Most maps don’t mark out Somaliland. But going there is getting easier. The self-declared republic, an autonomous region of Somalia, hopes that international visitors will function as de facto ambassadors to the non-recognised nation.
Aron Goossens | 6 Jul 2026
With music from Ukrainian born Alex Tugushin about borders that turn into battlefields and documentary photographer Rachel Corner on trees that foreshadow and facilitate colonization. Further: graphic designer Floor Koomen on Nutopia, journalist Jorie Horsthuis on Hormuz and a quiz by researcher Suzanne Hendriks.
Suzanne Hendriks | 10 May 2026
With writer Philip Dröge about Moresnet, a musical experiment by Daan Soenens and his band, some nutopian imagining by graphic designer Floor Koomen and journalist Jorie Horsthuis about her visit to the Strait of Hormuz. And as always, a nerdy quiz by researcher Suzanne Hendriks.
Suzanne Hendriks | 15 Apr 2026
A boat rests quietly on the calm waters of Haarlem, in the Netherlands. From afar, it might look like any ordinary vessel. But inside, it holds stories of loss, survival, and the heavy weight of uncertainty. ‘Waiting is a quiet battle. You wake up every morning not knowing what your future will be.’
Fanuael Hailemariam | 9 Apr 2026
On March 24th, we were at LUX Nijmegen. With a mini-lecture by border professor Henk van Houtum and music by harpist Jareach Gilula. Journalist Jorie Horsthuis talked about Nagorno-Karabakh and graphic designer Floor Koomen had a presentation about how geopolitics sometimes play out on the square centimeter. And of course, there was a nerdy quiz by researcher Suzanne Hendriks with some legit flag waving.
Suzanne Hendriks | 30 Mar 2026
Place of the week Coral Sea Islands
The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands was erected by gay right activists on June 14 2004 to protest against the Australian government refusal to recognize same-sex marriage. Based on the law of ‘Unjust Enrichment’ and with reference to international law, which states ‘Oppressed people of overseas territories have a right to self government and self determination’, the activists claimed ‘territorial compensation’ by establishing an independent gay state on a group of uninhabited islets east of the Great Barrier Reef. The kingdom was dissolved when the Australian government legalized gay marriage in 2017.
