The province of Friesland (Fryslân in local dialect) is located in the northern region of the Netherlands. I was not born or raised there, but my parents and grandparents were. My first name, Bouwe, is a very typical Frisian name that you don’t hear anywhere else in the Netherlands. With this project, I hoped to learn more about the place and the people that live, and lived, here. And in doing so, to learn more about my roots and belonging.

People from Fryslân are looked upon by the rest of the Netherlands as stubborn people. Going back as far as the Spanish occupation, they have a history of resisting authority. Postcards from Fryslân is still an ongoing project — hopefully a lifelong one. When it started, it represented only a collection of places that seemed interesting. Currently, the hope is to cover most of the province, as you never know in advance where the best narratives are. But still, it is all candid, unposed and in the public realm.