“In March, Basjan and I decided to experience the absolute stillness of the commonly
crowded Amsterdam city centre. What we saw was quite remarkable, but not unexpected. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, and with the measures taken by the Dutch government, the whole country was close to a lockdown.
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I sincerely hope that a situation like this will only occur once in our lives and I take this crisis very seriously. However, there was a strong desire to shoot something in the capital city of The Netherlands, it’s something to remember for a lifetime. This scene, a classic 911 in a ghost town, couldn’t get out of my head.
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With all respect for the conditions and measures taken by our government, Basjan and I met around 6:00 AM at the Raadhuisstraat. From there we continued our journey through the city centre of Amsterdam. From a completely extinct Dam Square, across the quiet canals and through the empty streets, we knew we were part of something very extraordinary, and also very sombre.
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The ’69 Tangerine Orange 911, that belongs to @basjanproper, gave a very interesting contrast. The vivid color of the Porsche contradicted the silent vibe the city gave us that morning. Aside from some early commuters and a few trams passing by, it felt like we were the only ones outside. We drove to some of the most iconic places in Amsterdam to emphasise the silence in the city and give the series a timeless touch. It’s something I will never forget.”
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Photos and words by @tristanfopma for @type7
