Where Europe ends / Trilogy #1

Encounters along the new eastern border

In the project Het einde van Europa. Ontmoetingen langs de nieuwe oostgrens (Where Europe ends. Encounters along the new eastern border) I traveled along the five thousand kilometers long eastern border of Europe, to experience the immensity of the expanded European empire.

This border runs through Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. In search of images which reflect the atmosphere of the different countries and their histories, I photographed the border area and its inhabitants.

The pictures were published, along with the text of writer Irene van der Linde, in an unique combination of literary journalism and documentary photography: Het einde van Europa. Ontmoetingen langs de nieuwe oostgrens, Lemniscaat, 2004. The book was published in French in 2010 as Gens des Confins. Sur la frontière orientale de l’Europe by Les Editions Nor sur Blanc, 2010.

SCROLL TO THE RIGHT FOR MORE PHOTOS
ESTONIA - overlooking the banks of the river Narva towards Russia ESTONIA - overlooking the banks of the river Narva towards Russia
FINLAND - Reindeer herd neer Sevettijarvi FINLAND - Reindeer herd neer Sevettijarvi
ESTONIA - unemployed Russian workers in a poorhouse in Narva ESTONIA - unemployed Russian workers in a poorhouse in Narva
LATVIA - at the table with a Russian family in Pasiene at the border with Russia LATVIA - at the table with a Russian family in Pasiene at the border with Russia
LITHUANIA - woman with sickle in Zervynos at the border with Belarus LITHUANIA - woman with sickle in Zervynos at the border with Belarus
POLAND - at the border with Ukraine in the Bieszcady mountains POLAND - at the border with Ukraine in the Bieszcady mountains
POLAND - charcoalburners in Chmiel in the Bieszcady mountains POLAND - charcoalburners in Chmiel in the Bieszcady mountains
SLOVAKIA - Roma settlement in Chminianske Jakuvobany near the border with Ukraine SLOVAKIA - Roma settlement in Chminianske Jakuvobany near the border with Ukraine
SLOVAKIA - in the Roma settlement of Svinia near the border with Ukraine SLOVAKIA - in the Roma settlement of Svinia near the border with Ukraine
HUNGARY - fair in Vasarosnameny near the border with Ukraine HUNGARY - fair in Vasarosnameny near the border with Ukraine
HUNGARY - bar in Tarpa at the border with Ukraine HUNGARY - bar in Tarpa at the border with Ukraine
ROMANIA - monthly cattle market in Sighet at the border with Ukraine ROMANIA - monthly cattle market in Sighet at the border with Ukraine
ROMANIA - at a wedding party in Poienile Izei at the border with Ukraine ROMANIA - at a wedding party in Poienile Izei at the border with Ukraine
ROMANIA - counting sheep in Rozavlea at the border with Ukraine ROMANIA - counting sheep in Rozavlea at the border with Ukraine
BULGARIA - Black Sea coast in Kamcija BULGARIA - Black Sea coast in Kamcija