Jaap and I met via a common Flickr friend while I visited Rotterdam on a weekend in September 2007. I hadn't seen any picture of him before, hadn't had any kind of contact with him - I barely knew he existed. The three of us spent most of the saturday together - and it was a marvellous day. I immediately had to check o… Read more

Jaap and I met via a common Flickr friend while I visited Rotterdam on a weekend in September 2007. I hadn't seen any picture of him before, hadn't had any kind of contact with him - I barely knew he existed. The three of us spent most of the saturday together - and it was a marvellous day. I immediately had to check out his photos, and they met all my expectations, even exceeded them. I found that his complex historian's view on the world shows in his photography too. He has a fantastic sense for detail, a great eye for urban graphics and repetition, a real hand for people in the street, a fantastic way both with color and monochrome - and he takes pictures of an amazing variety of themes. I like the little stories that go along with many of his photos. No matter whether mundane or glorious, he manages to make his subjects shine. A wonderful photographer, and a wonderful person too. I am so happy we have met.