© 2011 adapted old ford transit Vlietzone Leeuwarden (NL)
Recent articles (newspaper and internet) about the Vlietzone quarter in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, have been the departure point of a search for the personal experiences of the residents and entrepreneurs of the area.
Outsiders usually write all sorts of things about a neighbourhood, but how do residents and entrepreneurs themselves experience the neighbourhood? Recent articles (newspaper and internet) about the Vlietzone quarter in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, have been the departure point of a search for the personal experiences of the residents and entrepreneurs of the area. Outsiders usually write all sorts of things about a neighbourhood, but how do residents and entrepreneurs themselves experience the neighbourhood?
We moved into the area with an eye-catching bus for three months. We invited the Vlietzone people in, to show us on a map of the area, whilst enjoying a Vlietdrop, where the subjects of the articles (including ‘Project Street Litter’, ‘Called out of the house for a cup of coffee with the neighbours’) mostly occur. But the subjects also took us behind the front door: to homely noises, empty spaces, personal anecdotes and to lots and lots of pets. Furthermore, the residents were asked what they think is beautiful and special about their neighbourhood. All that information and those experiences form the point of departure for the imagery in Vlietzone that is shown along a specially mapped out bicycle route. The bicycle route takes you past places that the residents pointed out as special and past imagery that we formed by means of videos, photos, sounds and images.
Commissioned by the municipality of Leeuwarden (The Netherlands)
Reportage by Halbe Piter Claus van Omrop Fryslan