| After her death she | |
| still wanders around, too thin -- | |
| to be visible. | |
| Na haar dood blijft ze | Nach ihrem Tod irrt |
| hier maar ronddwalen, te ijl -- | sie noch hier umher, zu dünn -- |
| om zichtbaar te zijn. | um sichtbar zu sein. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-08
Heart (Geert van Keulen) - 1996
Composition "Herz", for violin and piano, performed on March 8th, 2026 in the Organpark, by Emma Roijackers (violin) and Laurens de Man (piano)
Collection: org anp ARK
Composer: Van Keulen, Geert
| Paint her, paint her so | |
| that I see her again, so -- | |
| that she looks at me. | |
| Schilder haar, schilder | Mal sie, mal sie so, |
| haar zo, dat ik haar weer zie -- | dass ich sie wiedersehe -- |
| en zij mij aankijkt. | und sie mich ansieht. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-08
Request to the painter (Anna Enquist) - 2004
Poem "Verzoek aan de schilder", from the collection "De tussentijd" ("The meantime"), in memory of her daughter Margit (1974-2001)
Set to music by Geert van Keulen in 2009: composition "Fünf tragische Lieder" ("Five tragic songs"), song "Bitte an den Maler", for baritone and large orchestra, performed on March 8th, 2026 in the Organpark, by Peter Gijsbertsen (baritone), and the following ensemble (arr. Geert van Keulen, 2025): Emma Roijackers and Ruña 't Hart (violin), Joël Waterman (viola), Renée Timmer (cello), Miguel Moreno (double bass), Thies Roorda (flute), Anna Prazares (clarinet), Mees Vos (horn)
Collection: org anp ARK
Tribute to: Enquist, Anna
Composer: Van Keulen, Geert
|
The stars are far away |
Amsterdam, 2026-02-21
Stardust (Mitchell Parish / Hoagy Carmichael) - 1929
Song, album "Love Is the Thing"
Collection: Greeting from before
Tribute to: Parish, Mitchell; Cole, Nat King
|
I talk aloud as if you |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-15
Six poems by Frida Vogels
December 16th, 1965 - Is this okay with you? - I'm asking you now
December 23rd, 1965 - I wanted to talk to you
March 13th, 1967 - You're not here anymore, not for al long time
April 7th, 1967 - You speak to me
July 9th, 1967 - 'Speak, tell me more'
June 7th, 1972 - That chair opposite you
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Sunset, chiming bells. | |
| I protest in the graveyard -- | |
| Drinking a coffee. | |
| Lage zon, klokken. | Abendlicht, Glocken. |
| Ik protesteer bij het graf -- | Ich protestiere am Grab -- |
| Met een mok koffie. | Mit einem Kaffee. |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-05
Some Days I Drink My Coffee By the Grave of William Blake (Matt Johnson) - 2024
Song, album "Ensoulment" by The The - Poet and painter William Blake (London 1757-1827)
Collection: Human excess
Tribute to: Johnson, Matt; The The
| She still haunts the house, | |
| and her stories bossily -- | |
| are haunting my head. | |
| Zij spookt door het huis, | Sie spukt im Haus rum, |
| en haar verhalen spoken -- | ihre Geschichten spuken -- |
| bazig in mijn hoofd. | in meinem Kopf rum. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-27
Diary 1972-1973 (Frida Vogels) - 2012
"Dagboek 1972-1973" - December 7th, 1972, Bologna
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| He who only sings | |
| a dead man's praises declares -- | |
| him all the more dead. | |
| Wie dode mensen | Wer die Toten in |
| de hemel in prijst, verklaart -- | den Himmel lobt, erklärt sie -- |
| hen des te meer dood. | für umso toter. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-10
Diary 1968-1969 (Frida Vogels) - 2010
"Dagboek 1968-1969" - December 9th, 1968, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| You say nothing more, | |
| in capricious echoes you -- | |
| let me speak for you. | |
| Je zegt niets meer, laat | Du sagst nichts mehr, lässt |
| mij in grillige echo's -- | mich in sprunghaften Echos -- |
| het woord doen voor jou. | laut für dich sprechen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-08
Speak, tell me more (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Spreek, zeg mij nog meer", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - July 9th, 1967, Bologna (memories of mother)
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I'm thinking of you | |
| next to me, and not of how -- | |
| you lie in your grave. | |
| Ik denk jou naast me, | Ich denke an dich |
| en ik wil niet weten hoe -- | neben mir, und nicht daran -- |
| je in je graf ligt. | wie du im Grab liegst. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-07
You're not here anymore, not for a long time (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Poem "Je bent hier al lang niet meer", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - March 13th, 1967, Amsterdam
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Mama is dead, yet | |
| she still keeps worming her way -- | |
| into thoughts I have. | |
| Mama is dood, toch | Mama ist tot, zwängt |
| wringt ze zich nog steeds binnen -- | sich aber immer noch in -- |
| in mijn gedachten. | meine Gedanken. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-07
What has passed and returnes (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Poem "Wat voorbij is en terugkomt", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - March 18th, 1967, Amsterdam
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| It takes a lot of | |
| effort to envision you -- | |
| and hear you again. | |
| Het kost veel moeite | Es kostet Mühe, |
| om jou weer voor me te zien -- | mich dich vorzustellen und -- |
| jou weer te horen. | wieder zu hören. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-07
You speak to me (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Jij spreekt tot me", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother]), in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009), and in the autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken" ("In foreign parts - Chronicles", 2024, Frida Vogels), chapter 'Een vriendin in Rome' (A friend in Rome) - April 7th, 1967, Amsterdam
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Since your death, it's me | |
| who decides whether you think -- | |
| I am doing right. | |
| Sinds jouw dood bepaal | Seit deinem Tod ent- |
| ik namens jou of jij vindt -- | scheide ich, ob du denkst, dass -- |
| dat ik het goed doe. | ich richtig handle. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
- Is this okay with you? - I'm asking you now (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "- Vind je het goed zo? - Ik vraag het je nu", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 16th, 1965, Bologna
Collection: Self-portraits
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| In the shards you are | |
| still whole: they are pieces of -- | |
| your life in my hands. | |
| In de scherven ben | In den Scherben bist |
| jij nog heel: stukjes van jouw -- | du noch ganz: dein Leben liegt -- |
| leven in mijn hand. | in meinen Händen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-27
Falling apart, decaying has its greatness (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Uiteenvallen, bederven heeft zijn grootheid", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1962-1963" (2007) - November 28th, 1963, Bologna
Collection: Beyond the Cape
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| As a child, I milked | |
| cows with Harry Outerwoods -- | |
| Who remembers him? | |
| Koeien melken met | Kühe melken mit |
| Harrie van de Oetelaar -- | dem Harry... Wer erinnert -- |
| Ach, wie kent hem nog? | sich noch, wer er war? |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-11
Dory was 12 years old at the time - Harrie van de Oetelaar (Harry Outerwoods)
Collection: Greeting from before
Dedicated to: Dory dK
| Carve my existence | |
| forever into the earth -- | |
| into porphyry. | |
| Grif mij, mijn bestaan, | Meißle mich, meine |
| voor altijd in de aarde -- | Existenz in die Erde -- |
| in eeuwig graniet. | in ihren Granit. |
Amsterdam, 2025-04-06
Wicked mothers (Renate Dorrestein) - 1992
Novel "Ontaarde moeders" ("Unnatural mothers", translation 1994: "Wicked Mothers"), chapter 3, 'Intergalactical wars'
Collection: Lack
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate
| They are dear to me, | |
| all the mellow memories -- | |
| of the life we shared. | |
| Ze zijn mij dierbaar, | Sie sind mir kostbar, |
| al de herinneringen -- | all die Erinnerungen -- |
| aan onze liefde. | an unsre Liebe. |
Amsterdam, 2024-11-24
Collection: Greeting from before
Dedicated to: Ineke J
| This black hole in time, | |
| the accident, will be filled -- | |
| with my memories. | |
| Dat gat in de tijd, | Das Loch in der Zeit, |
| het ongeluk, raakt gevuld -- | der Unfall, wird gefüllt mit -- |
| met ons verleden. | Erinnerungen. |
Amsterdam, 2024-01-29
Outside, it's Monday (J. Bernlef) - 2003
Novel "Buiten is het maandag", chapter 6-4
Collection: Being my own museum
Tribute to: Bernlef, J.
| Should I continue | |
| her life, and keep inventing -- | |
| how she would do things? | |
| Wil ik haar leven | Soll ich ihr Leben |
| voortzetten, steeds verzinnen -- | fortsetzen, stets erfinden -- |
| hoe zij het zou doen? | was sie tun würde? |
Amsterdam, 2023-12-18
Perfect silence (Thomas Verbogt) - 2011
Novel "Perfecte stilte", chapter Looking back
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Verbogt, Thomas
| We did homework, I | |
| kept looking at you, and that -- | |
| remains a raw spot. | |
| We maakten huiswerk, | Hausaufgaben, ich |
| ik keek steeds naar jou, en dat -- | hab dich ständig angeschaut -- |
| blijft een rauwe plek. | und das ist noch roh. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-09
A Change of tongue (Antjie Krog) - 2003
Tale, part 1 § 8, "Chapter twenty-nine" and "Chapter thirty-three"; part 1 § 9, "Chapter forty-two"
Collection: Blankets of snow
Tribute to: Krog, Antjie
| You're invisible, | |
| yet you must be there, under -- | |
| the water surface. | |
| Je bent onzichtbaar, | Du bist unsichtbar, |
| toch moet je er zijn, onder -- | dennoch bist du da, unter -- |
| de waterspiegel. | des Wasserspiegels. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-24
Below the waterline - I. Sunken land (Marc Tritsmans) - 2020
Poem "Onder de waterlijn - I. Verzonken land", in Hollands Maandblad (2020, nr. 6/7) and in the collection "Terwijl wij nog slapen" (2023)
Collection: Finethreads
Tribute to: Tritsmans, Marc
| I wait and jot down | |
| all these questions I ask you -- | |
| I write you near me. | |
| Wachtend noteer ik | Ich notiere die |
| de vragen die ik je stel -- | Fragen, die ich dir stelle -- |
| Ik schrijf jou bij me. | Ich schreib dich zu mir. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-11
writing retreat (Antjie Krog) - 2022
Poem (collection "Plunder" ["Pillage"])
Collection: Over
Tribute to: Krog, Antjie
| We are shocked to see | |
| her over there just like that -- | |
| and then it isn't her. | |
| We schrikken ervan, | Es erschreckt uns sehr, |
| haar zomaar ineens te zien -- | sie einfach so zu sehen -- |
| maar ze is het niet. | doch sie ist es nicht. |
Amsterdam, 2023-03-21
Not (Anna Enquist) - 2004
Poem "Niet" (collection "De tussentijd", in memory of her daughter Margit (1974-2001))
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Enquist, Anna
| I walk all day long, | |
| thinking all the time, thinking -- | |
| of you, behind me. | |
| Dagwandelingen | Ich geh stundenlang |
| maak ik, denkend en denkend -- | und denke, denke immer -- |
| aan jou, achter mij. | an dich, hinter mir. |
Amsterdam, 2023-03-21
Walking (Anna Enquist) - 2004
Poem "Wandeling" (collection "De tussentijd", in memory of her daughter Margit (1974-2001))
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Enquist, Anna
| I see her back, there, | |
| on the corner, where again -- | |
| she is not standing. | |
| In andermans rug | Drüben sehe ich |
| zie ik haar staan, op de hoek -- | ihren Rücken, dort, wo sie -- |
| waar ze weer niet staat. | schon wieder nicht steht. |
Amsterdam, 2023-03-21
Inside (Anna Enquist) - 2004
Poem "Binnen" (collection "De tussentijd", in memory of her daughter Margit (1974-2001))
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Enquist, Anna
| I pity old friends: | |
| the old memories they share -- | |
| can be so hurtful. | |
| Ach, oude vrienden: | Ach, alte Freunde: |
| oude herinneringen -- | alte Erinnerungen -- |
| kunnen hen kwetsen. | können verletzen. |
Amsterdam, 2022-11-16
The Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie) - 1988
Novel, chapter III. L-O-N-D-O-N §4
Collection: Sludge
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
| I just forget her. | |
| Am I insensitive? No -- | |
| over-sensitive. | |
| Ik vergeet haar al. | Ich vergesse sie. |
| Ben ik ongevoelig? Nee -- | Bin ich unempfindlich? Nein -- |
| overgevoelig. | überempfindlich. |
Amsterdam, 2022-09-07
A pleasant postumity: letters 1965-1997 (Herman de Coninck) - 1996
Letter 411, from Herman de Coninck to Kristien Hemmerechts, December 29th, 1996 (in "Een aangename postumiteit: brieven 1965-1997"); published in 2004
Collection: Shortages
Tribute to: De Coninck, Herman
| Today I bury | |
| you in me, in me, in me -- | |
| you'll live every day. | |
| Vandaag begraaf ik | Heute begrabe |
| jou in mij, in mij, in mij -- | ich dich in mich, ja in mir -- |
| leef jij elke dag. | lebst du jeden Tag. |
Amsterdam, 2021-03-21
From today (Rob de Nijs) - 2004
Song "Vanaf vandaag" (lyrics Belinda Meuldijk)
Collection: Em Brace
Tribute to: De Nijs, Rob
| Ninety-nine years old | |
| already, but he has stayed -- | |
| much younger for us. | |
| Negenennegen- | Schon neunundneunzig, |
| tig al, maar hij is jonger -- | aber viel jünger ist er -- |
| gebleven voor ons. | für uns geblieben. |
Amsterdam, 2021-01-04
Birth date of Kees J (1922-1994)
Collection: Changing Times
Dedicated to: Kees J
| I do like to talk | |
| with your mind, but the white sheet -- | |
| doesn't look good on it. | |
| Met jouw geest praat ik | Gewiss, dein Geist spricht |
| graag, maar het witte laken -- | ganz klug, aber das Laken -- |
| staat hem niet zo best. | steht ihm nicht sehr gut. |
Amsterdam, 2020-11-15
Dreams of metaphysics (Riekus Waskowsky) - 1966
Poem "Träume der Metaphysik" ("Gandalf", (no. 13, January 1966)
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1960-1979
Tribute to: Waskowsky, Riekus
| The moon: I feel you | |
| next to me again, watching -- | |
| under the blossoms. | |
| De maan: ik voel jou | Der Mond: ich fühle |
| weer naast me, samen kijkend -- | dich wieder bei mir, schauend -- |
| door de bloesems heen. | durch die Kirschblüten. |
Amsterdam, 2020-10-08
To exist, to decay (Juyi Bai) - 799
Mourning for a deceased friend
Collection: Em Brace
Tribute to: Bai, Juyi
| Our life is partly | |
| different now, without you -- | |
| We say it out loud. | |
| Ons leven is deels | Unser Leben ist |
| anders zonder jou, hardop -- | ja anders ohne dich, laut -- |
| spreken we dat uit. | sprechen wir das aus. |
Amsterdam, 2019-11-23
On November 24th, Herman H's day of death
Collection: Changing Times
Dedicated to: Ineke J, Mark H, Christel H, Ellen H, Marianne H
|
The rust of decayed roses |
Amsterdam, 2019-06-28
Collection: The Yellow House Museum
|
I have kept boxes (first quality) |
Amsterdam, 2019-06-20
Collection: The Yellow House Museum
| Nothing is purer | |
| than jet-black ash residues -- | |
| from a burning love. | |
| Niets is zuiverder | Nichts ist reiner als |
| dan gitzwarte asresten -- | schwarze Ascherückstände -- |
| van een liefdesbrand. | eines Liebesbrands. |
Amsterdam, 2019-05-04
Ash is purest white (Zhangke Jia) - 2018
Poem "Jiang hu er nü"
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Jia, Zhangke
|
He dressed you in underwear |
Amsterdam, 2019-01-03
Collection: Moons
|
Cleaning up the shelves |
Amsterdam, 2018-11-30
Inspired by "My Whole Heart" (Saskia MacKende)
Collection: Froend
| His grave isn't a stone, | |
| but a luminous island: | |
| my recollection. | |
| Zijn graf is geen steen, | Sein Grab: kein Stein, nein |
| maar een lichtgevend eiland: | eine leuchtende Insel -- |
| mijn herinnering. | der Erinnerung. |
Amsterdam, 2018-11-05
Collection: Local tardiness
Dedicated to: Ineke J
| His grave isn't a stone, | |
| it is an island in time: | |
| my recollection. | |
| Zijn graf is geen steen, | Sein Grab ist kein Stein, |
| maar een eiland in de tijd: | ist in der Zeit die Insel -- |
| mijn herinnering. | der Erinnerung. |
Amsterdam, 2018-11-04
Collection: Local tardiness
Dedicated to: Ineke J
| Groping, of the wind, | |
| the ages, language, my doubt -- | |
| who you may have been. | |
| Het tasten van wind, | Wind, Jahrhunderte, |
| van eeuwen, taal, mijn twijfel -- | Sprache, Zweifel, tasten ab -- |
| wie jij bent geweest. | wer du vielleicht warst. |
Amsterdam, 2018-05-19
The eroticism of erosion. The groping wind (Herman de Coninck) - 1988
Poem "De erotiek van de erosie. Het tasten van wind" (collection "Het tasten van wind")
Collection: Shortages
Tribute to: De Coninck, Herman
| He is here, at home, | |
| wherever he is absent -- | |
| though still known by us. | |
| Hij is hier nog, thuis, | Er ist überall |
| overal waar hij niet is -- | dort, wo er nicht mehr ist, wir -- |
| maar wij hem kennen. | ihn aber kennen. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-03
On the death of Herman H
Collection: Local tardiness
Dedicated to: Ineke J, Mark H, Christel H, Ellen H, Marianne H
| We are still walking | |
| bravely across the square, oh -- | |
| I wish it were so. | |
| Nog steeds lopen wij | Wir schreiten immer |
| dapper over de keitjes -- | noch tapfer über den Platz -- |
| Ach, was het maar zo. | Wäre es nur so. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-02
We still walk on the blue cobblestones (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Nog altijd lopen wij over de blauwe keitjes", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part VI, Kees], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - January 20th, 1967, Bologna
Photo of Dam Square in Amsterdam, April 24th, 1952
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I sit in her chair | |
| and I touch everything that -- | |
| belonged to mother. | |
| Ik zit in haar stoel | Ich schaue mich um |
| en raak alles aan, alles -- | und berühre alles, was -- |
| dat van moeder was. | Mutter gehörte. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-10
I carefully, silently (Frida Vogels) - 2008
Poem "Ik nam voorzichtig, onhoorbaar", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - May 9th, 1964, Bologna
Mother's things, now in her brother's house (or thrown away by him)
Collection: Self-portraits
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Only now am I | |
| wearing the yellow blouse, that -- | |
| belonged to mother. | |
| Voor de eerste keer | Erst jetzt trage ich |
| draag ik een bloes, de gele -- | die hellgelbe Bluse, die -- |
| die van moeder was. | Mutter gehörte. |
Ufhusen, 2017-08-25
Diary 1954-1957 (Frida Vogels) - 2005
"Dagboek 1954-1957" - July 29th, 1957, Amsterdam
Collection: ThereFrom
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
|
To see you there |
Amsterdam, 2017-08-09
Collection: It takes a lot of tries to make a début
Dedicated to: Ivelina K
|
I don't want to write flowery |
Amsterdam, 2017-05-19
Collection: Pending rain
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk
|
My diary is too honest |
Amsterdam, 2017-04-23
Collection: Dearme
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk
|
A snowy blanket |
Amsterdam, 2017-01-12
Collection: Moons
| The flowers smell sweet | |
| and most precious memories -- | |
| that never wither. | |
| De bloemen geuren | Die Blumen riechen |
| zoete herinneringen -- | süße Erinnerungen -- |
| die nooit verdorren. | die nie verdorren. |
Amsterdam, 2013-09-28
Collection: Moons
| Up here on the hill | |
| where grandma came so often -- | |
| times flow together. | |
| Hier op de heuvel | Hier auf die Höhe |
| waar mijn oma zo vaak kwam -- | wo Großmutter so oft kam -- |
| vloeit de tijd ineen. | vermischt sich die Zeit. |
Amsterdam, 2011-11-26
Collection: Silent walk
|
I don't have a speech, not even this one |
Amsterdam, 2007-09-16
Diary, July 8th - 1945
Collection: Greeting from before
Dedicated to: Riet O
