgend reiken we elkaar -- | Krieg, wir reichen uns schweigend -- |
| de gerechten aan. | die Servierplatten. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-10
The red soft fruit (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "De rode zachte vrucht", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage]) - November 12th, 1968, Bologna (about October 13th, 1968)
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| They both have the same | |
| desire, each one praying, to -- | |
| a different god. | |
| Ze verlangen het | Sie wünschen sich das- |
| zelfde, ieder biddend, tot -- | selbe, jeder betet, zu -- |
| een andere god. | dem eigenen Gott. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-10
The gestures (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "De gebaren", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage]), and in "Diary 1968-1969" (2010) - November 12th, 1968, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| A distant embrace, | |
| I want to cry, but I'm too -- | |
| dejected for it. | |
| In de omhelzing | In der Umarmung |
| de afstand voelen, willen -- | die Distanz spüren, weinen -- |
| huilen, niet kunnen. | wollen, nicht können. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-10
Diary 1968-1969 (Frida Vogels) - 2010
"Dagboek 1968-1969" - November 27th, 1968, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Your and my tissues | |
| are growing in one matrix -- | |
| that of our marriage. | |
| Jouw en mijn weefsels | Unser Gewebe |
| groeien in één matrix, die -- | wächst in einer Matrix, der -- |
| van ons huwelijk. | unserer Ehe. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-21
I can't miss you (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Poem "Ik kan je niet missen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part III [Ennio and Kees]), and in "Diary 1960-1961" (2006) - November 18th, 1960, Milan
Collection: Beyond the Cape
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| He causes trouble | |
| and I make it right again -- | |
| Are we a good team? | |
| Hij zorgt voor gedoe, | Er macht Getue, |
| ik breng het weer in orde. | ich bringe es in Ordnung -- |
| Zijn wij een goed team? | So ein gutes Team? |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-14
Seven kinds of hunger (Renate Dorrestein) - 2016
Novel "Zeven soorten honger", part Saturday, chapter Four
Collection: Beyond the Cape
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate
| Married for so long, | |
| clumping together like old -- | |
| horses to the stable. | |
| Jaren getrouwd zijn, | Verheiratet, wie |
| samen als oude paarden -- | alte Pferde gemeinsam -- |
| naar de stal klossen. | zu dem Stall trampeln. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-14
Seven kinds of hunger (Renate Dorrestein) - 2016
Novel "Zeven soorten honger", part Sunday, chapter Two
Collection: Beyond the Cape
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate
| In marriage you | |
| get to know each other more -- | |
| than you intended. | |
| In het huwelijk | In der Ehe lernt |
| leer je elkaar meer kennen -- | man ja mehr von einander -- |
| dan je hebt gewild. | als beabsichtigt. |
Amsterdam, 2024-11-17
A strong man (Renate Dorrestein) - 1994
Novel "Een sterke man", part 4 (page 237)
Collection: Lack
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate
| It's my wedding day, | |
| a pair till death do us part -- | |
| Yes, I'm still your wife. | |
| Vandaag mijn trouwdag, | Heute Hochzeitstag, |
| samen tot de dood ons scheidt -- | bis dass der Tod uns scheidet -- |
| Ja, nog steeds jouw vrouw. | Ja, immer noch deins. |
Amsterdam, 2023-11-24
Married from 1973, half a century ago, until Herman died, on this very day six years ago
Collection: The Yellow House Museum
Dedicated to: Ineke J
| We look like marble | |
| lovers on a tomb, being -- | |
| married for so long. | |
| Marmeren minnaars | Wie ein Marmorpaar |
| op een praalgraf lijken we -- | auf dem Grabmal, so lange -- |
| zo lang al getrouwd. | schon verheiratet. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-01
The Queen of the Tambourine (Jane Gardam) - 1991
Novel, § December 25th (1989)
Collection: The Yellow House Museum
Tribute to: Gardam, Jane
| They seem well-known, yet | |
| marital relationships -- | |
| are a mystery. | |
| Ze lijken vertrouwd, | Die eheliche |
| maar huwelijksrelaties -- | Beziehung scheint vertraut, ist -- |
| zijn een mysterie. | jedoch ein Rätsel. |
Amsterdam, 2023-07-09
The Good Apprentice (Iris Murdoch) - 1985
Novel, chapter 2, part 5
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris
|
Papa deed het ongemerkt |
Amsterdam, 2022-04-25
Collection: It takes a lot of tries to make a début
|
why not?
I want to know |
Amsterdam, 2020-03-13
Collection: Dearme
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk
|
Married, sometimes happy |
Amsterdam, 2020-02-07
String Quartet (Fazil Say) - 2010
Performed on Wednesday, January 29th, 2020, by the Borusan Quartet, in the Music building on the IJ in Amsterdam
In this composition Fazil Say (Ankara 1970) deals with the divorce of his parents in 1974-1975
Collection: Greeting from before
Composer: Say, Fazil
| It was our promise: | |
| happiness, to discover -- | |
| again and again. | |
| Onze belofte | Unser Versprechen |
| was: elkaars geluk, steeds weer -- | war: Glück; das immer wieder -- |
| dat te ontdekken. | neu zu entdecken. |
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2018-09-16
Atlas shrugged (Ayn Rand) - 1957
Novel, part 1 'Non-contradiction', chapter 10 'Wyatt's torch'
Collection: Willegos
Tribute to: Rand, Ayn
| Married for fourteen | |
| years, we reconcile to it -- | |
| in separate beds. | |
| Veertien jaar getrouwd, | Wieder Hochzeitstag, |
| we verzoenen ons ermee -- | wir versöhnen uns damit -- |
| in onze bedden. | in unsren Betten. |
Amsterdam, 2018-01-08
Diary 1970-1971 (Frida Vogels) - 2011
"Dagboek 1970-1971" - December 10th, 1971, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Happily married: | |
| our desires are hiding -- | |
| for being taboo. | |
| Gelukkig getrouwd: | Glückliche Ehe: |
| onze verlangens schuilen -- | Verlangen verbergen sich -- |
| want ze zijn taboe. | weil sie Tabu sind. |
Amsterdam, 2018-01-07
Diary 1970-1971 (Frida Vogels) - 2011
"Dagboek 1970-1971" - April 23rd, 1970, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I'm staying with you, | |
| because you just refuse to -- | |
| believe that I can't. | |
| Ik blijf nog bij jou, | Ich bleibe bei dir, |
| want jij wilt niet geloven -- | weil du mir nicht glauben willst -- |
| dat ik dat niet kan. | dass ich es nicht kann. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-23
Diary 1974-1976 (Frida Vogels) - 2013
"Dagboek 1974-1976" - October 15th, 1974, Bologna
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| The fog is clearing, | |
| we're looking into a depth: | |
| the chasm between us. | |
| De nevel trekt op, | Der Nebel hebt sich, |
| we kijken een diepte in: | wir blicken in die Tiefe: |
| de kloof tussen ons. | die Schlucht zwischen uns. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-07
When the mist cleared (Frida Vogels) - 2010
Verse "Toen de nevel optrok", published in "Diary 1968-1969" - December 9th, 1968, Bologna (married for 11 years today)
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Our path has come to | |
| a dead end, we look around -- | |
| and then plant our flag. | |
| Ons pad loopt hier dood, | In der Sackgasse |
| we kijken rond en planten -- | schauen wir uns um, pflanzen -- |
| er dan onze vlag. | unsere Fahne. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-05
Choosing: not when one is at the crossroads (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Kiezen: niet wanneer men op de tweesprong staat", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part IX, Marriage]), and in "Diary 1968-1969" (2010) - September 15th, 1968, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
|
It is too much in one day: |
Amsterdam, 2017-03-12
Collection: Webgarden
|
Ignorant, I felt confident |
Amsterdam, 2017-01-29
Collection: Dearme
Dedicated to: Taoufik D
