“Exactly here is where I met my husband 40 years ago. It was my birthday and together with a friend we just bought bikes on credit. We wanted to try them out so we decided to go to the park. In the park there was a group of boys and we got to talk. All of a sudden one of the boys started teasing me and took away my bike key. He told me that if I wanted my key back I would have to come and chase him to get it. He was handsome and nice so I did not mind one bit. After that day we became a couple and a few years later we got married. Unfortunately, my husband passed away about a year ago. Life without him is very hard and I miss him every day but I’m a blessed person. I have had a wonderful marriage.”

“I was two years in a relationship while I was in love with someone else. Not a day went by without thinking of him. A few months ago I decided to end my relationship and now I finally get to be with this person. The love I have for him is so intense that sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming.”

Ed van der Elsken (1925-1990) is seen as one of the best street photographers of the Netherlands. The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam currently has a big exhibition of his work and they’re organizing a photo contest in honor of Ed’s work. I was asked to be an ambassador of this photo contest. I took this photo last year at the Central Station of Amsterdam and selected this to be part of the contest. The reason for selecting this photo is that it reminded me of one my favorite portraits of Ed (Google: Ed van der Elsken, girl in subway). The assignment of the contest is to capture the interaction between you and the person you photograph. To enter you have to share (before May 1st) your photo on Facebook or Instagram and use #deverliefdecamera, #fotowedstrijd and @stedelijkmuseum. The winning photographers will receive a spot in the Ed van der Elsken’s exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam.

“I love women but I was never successful in marriage. However, I have always been successful in business. The first hotel I owned was nearly bankrupted when I bought it so when I took over, I knew I had to come up with a smart plan to get the hotel booked. One day I was reading the newspaper and I noticed many men and women placing advertisements to find someone to marry. These advertisements were immensely popular and many people would find a suitable partner because of it. The words people would use to market themselves were so catchy and genius. I figured why not use the exact same format but change just a few words. Something like: ’‘Hotelroom is looking for an attractive guest.” The next day our phone was ringing non-stop and the hotel was fully booked.“

(2/2) “The drugs had given me a stroke and it partially paralyzed me. While I was in the hospital friends and family would still visit me but once I went into rehabilitation it became less and less. I was no longer the fun friend who could go out and party. I had become a burden. During my recovery I was so scared of being abandoned by friends and family that I forgot to focus on my own recovery.After one month in rehabilitation I went back home to live with boyfriend. Even though he was really supportive I felt really lonely. The situation was hard for him as well because he was working, going to school and taking care of me. After one year I was doing a bit better but our relationship was no longer working. I think too much had happened so we decided to split up. Until this day I am still friends with him and I am so thankful that he was there for me.

From the moment I ended up in the hospital my life changed and for a long time, I was angry at myself. Over and over again I kept on thinking about how different my life could have been if I hadn’t taken the drugs. I lost a part of my health that night. I have also been angry at the people around me but I have learned to let go and forgive. I am not mad at anyone anymore and I try to be positive and to just focus on my relationship with myself. I am partially paralyzed and that it is something I am learning to accept. Instead of seeing my condition as a handicap I see it as my most important life lesson.”

(½)“Two years ago, on New Years eve my entire life changed. I was 19, studying and I had just moved in with my boyfriend. Together with a group of close friends and my boyfriend we went to a party to celebrate the new year. Everyone was doing some kind of drugs that night but I planned to stay sober. However some people suggested to try 4fmp, a designer drug which is kind of known as a ’‘safe XTC”. I was convinced to try it. A few hours after I took the drugs I started to feel unwell. I was seeing black spots and I was no longer able to communicate properly. My boyfriend took me to the first aid post. When they realized I had used drugs they told me to go home and sleep. The next morning when I woke up I got out of bed and fainted. My boyfriend immediately called an ambulance and I was brought to the hospital. I don’t really remember much of what happened after that. When I woke up the next day I couldn’t feel the right side of my body anymore and when the doctor came in I realized something was terribly wrong.“

“Last summer Max lost 10 kilo’s. He was stuck on a rooftop for two weeks and we couldn’t find him. Luckily we ended up finding him and we are happy that he is still here. Our costumers love him. Some even come in just to say hi to Max or give him some candy. Even though he is spoiled he also works.”
“Really? What does he do?”
“He has a weekly column in a local newspaper.”