Netherlands is a flat country due to its location as a river delta. This means that in many rural areas, you have a wide view on a broad horizon. However, this broad view is completely absent in terms of culture. Art and photography are not seen as really important for the general public in the Netherlands. The overall knowledge is at a distressingly low level. Historical knowledge also lags far behind compared to surrounding countries, according to Joke de Wolf, a Dutch art historian from the Dutch newspaper Trouw.
In this environment, it remains difficult to explain exactly what you do as artist/photographer. Many people think that creating images is mainly a hobby or fun to spend in your spare time. The only real interest that the majority of people in the Netherlands show in my work is whether I can earn enough money from it or if I am able to make a living from it. Especially in my early years, I had to be constantly reminded that money also had to be earned. I can somewhat understand where this comes from, as everyone who puts something on paper or takes a photo calls themselves an artist or photographer.
Money is sacred
Working in this climate is therefore not very inspiring. It rarely focuses on the actual content, and you feel like you constantly have to justify whether you are earning enough money and/or working hard enough. As if money is sacred and hard work is a guarantee of a happy and successful life. For me, it quickly became clear that I had to focus on foreign countries. The Internet has accelerated globalization and it is quite easy to connect with people from all over the world these days, so in that regard we are living in good times.
What always struck me during these networking experiences was the genuine interest in what I create. It rarely revolved around whether I sold enough as an artist. I also noticed that people outside the Netherlands had a much broader historical and cultural knowledge compared to the Dutch. This is why I have become much more interested in the historical background of art and photography myself. Something that you generally do not really get in the Netherlands and which is why the appreciation for artists and photographers is so low. After all, you have to work hard, and that is something that artists and photographers certainly not do, right?!