It’s hot! Seven years ago, De Facto’s own Floor Koomen (@fkoomen) launced her maptastic literary Project Antarctica: floorkoomen.com/Project-Anta.... Go get lost! Bram van den Berg. Drawings by Elliott Dechamboux

Blerick (NL) might not have the best smelling train station in the country, but it DOES have a very cool 17th century #map on one of the staircases.

For Roma youth, belonging is not a place on a map — it is memory, music, and the recognition of a cousin you have never met. Nina Yaminah Daneshvar is a journalist and multimedia storyteller whose work explores identity, belonging, and underrepresented communities. Check out her story on our site.

Japanese world map from the Kihon chizo-cho (Basic Atlas) - a popular and widely used school atlas, published by Ninomiya Shoten and Yamakawa Shuppansha. It features not just 360 degrees, but even 540 degrees and 2x the Americas (left and right).

De Facto recommends: The Studio #11, Bonnefanten in Maastricht (NL, with Malina Suliman. The exhibition includes an installation of two large maps of the world, through which she addresses themes like forced migration, violence and the idea of borders versus borderlessness. June 13- September 6.

De Facto's own Jorie Horsthuis just crossed the border with Germany, heading to the launch of the 'law & borders' research network at the University of Regenburg.

YESSSS. More revolving globes in shopping centers PLEASE. If you see a #globe somewhere that you think we should know about, let us know. Have a globalicious day! This one is in Roosendaal (NL) by the way

De Facto recommends: Qaqnas. What does freedom mean for women today? This powerful, musical ode is made by composer Huba de Graaff and Dutch-Kurdish singer-songwriter Naaz. Voice, electronics and resistance take centre stage. At Holland Festival Amsterdam, June 11-14: hollandfestival.nl/en/qaqnas

Two travel documents from countries that don’t exist anymore. On the left: passport for the Independent State of Croatia, that existed only from 1941 to 1943 and on the right: a Reisepass from the Deutsches Reich, these travel documents were issued between 1871 and 1945.

Nice! The article that Afghan journalist Saadat Mousavi wrote for De Facto, has been translated in Dutch and published on RFG Media, who support refugee journalists. Check out the article in Dutch here: rfgmedia.nl/aan-weerszij....

Who has been to the Mapparium in Boston? This 3-story stained-glass globe allows visitors to stand inside a globe depicting the world of 1934. It includes defunct names like Italian East Africa, Upper Volta and Siam, Soviet Union and Yugoslavija, but it also explains about political changes after.

Today is Towel Day. 'Home Is Where I Hang My Towel' is the anthem of a micronation called Aerican Empire, a cute reference to Douglas Adams' The Hithchikers Guide to the Galaxy. Check out our site: www.defactoborders.org/places/aeric...

On this day in history, May 24th 1993, the flag for an independent Eritrea was hoisted for the first time. Today Independence Day is being celebrated in Eritrea. Picture credit of the flag in the shape of the countr: Darwinek via Wikicommons

Did you know there is a library exactly on the #border between Canada and the United States? Tonight in Dutch TV-show Metropolis, by HUMAN 21.05 NPO2.

Check out 'An Inside View Of Kalakuta Republic', written by @leendertvdvalk.bsky.social, about Fela Kuti’s music and activism, as well as his #Kalakuta Republic. A review of the new podcast 'Fear No Man', by Jad Abumrad, Higher Ground Media and Audible. www.defactoborders.org/places/kalak...

Next up: Off the Map in Mimik, Deventer, on September 16, 2026, secure your tickets here: www.mimik.nl/agenda/de-fa...

On 18th of May 1991, Somaliland claimed independence after a long and brutal civil war. This self-declared republic and autonomous region of Somalia functions as a de facto state with its own military, government and currency. It remains, however largely unrecognized. Photos by Aron Goossens

Last month we were at Theatre De Richel, Amsterdam, with photographer Rachel Corner and music by Alex Tugushin and of course De Facto's own Jorie Horsthuis, Floor Koomen and Suzanne Hendriks. Read about the event here: www.defactoborders.org/homepage/off... Thanks Hester den Boer for the photos!

Hoe we buren werden - gedicht van Jaap Robben, gespot op de Gruitberg in Nijmegen door een van onze bezoekers. Dank Mo!

Nationalism is the most influential ideology of the modern world. Who could possibly imagine a world without passports, borders and citizenship? Go and watch this exhibition until 20 September 2026 at Designmuseum Den Bosch (NL): designmuseum.nl/en/tentoonst.... De Facto recommends.

Next up: Off the Map at Mimik, Deventer. Save the date: 16th of September, program will be announced later. Photo credit: Jerney Hakkenberg.

'Borders - I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.' Quote by Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian writer and adventurer

Border between two Dutch provinces. Drenthe and Overijssel, spotted by one or our regulars, Mark Honig. Grens tussen Overijssel en Drenthe op de provinciale weg tussen Steenwijk en Frederiksoord. Gespot door Mark Honig, een van onze vaste bezoekers.

Komende woensdag is fotograaf Rachel Corner te gast bij Van de Kaart, in Theater de Richel in Amsterdam. Luister alvast naar de podcast Het Beloofde Bos, van de NTR via NPO luister, #aanrader! Foto door Rachel Corner. npo.nl/luister/podc...

Next up: De Richel in Amsterdam! On April 8th, we will host an evening Off the Map with photographer Rachel Corner, live music from Alex Tugushin, geopolicis, utopianism and some nerdy quizzing. Come join us! Evening will be in Dutch: theaterderichel.nl/evenementen/...

Welcome to De Facto's new interview series, in which we interview scientists, artists and journalists about contested borders. This edition: Gaëlle Le Pavic and Said Gezerdava, who write about #Abkhazia. ‘We co-write, co-research, and also co-publish.’ www.defactoborders.org/places/abkha...

Spotted by one of our regulars

Next up: Off the Map in Maastricht. In exactly a week, on April 1st, we will be at AINSI, with writer Philip Dröge about Moresnet and live music by Daan Soenens cs. Expect some geopolitics, utopian imagination and geo-quizzing as well! Last tickets here: www.theateraanhetvrijthof.nl/voorstelling...

Dat was een mooie avond, gisteren in LUX, Nijmegen! Met een aandachtig en geïnteresseerd publiek dat ook nog eens mooie gedachten op papier zette op onze vraag 'welke grenzen zou je willen afschaffen en waarom?'. Wat zou jij antwoorden?

Welke kant op? Naar LUX Nijmegen, komende dinsdagavond: Van de Kaart. Met een mini-college van Radbouds eigen grensprofessor @henkvanhoutum.bsky.social en muziek van harpist Jareach Gilula, presentaties en interviews EN een nerdy quiz. >>> LAATSTE KAARTEN: www.lux-nijmegen.nl/programma/va... <<<

Nog een paar dagen!

Interested in Secessionist and Statehood Bids in Times of Crises? The University of Tartu is organising a Summer School in Cyprus, at the heart of one of Europe’s most enduring divided societies and frozen conflicts. You can apply until April 6: skytte.ut.ee/en/news/univ...

De Facto launches a new interview series with scientists, artists and journalists about contested borders. What is their perspective on this urgent theme, and how does their work contribute to a better understanding? First one is with Ramesh Ganohariti, a scholar who researches #defacto states.

Flag o'clock! This is the flag of Vlieland, one of the islands in the north of the Netherlands. Their is also a very colorful joint flag for Vlieland and neighbouring island Terschelling, but we haven't spotted it yet. #vexicology

It's Yoko Ono's birthday! Cofounder of #micronation Nutopia and artist, musician, activist. At De Facto, we have a special affection for Nutopia but also for one of her artworks which says: Draw a map to get lost. Hear hear. And happy birthday.

Op 24 maart 2026 is Van de Kaart in LUX Nijmegen. Met een mini-college van Henk van Houtum, 'grensprofessor' aan de Radboud Universiteit, muziek van Jareach Gilula, presentaties van Jorie Horsthuis en Floor Koomen. Plus een quiz van Suzanne Hendriks. Kaartjes: www.lux-nijmegen.nl/programma/va...

Van de Kaart komt op 8 april 2026 naar Theater De Richel in Amsterdam! Met o.a. documentair fotograaf Rachel Corner, gitarist en geluidsman Alex Tugushin, grafisch vormgever Floor Koomen, journalist Jorie Horsthuis en een quiz van Suzanne Hendriks. Save the date: theaterderichel.nl/evenementen/...

Picture this: 1 in every 70 people on earth is currently displaced due to conflict, war, or persecution. The International Film Festival Rotterdam - 29/1-8/2 - has 5 worldpremiers this year about the experience and emotions of displacement. Check out the program here: iffr.com/en/iffr/2026.... #iffr

The snow outside and Trumps interest in #Greenland reminds us of this very cool artwork by Inuk Silis Høegh and Asmund Havsteen-Mikkelsen. A #stamp with a #map of Denmark with Greenlandish names for all geographical features, mirroring Greenland maps full of Danish names. Melting Barricades (2004).

OTD in history, 17 December 1938, a secret nazi expedition left Hamburg for #Antarctica. They set foot on Antarctica and named the area Neu Swabenland, in the part that had been claimed by Norway - as seen here on a vintage globe. Germany never advanced any territorial claims to the region.

A 2mm hammer and sickle on this 25 kopeken coin from #Transnistria. Transnistria is a small strip of land between the Dniester River and the Moldovan border with Ukraine. It declared independence in 1990, but the UN still considers it a part of Moldova. www.defactoborders.org/places/trans....

Pssst, alvast een klein nieuwtje: Van de Kaart komt volgend voorjaar ook naar Nijmegen, op 24 maart 2026 staan we in het heerlijke LUX (@luxnijmegen). Onder andere met Henk van Houtum, harpist Jareach Gilula, Floor Koomen, Jorie Horsthuis en Suzanne Hendriks: www.lux-nijmegen.nl/programma/va...

Balkan choir Slavuj has been at our theatre evenings a number of times and we big fans. On December 13th, they will perform, conducted by Ivo Boswijk, at the English church in the secluded courtyard Begijnhof in Amsterdam. There are only a few tickets remaining! www.ticketkantoor.nl/shop/Slavuj2...

For decades, the separatist Moldovan region of #Transnistria counted on practically free gas from Russia. When that changed last year, the impact on the lives of the local community was immense. What are the prospects for this self-declared republic? Read more: www.defactoborders.org/places/trans...

Two years ago, in December 2023, President Maduro of Venezuela, organized a referendum to seek support for annexation of the area called Essequibo, a part of neigboring (ex-British) Guyana. This claim has a long history and can be traced back also on #stamps: www.defactoborders.org/places/esseq...

Looking for a cosy get-away? De Facto is teaming up with Adwin de Kluyver and Podium Vlieland - the cutest cinema on the Wadden island of Vlieland, to organise an Off the Map filmfestival on February 20-22, 2026. Check out the arrangement: podiumvlieland.nl/bezoek/van-d.... Hope to see you there!

What an amazing way to visualize early human migration. Lovely map by @HarvardCGA. A great colour scheme and an appropriate map projection! Source: buff.ly/3lbxonJ

Through the Prism of Borders, edited by Katia Anguelova, Angelika Burtscher and Marion Oberhofer, invites the reader to reflect on the complexity of borderlands and how they might be reimagined. Read the full review of the book by Jorie Horsthuis on defactoborders.org. #borders #borderlands #books

Who is going on a trip with us? Off the Map is teaming up with Podium Vlieland, the cutest filmtheater in the Waddensea, to organize a film-weekend full of borderstories, 20-22 February 2026. Check out the program and arrangement: podiumvlieland.nl/bezoek/van-d...