De Facto

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

Past event

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

Past event

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

In focus West Papua

Struggles on Stamps - West-Papua

Struggles about states are usually accompanied by discussions, diplomatic rows, border issues, threats and sometimes even full-blown wars. But if you take the time to zoom in, you will find that these struggles also tend to unfold on tiny pieces of paper – stamps, the smallest expression of self determination.

Jan Heijs and Suzanne Hendriks | 30 Dec 2024

Past event

De Facto Live On Tour #4

The evening was filled with islands, imaginary countries and music from areas where the borders never really consolidated. With Adwin de Kluyver, Nelis Smouter and Balkan choir Slavuj. Graphic designer Floor Koomen about Cabinda and a quiz by Suzanne Hendriks. Moderation: Jorie Horsthuis.

Suzanne Hendriks | 18 Oct 2024

Past event

De Facto Live On Tour #3

With Ukrainian musician Oleg Lysenko, Elten-born Wim Tjerkstra on post-war border corrections 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 stamps, a quiz by Suzanne Hendriks and moderation by Jorie Horsthuis.

Suzanne Hendriks | 3 Jun 2024

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

Past event

De Facto Live On Tour #1

With pianist and Soviet-expert Sara Crombach, journalist Milo van Bokkum and illustrator Jasper Rietman. Graphic designer Floor Koomen about stamps and quiz by Suzanne Hendriks. Moderation: Jorie Horsthuis

De Facto | 17 Jan 2024

In focus Essequibo

Struggles on Stamps

Struggles about states are usually accompanied by discussions, diplomatic rows, border issues and sometimes even full-blown war. But also on tiny pieces of paper, the smallest expression of self-determination – stamps – these territorial claims are being fought.

Jan Heijs | 24 Dec 2023

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

Past event

De Facto at Beta 2022

De Facto was invited to participate at the Architectural Biennial of Timisoara in Romania: Beta 2022. One of the themes was the micronation.

De Facto Beta | 12 Oct 2022

Past event

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.

De Facto | 1 Jun 2022

In focus Chagos Archipelago

Post office on Chagos Archipelago stops sending mail abroad

In October 2021 “Sure updates” announces that the Post office of Diego Garcia, an island of the Chagos Archipelago, temporarily suspended the outbound postal service until ongoing discussions with the United Postal Union (UPU) are solved.

Jan Heijs | 21 Oct 2021

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

In focus Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands’ Stamp Battle

Since 1833 the Falkland Islands have been part of the British Overseas Territories. Argentina has always protested against this claim, also via philately.

Jan Heijs | 8 Jan 2021

Analysis Transnistria

A Hammer, Sickle and a Red Square

As of this year, the Dnister Moldavian Republic, aka Transnistria, has existed for thirty years. In 2000, four stamps were issued to celebrate its ten year anniversary, with plenty of references to a Soviet past.

Floor Koomen | 23 Dec 2020

Past event

De Facto Live #1

With journalist Koen Greven about Catalonia, artist Vibeke Mascini about the Mont Blanc, photographer Rachel Corner and journalist Jorie Horsthuis about Transnistria and graphic designer Floor Koomen about cinderella stamps. Quiz: Suzanne Hendriks.

De Facto | 15 Nov 2019