De Facto Live #3

With writer Philip Dröge about Moresnet, pianist and Soviet expert Sara Crombach about Nagorno Karabakh, artist Oscar Santillan about the Bermeja Island and graphic designer Floor Koomen about Celestia. Quiz: Suzanne Hendriks, moderation: Jorie Horsthuis.

Hester den Boer

In a sold out Roode Bioscoop (Amsterdam), we interviewed Philip Dröge, who wrote a book about Moresnet. What was so peculiar about this triangular entity bordering the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and why did it disappear? Philip took us back to this ‘wild west’ region in the nineteenth century, where smuggling was everyday business and alcohol flowed in abundance.

Hester den Boer

Concert pianist Sara Crombach played some wonderful classical music from the Caucasus and elaborated upon the influence of historians on current day politics. As a Soviet expert, she investigated the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and told us about the fierce reactions that came from the region after she published her dissertation.

Hester den Boer

What is this # on a stamp of the Nation of Celestial Space? Floor Koomen went into the details and convinced us that James Mangan was quite a brilliant inventor – well ahead of his times.

Hester den Boer

Ecuadorian artist Oscar Santillan started with a confession to the audience: he stole the highest peak of the Netherlands, one centimeter of earth from a hill in the south. Additionally, he took us on his quest for the vanished place in the Gulf of Mexico: Bermeja Island. Could he bring it back into existence?

Hester den Boer

Last but not least, Suzanne Hendriks invited us to her quiz about an amplitude of border developments in the last two years. Obviously, there were questions about Ukraine, but the toughest part was about passports: are they mostly red or blue?

Hester den Boer
Hester den Boer
Hester den Boer

Our next event will be on July 13 in De Roode Bioscoop. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed. See you there!