Off the Map #2 at AINSI
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
Off the Map at LUX Nijmegen
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
Bridging the De Facto Border
Welcome to De Facto’s new interview series, in which we interview scientists, artists and journalists about contested borders. What is their perspective on this urgent theme, and how does their work contribute to a better understanding? In this second edition, we interview Gaëlle Le Pavic and Said Gezerdava, who team up to write about Abkhazia.
Max Smedes | 29 Mar 2026
A Song Beyond the Border
How does it feel to grow up at a crossroads between borders? ‘The region is like an apple cut into two halves’, writes the Afghan journalist Saadat Mousavi in his poetic essay about life on the bank of the Amu Darya. ‘The river is a witness to our connectedness.’
Saadat Mousavi | 18 Mar 2026
‘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
Left Out In the Cold
For decades, the separatist Moldovan region of Transnistria has been able to count on practically free gas from Russia. When that changed last year, the impact on the lives of the local community was immense. What are the prospects for this self-declared republic? “We constantly talk about the coming winter.”
Max Smedes | 8 Dec 2025
Vlieland filmfestival
Who is going on a trip with us? Off the Map is teaming up with Podium Vlieland, the cutest filmtheater on the island Vlieland, in the north of the Netherlands to organize a film-weekend on February 20-22, 2026. Through films, we will travel to unrecognized countries, micronations, disputed border areas, and other geographical oddities. And beyond the news and geopolitics, we explore wondrous places and captivating human stories.
De Facto | 3 Dec 2025
Globalicious
Get lost in a lovely in Around the world in 200 Globes, a new publication of Luster by Willem Jan Neutelings. This book is a world in itself, with each highlighted globe telling its own story, whether it’s about trends, materials, political borders and scientific frontiers in the 20th century. A must for our readership.
Suzanne Hendriks | 24 May 2025
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
De Facto’s First Off the Map in The Hague
With music from Ukrainian born Alex Tugushin about borders that turn into battlefields and professor Henk van Houtum about why we should change our maps and atlases. Of course also with graphic designer Floor Koomen with a talk about Cabinda, a quiz by Suzanne Hendriks and moderation by Jorie Horsthuis.
Suzanne Hendriks | 18 Mar 2025
De Facto Live On Tour #5
With writer Eva Vriend on new and old land in the province of Flevoland and music from Ukrainian born Alex Tugushin who shared his worries with us. Graphic designer Floor Koomen took us to space with micronation Celestia, Jorie Horsthuis shared her impressions from Kosovo and there was a quiz by researcher Suzanne Hendriks.
Suzanne Hendriks | 6 Feb 2025