The Netherlands is known for its beautiful nature and unique islands. One of these islands is Rottumeroog, which is uninhabited and protected by European nature laws.
In 2012 and 2013, I went there on several photography missions, spending a total of 50 days and nights there. It was an amazing experience, as visitors are usually banned. I was alone for most of my stay. My mission was to take photos and help others discover this unique island.
Discovering Rottumeroog
Rottumeroog is known for its flat landscape, which you can easily draw with just a few lines. In order not to introduce my own story into this place, I walked around its perimeter every day and learned to perceive small changes in the landscapes. During my wanderings, I discovered my favorite spot – a place where an old building once stood. Only half-buried bricks remained, between which shells and other ocean sediments had collected. One day I noticed a bottle among the rubble that was different from the others because it had a screw cap. I opened it and in the middle I found a handwritten note. It was written in English: “My name is Meike and I am 11 years old. I have good friends, and you?”
Meeting with Meike
When I started writing my reply – Meike had given me the address of her school in the Netherlands – I tried to describe how humbling it was to be isolated in such densely populated northern Europe. On Rottumeroog, all you see is land, water and sand, and the wind is howling in your ears. Meike finally got my letter, and now, years later, I am still in touch with her family. People tend to think that being alone is bad. But for me, it was freedom in every vein.
Visiting the uninhabited island of Rottumeroog was an unforgettable experience for me. I learned to perceive nature and its small changes. Meeting Meike through a bottle was a powerful experience for me, showing me the beauty of solitude and freedom. The Netherlands is truly a treasure trove of natural wonders worth discovering.
