April 2013
Koh Lanta
A taste of another beautiful story that I have just made for the Conde Nast Traveller. This time in Thailand - Koh Lanta.
It will most likely appear in the September issue this year.
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April 2013
Thailand - Koh Lanta - Muay Thai
During our trip in Koh Lanta, Jimmy .. the leisure man of hotel Layana, took us for an evening Thai boxing in town.
What an experience !!
4 April 2013
on the cover of the Conde Nast Traveller
I have the cover of the latest issue of the English Conde Nast Traveller. Today in the bookstores. Inside my story about Alacati in Turkey.
4 April 2013
Conde Nast Traveller - Alacati
Today in the bookstores. 8 pages about Alacati in the English Conde Nast Traveller. A new unkown spot on the coast close to Izmir.
March 2013
publication HOME magazine
The Italian 'HOME magazine' publishes 12 pages on Studiomie.
Beautiful, thanks !
More information about Studiomie and their wonderful B&B : www.studiomie.be
NU architectuuratelier : www.nu-web.be/
February 2013
Wonderbag - Happinez
For a story for Happinez magazine I went to Kenya to Laikipia.
We went to do a story about 'the wonderbag'.
A beautiful initiative by a South African lady called Sarah Collins.
A Wonderbag is an insulated bag in which people can cook anything from meaty stews or vegetable curries to simple rice and soups. You heat up your pot of food on the stove, kick-starting the cooking process, and then place it in the Wonderbag.
"It works. It’s happening. It changes lives. It makes practical, environmental and commercial sense."
Sarah Collins
The whole article will appear in the new Happinez special - 'happi food' which appears in April.
January 2013
Belgium
A new interior.
The home and studio of Fien Muller and Hannes Walraven.
An artist - designers couple from Gent, Belgium.
Here you will find the whole story
January 2013
Senegal trip
Untamed Travelling is a customized specialist for trips to Africa, the Indian Ocean and Latin America.
They organize a trip where you go with me as a photographer.
It will be in May to Senegal.
Here you will find more information
December 2012
'Muine' magazine - Korea
The Korean magazine 'MUINE' published a small article about Pieke's Metamorphosis.
4 - 9 December 2012
MIAMI beach
DESIGN MIAMI
I photographed the work of Pieke Bergmans 'METAMORPHOSIS' during the Design Miami fair on Miami Beach.
She had a solo exhibition presented by Venice Projects.
3 November 2012
Staphorst
20 years ago I started my career in Staphorst. I photographed this village during 2 years. From a cautious approach and taking time, people allowed me in their homes and lives.
I made a portrait of a village where time seemed to stand still.
Since today there is a website, on which you will find all the material ever appeared about this traditional village in Holland.
28 October 2012
Knokke
Today is the launching of the new book of Luster.
'North Sea Living'
A book with 15 different interiors along the Northsea, in Belgium and Holland.
I photographed the 2 interiors in Holland, Vlieland.
Here you will find more information about the book
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September 2012
Grazia CASA
In the September issue of the Grazia CASA a whole page about our book 'Dutch architects and their houses'
September 2012
Four Seasons Magazine
The new 'Four Seasons Magazine' is out with 12 pages of my trip to Geneva and la Chaux de Fonds. All about watchmaking.
August 2012
RUM interior
In the August issue of RUM interior 9 pages with the house of Eline Strijkers
August 2012
Alacati
For the English 'Conde Nast Traveler' I went to Alacati in Turkey.
An 'undiscovered' lovely place along the coast.
Probably be published in the spring.
August 2012
Australia
In the latest issue of the Australian 'Vogue Living' a very nice announcement about our architects book.
Thanks a lot !
'DUTCH ARCHITECTS AND THEIR HOUSES by Mirjam Bleeker ( Luster )
Here, 16 Dutch architects and designers in urban and rural dwellings, old or newly built, tell of the elements that made these into their own homes. What shines through on every page is a sense of cohesion and harmony from thoughtful attention to the placement of every detail.'
6 August 2012
Uganda
With four of my best friends I went for a big trip through Uganda for 3 weeks.
Today we are going to meet the gorilla's in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Southwest of Uganda.
A 2 hour walk steeply high up in the mountains brings us to the 'Mubare group'. A young group of 6 gorillas with one silverback
July 2012
Barcelona
In June I was in Barcelona and met Andrew Trotter, the owner of a fantastic blog which I'm following for a while.
We chatted and I gave him our book as a present.
In July he surprised me with this piece on his blog.
Thank you so much Andrew
July 2012
The Netherlands
In the latest issue of 'Happinez' our story about the Achuar in the Amazone - Equador
June 2012
Porto
I photographed the hotel 'Casa Do Conto' in Porto.
The stunning result of a restoration project that converted a 19th century middle class home in Porto, Portugal, to an exclusive and bespoke urban hotel.
The dutch ELLE DECORATION is going to publish it in their December issue
June 2012
Amsterdam
I photographed the work of Pieke Bergmans
In the June issue of the 'Residence' 6 pages and a nice piece about our 'Mamita' book.
11 May 2012
Amsterdam
Yesterday we had the book presentation of our new book 'Dutch architects and their houses' .
Almost all the architects came to see the result.
Sabien de Kleijn and Jeroen van Schooten
Herman Hertzberger
Marc Verhagen of Luster publishing
10 May 2012
Amsterdam
Today is going to be our book launching at Studio IJM in Amsterdam
You can order the book through www.lusterweb.com
17 April 2012
Amsterdam
Today appeared a wonderful publication about our 'Mamita' book on the online version of one of our biggest newspapers.
16 April 2012
Antwerp
On the website of Luster you can already have a look inside our new book.
I'm very happy with it. It became a beautiful mix of inspiring houses.
There is already an possibility to order the book.
13 April 2012
Amsterdam
The info sheet about our new book 'Dutch architects and their houses'.
10 April 2012
Amsterdam
They are printing my next book about 'Dutch architects and their houses'.
WOW !!! Two books in a few months.
This will be the cover
29 March 2012
Amsterdam
Especially for this project and book I made my first movie.
30 March 2012
Amsterdam
The book presentation
yesterday was a big success.
About 200 people came to see us in the M-Lab in Amsterdam.
It was overwhelming all these reactions and so many books have been sold.
Thanks a lot for that !
The proceeds of this book go directly to the children, to the schools, to the doctors of Niños del Arco Iris. This way you give something back to life as well.
Inez van Oord, Mirjam Bleeker, Pieke Bergmans and Jet Bergmans
Helena van Engelen with her grandchildren.
photographs : Wouter Jansen
29 March 2012
Amsterdam
Today our book 'MAMITA' will be launched.
Mother of a valley of children
Journalist Inez van Oord and photographer Mirjam Bleeker went to stay with Mamita Helena for thirty days.At Niños del Arco Iris, a project for forgotten children in Urubamba.
Their friends, designer Pieke Bergmans and artist Jet Bergmans went with them.
Four women leave for Peru with the idea or putting together a book for Helena, or rather about her and her project.
Infected by Helena's motto 'I want to give back to life' the four women give it back to the paper; one through impressively beautiful photographs, another in mysteriously beautiful drawings; the third visualizes a dream full of symbols and the fourth writes it all down. This book is the result of their collaboration with Helena.
Dutch version available in the Happinez webshop or in the bookstore :
ISBN 9789029585132
For the English version please send an email to info@mirjambleeker.nl
The proceeds of this book go directly to the children, to the schools, to the doctors of Niños del Arco Iris. This way you give something back to life as well.
14 March 2012
Amsterdam
Press - picture
Jet Bergmans, Pieke Bergmans, Inez van Oord, Mirjam Bleeker, Helena van Engelen
photograph : Wouter Jansen
19 March 2012
Amsterdam
Our press page for Mamita : het boek Mamita
20 February 2012
Utrecht
Today we went to the printing company where at the moment our book 'MAMITA' is pressed
2 February 2012
Kemzeke - Verbeke foundation
A very special place in Belgium near Antwerp
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3 December 2011
Hotel 'The Exchange'
I photographed the new 'Exchange Hotel'.
Today it is the opening .
A hotel with a special love of fashion. Students of the Amsterdam Fashion institute dressed the rooms like models on the catwalk.
The result: a hotel where architecture meets fashion.
14 November 2011
Amsterdam
Back home from this incredible trip.
I want to ask everybody to sign for 'Rights of Nature'. It is strange to believe, but so far only human rights exist. This organization is really wortwhile. I've been there, seen it and they do amazing work!
'Value Nature as a living being, Say YES to Right of Nature! ' - The Petition Site
3 November 2011
Ti'inkias
Today we meet the Achuar, we are drinking together their staple manioc beverage, chicha, we learn about their daily life and customs, and we hike through the verdant forest.
In the evening I participated in a traditional ceremony with an elder Achuar Shaman. Called ayahuasca (natem).
Quite an adventure.
The story of our trip will appear next year in Happinez.
If you want to know about these trips you can visit the Pachamama website - www.pachamamajourneys.org
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2 November 2011
Ecuador
'The Pachamama Alliance was born in response to a request from the achuar, an indigenous people deep in the Amazon region of Ecuador.
The achuar made the courageous decision to seek a partnership with people from the industrialized world who would work with them in protecting their rainforst home and their traditional way of life.
Out of this unique partnership, it has become evident that indigenous wisdom and insight offer enormous value in addressing the complex issues that we face in our modern world.'
This organisation gives travel opportunities to visit the Achuar in the rainforest.
And that is what we did. We went there and met these amazing people.
We drove to the town of Shell where we took a 45-minute flight deep into the Amazon rainforest and the Achuar village of Chichirat.
From there we walked into the forest till the river. A short motorized canoe took us down the Bobonaza river to the village of Ti'inkias, where we stayed in a community-based rustic lodge.
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October 2011
Amsterdam
We made a teaser as announcement for our coming book 'Mamita'
It is about the project of Helena van Engelen in Peru
29 September 2011
Israel
For the first time in Israel, together with journalist Lisette Thooft.
A country that hosts two different nations; the Israeli and the Palestians, that both believe they are the rightful owners of Israel.
The subject of this journey covered a meeting with groups that are striving to live 'together' with both the Israelis and the Palestinians 'in peace'.
Beautiful encounters with people who despite all the negative, deconstructive and violent oppositions, every day are trying to promote peace and equality for a harmful society.
The article will appear in the December issue of Happinez.
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Dvora Pearlman , who organized 'The Jerusalem Hug' in between a group of young Israeli who are walking at the moment from the North of Israel to Jerusalem, where they will arrive in a few weeks.
A kind of piilgrimage, and they hope that many people will accompany them on their way.
If you want to follow them : http://www.facebook.com/groups/244642938911652/
10 July 2011
Boisbuchet
I went to a very special place in France close to Limoges.
An idyllic country estate where they give every summer interesting workshops under the direction of internationally recognised artists, designers and architects.
This is in cooperation with the Centre Georges Pompidou and Vitra Design Museum
June 2011
Taschen
The second issue of 'INTERIORS NOW' is out.
And I'm in.
With the interior of Wilbert Das in Trancoso - Brasil.
June 2011
Dutch Architects and Their Houses
A Belgium publisher asked me to me make the new book about 'Dutch Architects and Their Houses'
The Belgium version came out in the beginning of this year and is a success.
'Belgische architecten en hun huis'
We are starting photographing now and it will appear next year.
Together with Frank Visser.We made already a very nice selection of interesting Dutch architects.
May 2011
Four Seasons magazine
I'm in 'issue one' of the travel issue with 'Mirjam's Japan'
This is a magazine wich you can find in all Four Seasons Hotels all over the world.
You can find the whole article in the 'publications'
9 May 2011
Urubamba
Pieke gave a workshop for all the students and the teachers of the project.
She told them about her work as a designer and worked with them together on a beautiful object.
During the whole week the local welder came to realise 'el sueno ' ... 'the dream' ..
A gift to the foundation.
8 May 2011
Chinchero - mother's day
Today we went to Chinchero. A small Andean Indian village about 45 minutes from Urubamba.We were lucky because it was mother's day, and this day is very important in the Andes.
On sunday you got the colourful Sunday market, so we were double lucky.
Everywhere people sitting together ,eating ,drinking and celebrating.
2 May 2011
Machu Picchu
We went for 2 days by train to the Machu Picchu. Already the trip by train was such
an adventure.
Sitting in the train where the most beautiful scenery pass you by,
and where you even more slowly disappears into the mountains and eventually ends up in the middle of the jungle. That is where the Machu Picchu is situated.
30 April 2011
Urubamba
Every saturday the mamma's are coming to the project to work
with Helena on bracelets and other jewelry. This will be sold and
and the mamma's will get paid for every piece they make.
28 April 2011
Urubamba
'Ninos del arco Iris' is a place where young people can have a change
to learn a job in the hotelworld, computer, electricidad and as a tailor.
.... and where the small children of the valley can come every
afternoon, to have a shower, to have a meal and to get extra lessons.
A Peruvian doctor, a dentist and a nurse take care of all the medical
care. On the project there is a place where the people can come to see
the doctor and the dentist. Every Tuesday and Thursday they go to
the people's homes to advice the family in their home situation, hygiene,
living situation and keep the house clean.There is a whole programm
developed for this.
27 April 2011
Urubamba
Helena decided to start her project in Urubamba. A small village where
the people are very poor, children don't have a future and where the people drink chicha ,
a homemade fermented drink which is pure alcohol.
26 April 2011
Sacred Valley
Arriving at 'Ninos del Arco Iris'. The impressive foundation of Helena van Engelen.
26 April 2011
Sacred Valley
Arriving in the middle of the Andes with the most amazing skies.
25 April 2011
Peru
Today I'm leaving to Peru.
We are going to stay 4 weeks with my very good friend Helena van Engelen,
who lives since 10 years in 'The Sacred Valley' in Urubamaba.
She started an incredible big project overthere for the poorest children,
young adults and single mothers of the Sacred Valley.
Every day dozens of children get food, education and medical care.
www.kuychi.org
I went to her already twice, but this time it will be for a special reason.
We want to make a book and maybe a documentary about the work she does.
I am not going alone. Together with Inez van Oord, Pieke Bergmans, and
Jet Bergmans. Journalist, designer and artist.
The idea is go with 4 women , to make a book about the 5th one.
A very special lady with a very special mission in life ...
11 March 2011
Amsterdam
The new issue of the Dutch 'ELLE DECORATION' is out !
10 pages of the LLOVE hotel in Tokyo ..
24 February 2011
Brasil - Trancoso - UXUA hotel
Last year I was in Brasil and photographed the wonderful 'UXUA' hotel in Trancoso.
Today they launched their new website, and I'm one of the photographers who made a photo - canvas for them.
21 January 2011
Amsterdam
A solo exhibition of Pieke Bergmans
'Still Waters Run Deep'
At Gallery Art Affairs - Veemkade 354 - Amsterdam
The opening will be on January 21st, from 17-19:00 hrs.
2 January 2011
Netherlands - Laren
At Meker atelier in Laren you can find some of my blow ups.
17 December 2010
Amsterdam
It is snowing !!!!!
26 November 2010
Djanet
Tonight we had the chance to enjoy the music of the famous tuareg band 'Nabil Othmani'
The son and the daughter of the well know Thmani Baly were part of the group.
23 November 2010
Essendilene
After 4 days of camel riding, it was time to go a few days with the 4wheeldrive.
It gave us the oportunity to visit some nomad people and a place called Essendilene,
a deserted valley and beautiful gorge, famed for its crystal-clear waters and
verdant plant life.
22 November 2010
Tikoubouine
And when the evening falls, we arrange the fire for tea and food.
Moussa prepares the tea every day with so much care.
Following the traditions of the tuaregs .
21 November 2010
Tillilene
During the day we walk or we sit on the camels.
Following the rhythm of the footsteps.
An absolute silence is taking over.
20 November 2010
Mourouden - Assasou
Our first night under the stars.
Just an open space against a rock was the place where we spent the night.
A thousand stars hotel with a very simple bed, consisting of a mat and a sleeping-bag.
It was almost full moon, and this light covered us for the whole night.
19 November 2010
Teghane - Tihamarouine
18 November 2010
Algeria - Djanet
In the middle of the night we arrived in Djanet, a small village in the southeast of Algeria.
We are going to make a trip through the desert this week.
An experience which I wanted to make for years, and now we are travelling with camels, a cook, 2 camel men and a translator into the silence of nature.
Sleeping in the open air and walking through the amazing landscapes of the Tuaregs.
Feeling like a nomad and experience their life as a free human being.
14 November 2010
Eindhoven
Today it was the annual information day of my friend Helena van Engelen about her project in Peru.
www.kuychi.org
Heléna changed the course of her life 9 years ago, by putting it to the service of the forgotten children of Peru.
She went to Urubamba at the end of 2001 to build a centre where deprived children from the surrounding communities can live and learn.
The central point of her mission is to give these children a home and a future .
27 October 2010
Tokyo
Back in Tokyo, just on time for the Ambassee party of the 'LLOVE hotel' project.
The coming days there will be many openings and interesting exhibitions to see.
The start of Tokyo design 2010
26 October 2010
Kumano
Our last day of our little trip we spent in the South part of the Yoshino Kumano National Park.
A 2 1/2 hour walk through the forest with massive ancient trees that lead you to the Great Waterfall of Nachi.
The old cobbled path is part of one of the pilgrimage routes in the Kii mountains.
25 October 2010
Yonomine Onsen
Today we left to find out more of the region.
In the village we took the bus to Yunomine Onsen.
This onsen is believed to be one of the oldest hot springs in Japan and is intimately connected with the Kumano Pilgrimage.
The legendary founding dates back 1800 years and was used for hot water rituals.
In the center of the village you find a small bath in the creek, called Tsuboya.
Its waters are said to change color seven times a day.
All the stories brought us to this very small village and of course we wanted to have this experience in the only World Heritage hot spring in the world.
A long trip for a bath, which had the size of 1 square meter....
I expected something totally different and bigger.
But it was a really funny experience.
Like usually natural hot springs smell like eggs.
But in this one it is not only bathing, also people come from everwhere to cook their vegetables and eggs in it.
24 October 2010
Koya-san
In some of the temples
they are having every early morning a Buddhist ceremony.
We were lucky to stay in one of them, so at 6.00 AM we were being awaked by the sound of the sutras.
Later that day we went to see the impressive Okunoin cemetary. The biggest and oldest in Japan.
The cemetary starts at the end of the village.
Hundreds of years old cedar trees tower over the approximately 2 km path, which finally leads you to the main mausoleum.
More than 200.000 grave stones stand in lines between the trees.
Most of them were totally taking over by nature.
23 October 2010
Koya-san
We escaped the city and went for 4 days to the mountains.
The idea was to to Koya-san, in northern Wakayama-ken.
This place was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the "Sacred sites and Pilgrimage Routes" in the Kii Mountain Range.
Here you find a monastic complex, which is the headquarters of the Shingon school of Esoteric Buddhism.
We arrived in the dark, which was especially beautiful because of the mysterious atmosphere.
Many lampions at the monasteries and the shadows of monks, whom were passing by.
22 October 2010
Tokyo
For days, all the Japanese volunteers worked as hell.
During the night we heard
the drilling, the sound of running and preparing the rooms, because today the hotel has to be ready.
The press is coming and there are some photoshoots.
The 8 rooms look really impressive. All totally different.
To get an idea.
Room 308 : Pieke Bergmans
Room 304 : Ruiji Nakamura
Room 302 : Yuko Nagayama
What an amazing result
.... THE HOTEL IS OPEN .....
16 October 2010
Tokyo
'LLove hotel' preparation
15 October 2010
Tokyo
Pieke wanted for her project to work with a Japanese glassblower, so today we visited this incredible place.
We worked with Machiko, the first Japanese female glassblower of Japan.
What an experience !
Everybody totally excited of course and
the hospitality was amazing.
Being here the whole day, working with all these enthousiastic people, and also sharing the lunch together,
was an incredible nice start of our trip.
14 October 2010
Tokyo
We arrived today and we are going to stay in the
temporary hotel which is not ready of course ..
Everybody is working and trying to get everything fixed on time.
For sure you know how that looks like.
Ohhh ... you are too early ... we are not ready yet.
So .... we are camping on the 4th floor.
13 October 2010
Amsterdam
Today we fly to Japan.
First to Tokyo for the 'LLOVE hotel' project.
During the Tokyo design, there will be a temporary hotel/ cafe in the Daikanayma district.
From October 15 until November 13
A unique space with ‘Llove’ as its fundament will be created by Dutch and Japanese designers.
Five designers from the Netherlands and 5 Japanese designers will design a place for exchange
and communication for creators and design-lovers from Japan and from abroad during this period.
Pieke Bergmans is one of the designers, so I come along to help and of course to photograph the project.
27 September 2010
Amsterdam
Today my new website is online
26 September 2010
Sprang - Capelle
Charles and Jet Bergmans bought my first picture of my new webshop
24 September 2010
Amsterdam
We had diner at "IJM".
During the Inside Design,
Frank Visser organised a fantastic diner at his studio for the whole "IJM" family.
Marlein cooked delicious as usual.
April 2010
July 2009
June 2009
