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Interview

‘You Need a Crisis Before the World Starts Listening To You’

Welcome to De Facto’s new interview series, in which we interview scientists, artists and journalists about contested borders. We kick off with political scientist Ramesh Ganohariti, who has recently co-authored a book on sub-state recognition. ‘States have become more emboldened to throw the international playbook out of the window.’

Jorie Horsthuis | 11 Mar 2026

  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Caucasus
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Science

Past event

Off the Map at Mimik #6

Draw a map to get lost. This is one of Yoko Ono’s works of art, from 1964, and was part of Floor Koomens presentation about the imaginary land Nutopia. It was also a sort of motto for the entire evening in Mimik, Deventer. Geopolitical news can be very overwhelming and can make you feel lost. But to draw a map together to get lost and find something after all, felt like a welcome microcosm of curiosity.

| 17 Oct 2025

  • Middle East
  • Europe
  • Asia

Past event

Across the Border

What a ride! Our series of film nights about borders in Deventer (NL) has come to an end. Thanks to our guests Abed Al-Qadr Al-Attar, Karel Smouter, Lidija Zelovic, Romy van Baarsen and Reber Dosky.

De Facto | 9 Sep 2025

  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Film
  • Art
  • Politics

Past event

The second edition of Off the Map in The Hague

With music from the choir Slavuj singing songs from the Balkan and the Black Sea area, where borders still scar the surface and Dutch-Kurdish filmmaker Reber Dosky about his work in Kurdistan. Of course also with graphic designer Floor Koomen with a talk about the United Koreans, a quiz by Suzanne Hendriks and moderation by Jorie Horsthuis.

Suzanne Hendriks | 14 May 2025

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Stamps
  • Maps
  • Music
  • Film
  • design
  • Politics
  • news

De Facto recommends Kurdistan

Celebration of Kurdish Cinema

The Amsterdam Kurdish Film Festival (AKFF) showcases films that capture the diversity of Kurdish voices, stories and dreams, and provides a platform for Kurdish filmmakers. From 9-11 May in the Ketelhuis, Amsterdam.

De Facto | 24 Apr 2025

  • Middle East
  • Film
  • Politics
  • Art

In focus

Score!

Ten years ago, Conifa started organising the world championship football for unrecognized countries. Since then, it has sparked the imagination of a number of artists and journalists, and rightly so.

Suzanne Hendriks | 12 Jun 2024

  • Europe
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Middle East
  • Americas
  • Sports
  • Art
  • Film
  • Photography

Past event

De Facto Live #9

With maplover Martijn Storms, artist Anika Franke and documentary makers Kevin Kraan and Pieter Symon. As always also with graphic designer Floor Koomen, moderation by Jorie Horsthuis and quiz by Suzanne Hendriks. Photography by Jerney Hakkenberg.

| 14 May 2024

  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Stamps
  • Maps
  • History
  • Sports

De Facto recommends

Movies that Matter 2024

This Friday, 22nd of March, filmfestival Movies that Matter kicks off in The Hague (NL). We are sure the whole program is fabulous, still we cherrypicked some films that feature borders and/or contested territories.

De Facto | 20 Mar 2024

  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Middle East
  • Americas
  • Film
  • Media
  • Politics

Past event

De Facto Live #6

‘This Land is My Land’. With filmmaker Reber Dosky about Kurdistan, designer Inna Kochkina about the cyrillic script, graphic designer Floor Koomen and musician Dusty Stray about the Black Hills and a quiz by Suzanne Hendriks. Moderation: Jorie Horsthuis.

De Facto | 28 Jun 2023

  • Americas
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Asia
  • Maps
  • Stamps
  • Art
  • Design
  • Film
  • Music
  • Politics

De Facto recommends Kurdistan

In the Shadow of History

American photographer Susan Meiselas created an extensive visual archive in collaboration with the Kurdish community. A retrospective of her work is now on show in FOMU, Antwerp.

De Facto | 28 Mar 2023

  • Middle East
  • Photography
  • Art
  • Books

In focus Kurdistan

Disputed Stamp of Iraqi Kurdistan not Accepted by Turkey

To commemorate the visit of Pope Francis to the Kurdistan region, five postage stamps were designed. The one depicting a controversial map of the region sparked a protest by Turkey.

Jan Heijs | 10 Mar 2021

  • Middle East
  • Stamps
  • Design
  • Politics

Past event

De Facto Live #2

With multimedia journalist Pierre Crom about the Donbas, political analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg about Kurdistan, designer Irene Stracuzzi about the Arctic and graphic designer Floor Koomen about the South China Sea. Moderation: Jorie Horsthuis.

De Facto | 22 Jan 2020

  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • South China Sea
  • Polar region
  • Photography
  • Maps
  • Art
  • Nature
  • Politics
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