BIOGRAPHY
- 1914 Born in Rotterdam, December 10.
- Has desire to dedicate himself to painting. His father insists that he learn a profession.
- 1930s Apprentice with several photo labs. While working for the theatre photographer Kurt F. Kahle, comes to realise the artistic potential of photography.
- 1935 Opens own photographic studio in Beverwijk.
- 1939 Marries Marretje Messie. Lives in Amstelveen.
- 1939-45 Earns living making portraits and identity photos.
- 1945-47 Stays in Paris. Meets Brassai. Exchanges first book Amsterdam for the celebrated book by Brassai, Paris de Nuit.
- 1950-52 Lives in Stockholm.
- 1954-64 Works for VARA, the Dutch radio and television company.
- 1964 Founds a film production company.
- 1964-68 Makes a dozen short television films.
- 1968 Works in advertising, a field which does not suit him. Suffers from health problems. Continues to work independently, producing books, constructions based on found objects, and sculptures.
- 1969 Moves to De Rijp in North Holland.
- 1978 Moves to The Hague.
- 1979-2000 Splits artistic activities between The Hague, Antwerp, and his farm in Roussines, Charente. Creates own photo museum in Zijderveld. Produces four new books.
- 1980-87 Photographs the dilapidated state of the old quarter of The Hague, a project resulting in an exhibition with political overtones.
- Travels along the coast of Europe from the Northern tip of Norway to the South of Portugal.
- 1989 Trips to Venice, New York, and Paris.
- 1999 Marries Louky van de Brink (with whom he had already been living for a long time).
- 2003 Dies in The Hague.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
- 1993 Musée de la Photographie, Bièvre
- 1992 Amsterdams Historisch Museum, Amsterdam
- 1985 Gemeentearchief, Amsterdam
- 1976 Rijksmuseum voor Westerse Kunst, Tokyo
- 1975 Van Goghmuseum, Amsterdam
- 1946 Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam
BOOKS
- Flashback: Walburg Pers, 2001 (Dutch)
- Boom en blad: European Art Union, La Haye, 1999 (Dutch)
- Herder: Her en Der (Herder: here and there): van Spijk, Venlo, 1984 (Dutch)
- Never travel without a suit-case full of dreams: Thomas Rap, 1983 (English, Esperanto)
- Fon Clement (painter): van Spijk, Venlo, 1980 (Dutch)
- Luis Filcer (painter): van Spijk, Venlo, 1979 (Dutch)
- Leeghwater, idealist en molenmaker: Edecea, Hoorn, 1975 (Dutch)
- Van Gogh achterna (In the Steps of van Gogh): Het Spectrum, 1975 (Dutch)
- Gamla Stan (The Old Town of Stockholm): Stockholm, 1959 (Dutch)
- Het paleis op de Dam: Allert de Lange, Amsterdam, 1953 (Dutch)
- Amsterdam: Allert de Lange, Amsterdam, 1947 (Dutch)