| Do you grasp that you're | |
| a husband and a father? | |
| You know who you are? | |
| Besef je dat je | Verstehst du, dass du |
| echtgenoot en vader bent? | Ehemann und Vater bist? |
| Weet je wie je bent? | Weißt du, wer du bist? |
Amsterdam, 2026-05-03
The Musician of Kahani (Salman Rushdie) - 2025
Story, paragraph 7, collection "The Eleventh Hour" (page 73)
Collection: Wind
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
| You don't have to come | |
| back for your little grandchild! | |
| Go to your wife first! | |
| Je hoeft niet terug | Komm nicht zurück, um |
| te komen voor je kleinkind! | Opa zu sein! Geh zuerst -- |
| Ga eerst naar je vrouw! | mal zu deiner Frau! |
Amsterdam, 2026-05-03
The Musician of Kahani (Salman Rushdie) - 2025
Story, paragraph 7, collection "The Eleventh Hour" (page 74)
Collection: Wind
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
| I'm protecting Dad: | |
| with my hands on his head, I'm -- | |
| sitting on his neck. | |
| Ik bescherm papa: | Die Hände schützend |
| met mijn handen op zijn hoofd -- | auf Papas Kopf, sitze ich -- |
| zit ik in zijn nek. | auf seinem Nacken. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-29
I have forgotten what it feels like to be painted as a frog (Maud Vanhauwaert) - 2011
Poem "ik ben vergeten hoe het voelt om als kikker geschminkt te zijn" (collection "Ik ben mogelijk")
Collection: Glimpsed
Tribute to: Vanhauwaert, Maud
| Then, for the first time, | |
| I felt sorry for Father -- | |
| It was terrible. | |
| Voor het eerst had ik | Dann, zum ersten Mal, |
| medelijden met vader -- | tat mir Vater Leid. Das war -- |
| Het was vreselijk. | etwas Schreckliches. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-15
Out of the world (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 1998
Novel "Ute av verden" (translated in 2023), part 1, chapter 3
The perfection of the insight that someone you lean on has weaknesses, even though that is a shock
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| Did he write poems | |
| in the beginning of your -- | |
| relationship? Dad? | |
| In het begin van | Hat er zu Beginn |
| jullie verkering schreef hij -- | eurem Umgang Gedichte -- |
| gedichten? Papa? | geschrieben? Papa? |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-03
My struggle 4. Dancing in the Dark (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2010
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Fjerde bok", part 5 - August 23rd, 1985, Tveit (near Kristiansand)
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| Boxes in the loft, | |
| from father: old magazines -- | |
| with naked women. | |
| Dozen op zolder, | Dachbodenlager |
| van vader: oude bladen -- | des Vaters: alte Heften -- |
| met blote vrouwen. | mit nackten Frauen. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-03
My struggle 4. Dancing in the Dark (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2010
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Fjerde bok", part 5 - August 23rd, 1985, Tveit (near Kristiansand)
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| My father has looked | |
| at these nude magazines, so -- | |
| now I can't do that. | |
| Deze blootfoto's | Vater hat sich die |
| heeft vader bekeken, dus -- | Nacktfotos angesehen -- |
| kan ik dat niet doen. | und deshalb ich nicht. |
Amsterdam, 2026-03-03
My struggle 4. Dancing in the Dark (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2010
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Fjerde bok", part 5 - August 23rd, 1985, Tveit (near Kristiansand)
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| We are staying with | |
| grandpa and grandma, where dad -- | |
| always gets restless. | |
| We logeren bij | Wir sind zu Gast bei |
| opa en oma, papa -- | Opa und Oma, dann wird -- |
| wordt dan onrustig. | Papa unruhig. |
Amsterdam, 2026-02-21
My struggle 3. Boyhood Island (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2009
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Tredje bok" (translated 2014), part 4 - Summer vacation 1976, Sørbøvågen (north of Bergen) - Staying with fathers' parents
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| Exactly this view, | |
| from the veranda, is what -- | |
| Dad saw every day. | |
| Precies dit uitzicht, | Mein Vater hatte, |
| vanaf de veranda, zag -- | von dem Erker aus, diesen -- |
| papa dagelijks. | Ausblick jeden Tag. |
Amsterdam, 2026-01-12
My struggle 1. A Death in the Family (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2009
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Første bok", part 2 - July 1998, Kristiansand
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
|
I wanted to forget you |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-19
Eight poems and a diary entry from June 5th, 1972, by Frida Vogels about her father (1903-1971)
September 13th, 1971 - The love that snows on him who asks for it no more
September 21st, 1971 - It's quite normal, they say, that you always visit me
January 5th, 1972 - Two who
January 16th, 1972 / February 9th, 1977 - I can remember you / You're with me again
June 5th, 1972 - You came to me from behind
July 17th, 1972 - You told me everything in a hurry
June 13th, 1973 - I have never heard a word from you
November 11th, 1974 - The shutters were thrown open, I didn't know if it would be you
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| At last you come and | |
| you throw open my shutters -- | |
| Without seeing me. | |
| Eindelijk kom je, | Endlich kommst du, reißt |
| je gooit mijn luiken open -- | meine Fensterläden auf -- |
| Zonder mij te zien. | aber siehst mich nicht. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-31
The shutters were thrown open, I didn't know if it would be you (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Poem "De luiken werden opengegooid, ik wist niet of jij het zou zijn", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part X [Father], and in "Diary 1962-1963" - November 11th, 1974, Bologna
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I dream: my father | |
| kisses me, but it isn't him -- | |
| and he isn't kissing. | |
| Ik droom dat vader | Ein Traum: Vater küsst |
| me kust, maar hij is het niet -- | mich, aber er ist es nicht -- |
| en hij kust me niet. | und er küsst mich nicht. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-24
Diary 1972-1973 (Frida Vogels) - 2012
"Dagboek 1972-1973" - June 5th, 1972, Bologna
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| You touch my back, I | |
| turn around and you are shocked -- | |
| like I'm who knows what. | |
| Je raakt mijn rug aan, | Ich drehe mich um |
| ik draai me om en jij schrikt -- | zu dir und du bist schockiert -- |
| alsof ik wat? ben. | als wäre ich was? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-24
You came to me from behind (Frida Vogels) - 2012
Poem "Je kwam achter me naar me toe", published in "Diary 1972-1973" (2012) - June 5th, 1972, Bologna (about her father)
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Father is gruff and | |
| absent again, he answers: | |
| Why aren't you playing? | |
| Vader is weer nors | Vater ist wieder |
| en afwezig, hij antwoordt: | mürrisch, er antwortet nur: |
| Waarom speel je niet? | Warum spielst du nicht? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-23
Two who (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Poem "Twee die", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part X [Father]), and in "Diary 1972-1973" (2012) - January 5th, 1972, Bologna
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| You were rarely home, | |
| for years before your death, we -- | |
| took care of ourselves. | |
| Jij was zelden thuis, | Du warst nie da, auch |
| al lang voor jouw dood hebben -- | vor deinem Tod haben wir -- |
| wij onszelf gered. | für uns selbst gesorgt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-22
We've always managed to do without you (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "We konden het altijd al buiten je stellen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part X [Father]), and in "Diary 1970-1972" (2011) - October 31st, 1971, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Daddy carries me, | |
| points to the world, takes my hand -- | |
| when I want his help. | |
| Papa draagt me, wijst | Papa trägt mich, zeigt |
| de wereld in, neemt mijn hand -- | in die Welt, nimmt meine Hand -- |
| als ik zijn hulp wil. | wenn ich ihn brauche. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-14
With a photo of a sculpture in Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, of a man with a baby in his arms (June 22nd, 1997)
Collection: Lookout
Dedicated to: Lotte W
| Safe in the rock of | |
| father's arm, floating along -- | |
| with all life on earth. | |
| Veilig in de rots | Sicher im Felsen |
| van vaders arm meedeinen -- | von Vaters Arm zu treiben -- |
| met alles wat leeft. | mit allem, was lebt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-14
Rock (Esther Kin) - 2025
Ink drawing "Rots"
Collection: The Big Secret
Tribute to: Kin, Esther
| Father is a sea, | |
| he's never still, sometimes calm -- | |
| until the next flood. | |
| Vader is een zee, | Vater ist ein Meer, |
| nooit stil, soms rustig, tot aan -- | nie still, nur manchmal ruhig -- |
| de volgende vloed. | bis zur nächsten Flut. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-08
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Jeanette Winterson) - 2005
Myth Retelling, chapter Weight of the world
Collection: May the Might
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette
| Dad is standing tough | |
| in the surf, so are we, mum -- | |
| and I, and my doll. | |
| Papa staat heel stoer | Papa steht ganz cool |
| in de branding, mama ook -- | in der Brandung, Mama auch -- |
| en ik, en mijn pop. | und ich, und Puppe. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-30
With a photo of Pieter, Michi, and Lotte W in the North Sea (August 5th, 2016, Noordwijk)
Collection: The climbing house
Dedicated to: Lotte W
| Daddy pampers me, | |
| he knows what I need: salty -- | |
| sweet and savoury! | |
| Papa verwent mij, | Papa verwöhnt mich, |
| hij weet wat ik nodig heb: | er weiß, was ich brauche: süß -- |
| zoet, zout en hartig! | salzig und herzhaft! |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-26
With a photo of Madelief and Pieter with an unrolled licorice wheel (April 11th, 2004, Meggen)
There are six taste sensations: sweet, salty, savoury (umami), sour, bitter and fatty
Collection: The climbing house
Dedicated to: Madelief dK, Pieter W
| Dad understands me, | |
| he asks precise questions, yes -- | |
| he thinks carefully. | |
| Papa begrijpt me, | Papa versteht mich, |
| hij stelt precieze vragen -- | er stellt präzise Fragen -- |
| ja, hij denkt goed na. | ja, er denkt gut nach. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-24
With photos of Lotte and Pieter taken during a video call (January 22nd, 2015 and May 14th, 2017, Grossdietwil)
Collection: The climbing house
Dedicated to: Lotte W
| They are family, | |
| those trees there, I have never -- | |
| seen the father, though. | |
| Ze zijn familie, | Die Bäume dort sind |
| die bomen daar, de vader -- | eine Familie, der -- |
| heb ik nooit gezien. | Vater ist nie da. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-06
So what? (Bart Chabot) - 2003
Poem "En wat dan nog?", published in the collections "zand erover" ("bygones be bygones", 2003) en "Ooievaarsblues" ("Stork Blues", 2024)
Collection: Passage Passion
Tribute to: Chabot, Bart
| You can see that he | |
| is a man of the world, yet -- | |
| he belongs to us. | |
| Je ziet zo dat hij | Man sieht gleich, er ist |
| een man van de wereld is -- | ein echter Mann von Welt, er -- |
| maar hij hoort bij ons. | gehört aber uns. |
Amsterdam, 2025-04-24
With a photo of Pieter, the father of Madelief, Florentin, and Lotte
Collection: The Big Secret
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Pieter W
| Yes, choose a father, | |
| for with him you also choose -- | |
| your inheritance. | |
| Kies zelf een vader, | Wähl einen Vater, |
| met hem kies je immers ook -- | schließlich wählst du damit auch -- |
| wat je van hem erft. | was du von ihm erbst. |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-09
Shame (Salman Rushdie) - 1983
Novel / Exposition with stories, part 1, chapter 3 Melting Ice
Collection: Shadows
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
| What does my father | |
| smell like inside, how much worse -- | |
| than his stinking breath? | |
| Hoe ruikt mijn vader | Wie riecht mein Vater |
| van binnen, hoeveel erger -- | drinnen, wie viel schrecklicher -- |
| dan zijn adem stinkt? | als sein Atem stinkt? |
Amsterdam, 2023-12-14
Big Eight (Vrouwkje Tuinman) - 2005
Novel "Grote acht" (route of two circles in dressage), chapter Eleven (years old) #2
Collection: The Note Tree
Tribute to: Tuinman, Vrouwkje
| It's like a Hopper | |
| painting, sitting on a bench -- | |
| next to my father. | |
| Als een schilderij | Wie ein Gemälde |
| van Hopper, met mijn vader -- | von Hopper, neben Vater -- |
| samen op de bank. | auf einer Parkbank. |
Amsterdam, 2023-11-20
Scenes with My Father (Biserka Suran) - 2022
Documentary "Scenes with My Father" - Conversation on a bench in front of an abandoned factory; there is a loudspeaker next to the entrance - Scenery as a painting by Edward Hopper (Nyack 1882-1967)
Collection: New Ago
Tribute to: Suran, Biserka; Hopper, Edward
| Father is the black | |
| next to the red smouldering -- | |
| of the cigar tip. | |
| Vader is het zwart | Vater ist das Schwarz |
| naast het rode opgloeien -- | neben der roten Glut der -- |
| van de sigaarpunt. | Zigarrenspitze. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-22
The rescue of Fré Bolderhey (Simon Vestdijk) - 1946
Novel "De redding van Fré Bolderhey" (published 1948), chapter 1
Collection: Inmost [2]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon
| When dad comes home, he | |
| brings many countries with him: | |
| Dreams run through my blood. | |
| Als vader thuiskomt | Wenn Vater heimkommt, |
| brengt hij heel veel landen mee: | bringt er viele Länder mit: |
| Dromen in mijn bloed. | Mein Blut träumt davon. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-16
Blood in my blood (Wende Snijders) - 2023
Song "Bloed in mijn bloed" (album "Sterrenlopen)
Collection: Passage Passion
Tribute to: Snijders, Wende
| Father chases me, | |
| we run around the table -- | |
| three times, always three. | |
| Vader zit mij na, | Vater verfolgt mich, |
| we rennen om de tafel -- | es geht um den Tisch herum -- |
| drie keer, altijd drie. | dreimal, immer drei. |
Amsterdam, 2023-06-13
Child between four women (Simon Vestdijk) - 1972
Novel "Kind tussen vier vrouwen", written in 1933, § 6 (AD 1909)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon
| I know father well, | |
| he is happy to see me -- | |
| though he doesn't show it. | |
| Ik ken vader goed, | Ich kenne Vater, |
| hij is blij om mij te zien -- | er freut sich, mich zu sehen -- |
| al verbergt hij dat. | zeigt das aber nicht. |
Amsterdam, 2022-12-01
The Office - Plankton (Han Voskuil) - 1997
Novel "Het Bureau - Plankton"
Page 250, Maarten, Klaas and Nicolien Koning (1973)
Collection: Dirty hands
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han
| My father is dead, | |
| he says nothing, but I know -- | |
| what he would say now. | |
| Mijn dode vader | Mein toter Vater |
| zegt niets, maar ik weet heel goed -- | sagt nichts, aber ich weiß, was -- |
| wat hij zou zeggen. | er sagen würde. |
Amsterdam, 2022-09-04
A pleasant postumity: letters 1965-1997 (Herman de Coninck) - 1987
Letter 157, from Herman de Coninck to Kathy Lindekens, December 17th, 1987 (in "Een aangename postumiteit: brieven 1965-1997"); published in 2004
Collection: Shortages
Tribute to: De Coninck, Herman
| Dad never writes me, | |
| oh dear, I start forgetting -- | |
| to be forgotten. | |
| Papa schrijft me nooit, | Papa schreibt mich nie, |
| ik begin te vergeten -- | ich fang an zu vergessen -- |
| vergeten te zijn. | vergessen zu sein. |
Amsterdam, 2022-01-30
Findling (Vonne van der Meer) - 2019
Novel "Vindeling"
Collection: VacantVoid
Tribute to: Van Der Meer, Vonne
| That man over there: | |
| daddy, whom we love a lot -- | |
| is a bit crazy. | |
| Die man daar: papa, | Dieser Mann: Papa, |
| van wie we heel veel houden -- | den wir sehr lieben, na, er -- |
| is een beetje gek. | ist etwas verrückt. |
Amsterdam, 2021-10-11
Maintenance of the senses (Franco Faggiani) - 2018
Novel "La manutenzione dei sensi"
Collection: Thinkles Lusionless
Tribute to: Faggiani, Franco
|
Dad, you know where it hurts |
Amsterdam, 2019-09-30
Collection: The light of words
| I run away, but | |
| my father ties my feet up -- | |
| with just one big shout. | |
| Ik loop weg, maar mijn | Ich geh weg, aber |
| vader legt mijn voeten vast -- | Vater greift meine Füße -- |
| met één grote schreeuw. | mit nur einem Schrei. |
Amsterdam, 2019-01-11
Child (Charles Ducal) - 2014
Poem "Kind" (collection "De buitendeur")
Collection: High gear
Tribute to: Ducal, Charles
| Biking with my dad, | |
| and just one piece of luggage: | |
| a cork opener. | |
| Fietsen met vader, | Radeln. Vater hat |
| met maar één stuk bagage: | nur ein Gepäckstück dabei: |
| een kurkentrekker. | den Korkenzieher. |
Amsterdam, 2018-07-04
Ashes in bag (Jelle Brandt Corstius) - 2016
Biography "As in tas"
Collection: Being my own museum
Tribute to: Brandt Corstius, Jelle
| Dad used to tickle | |
| me, because he wasn't sure how -- | |
| to hug and stroke me. | |
| Papa kietelde | Papa kitzelte, |
| omdat hij niet goed wist hoe -- | weil er nicht wusste, wie er -- |
| hij mij moest strelen. | mich streicheln sollte. |
Amsterdam, 2018-05-17
1958 - 2, Only years later, I am twenty, may I know (Herman de Coninck) - 1993
Poem "1958 - 2, Pas jaren later, ik ben twintig, mag ik weten" (in Maatstaf 10-12, 1993, and in the collection "Schoolslag", 1994)
Collection: Shortages
Tribute to: De Coninck, Herman
|
Daddy was in my bed |
Amsterdam, 2018-01-15
Fairy tale
Collection: Froend
| Quarrels with father | |
| are rotten: they're not allowed -- | |
| to have a bad end. | |
| Ruzies met vader | Streite mit Vater |
| vind ik rot: ze mogen niet -- | nerven mich: sie dürfen nicht -- |
| verkeerd aflopen. | verkehrt ablaufen. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-13
Diary 1970-1971 (Frida Vogels) - 2011
"Dagboek 1970-1971" - April 21st, 1971, Amsterdam
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Father still conjures | |
| up gilded vistas for me -- | |
| with his old letter. | |
| Vader tovert nog | Vater zaubert mir |
| steeds gouden vergezichten -- | immer noch Ausblicke, mit -- |
| met zijn brief van toen. | seinem alten Brief. |
Amsterdam, 2017-10-07
The hard core - 2 (Frida Vogels) - 1993
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" (2) - Letter from 1938 (Laren)
Collection: ThereFrom
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I'm wearing father's | |
| coat, as if he's walking here -- | |
| Well, that is a first. | |
| Ik draag vaders jas, | Ich trage Vaters |
| alsof hijzelf nu hier loopt -- | Mantel, so als ob er hier -- |
| Voor de eerste keer. | geht, zum ersten Mal. |
Amsterdam, 2017-05-05
The coat (Wim Brands) - 1997
Poem "De jas" (collection "In de metro")
Collection: Em Brace
Tribute to: Brands, Wim
| Father, I did not | |
| bury you, I still drag you -- | |
| along on my back. | |
| Vader, begraven | Vater, begraben |
| heb ik je niet, ik sleep je -- | hab ich dich nicht, ich schlepp dich -- |
| nog steeds op mijn rug. | auf meinen Rücken. |
Amsterdam, 2015-07-16
I did not bury you, father (Lut de Block) - 1984
Poem "Ik heb je niet begraven vader" (collection "Vader")
Collection: Blankets of snow
Tribute to: De Block, Lut
| Dad makes clouds, makes them | |
| hover, I am protected -- | |
| against the sun's rays. | |
| Papa maakt wolken, | Papa macht Wolken |
| laat ze stil hangen, veilig -- | und er legt sie fest, zum Schutz -- |
| speel ik uit de zon. | gegen die Sonne. |
Amsterdam, 2015-02-01
the cloud collector (Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer) - 1998
Poem "de wolkenverzamelaar" (collection "Van de vierkante man")
Collection: Palace of the night
Tribute to: Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard
| There it stands, asking: | |
| please convince me of your plan -- | |
| My father's arm chair. | |
| Vragend staat hij daar: | Fragend steht er da: |
| overtuig me van jouw plan -- | erkläre mir deinen Plan -- |
| Mijn vaders zetel. | Mein Vaters Sessel. |
Amsterdam, 2012-03-28
Collection: A Home
