“I dream about to one day build a new house in Sri Lanka. Due to the civil war, I fled the country and with that the violence and the hunger almost twenty years ago with my husband and four young children. It was a very traumatizing time. Thankfully, I have four fantastic children and I got used to the culture here, which is so different. I also distract myself through my work at Schiphol Airport. But even so, whenever I think about home and my family, tears come into my eyes. On those days, my mouth smiles but my heart aches.

“In the beginning of the ‘60s he stood in front of my door in Chili: Arnold, a Dutch sailor. He worked on the same ship as my brother and they became friends. During a vacation he came to visit. Sadly, he only stayed one day, though shortly after I received a letter in which he declared his love for me. I hesitated. Wouldn’t he, as a sailor, have a different lover in every port?

Fairouz put on her best clothes for this picture. But also, for her three children, who she had to leave behind in war-ridden Syria in 2017. She hasn’t been able to embrace them since then.

This is Pedro from Krommenie. With his angelical white suit and his bright eyes, he faces the world with brightness, even despite all the setbacks in his life.

Pedro’s story begins in Cape Verde, until 1975 still a part of Portugal. “In my younger years, Portugal engaged in a war with Angola and Mozambique,” he says. “My father, who had already been working in the Netherlands, didn’t want me to go to the front. That would’ve meant my death, he feared, and that’s why he sent me money to flee Cape Verde.”

The terrible war between Russia and Ukraine only brings forth losers and drifts people apart. What is it like for Ukrainian Alla, who is by the way married to a Russian? “I feel like I am more entitled to feel grief and anger than my husband.”

Look closely. Do you see the big smile on Sahar’s face? The beautiful, honest smile seems to permanently shine off of her face. A giant contrast with her teenage years.

“Oh, I was so stubborn! My parents had no control over me, that’s why I lived with my grandparents. Still, I felt very lonely and started to smoke joints to forget everything. Sadly, I dropped into a depression and eventually – because of the weed – into a psychosis.” With her mother, she visits a pastor, who organizes ‘miracle services’. “And there I was touched by Jesus. I felt warmth and love.

“In 2004, during my studies in the United States, I fell head over heels in love with my wife. She fits me so well, is very stable and of course very beautiful. Via Amsterdam we moved to Zaandam, because we found the capital city to be too busy for our children. And Zaandam is for sure a nice, small town. I’ve noticed how many people take the time to have a pleasant conversation. I really like that, even with my poor Dutch knowledge. Maybe I see my Australian roots in it. There, too, exists a relaxing vibe and I want to hang onto that.

“Zaandam was undoubtedly the ugliest city I had ever known when I first moved here 20 years ago. Thankfully, the city went through a metamorphosis; it’s become incredibly beautiful! I enjoy the beautiful people around me and the nature next door. It makes me happy and happiness is very important to me.

“This is Noah and his name means ‘comfort’ and ‘serenity.’ We as parents have experienced exactly that in the first three months of his life. He is such a wonderfully serene young boy! We hope he will stay like this when he grows up, and that he will be good at listening to people.

“Our home is very lively, because I have a brother and two little sisters. I am in fifth grade at the elementary school Het Zaanplein and I really enjoy spelling and recess. Hanging out with my friends and having fun. After school I often go to a center to cook, draw or to make a tie-dye t-shirt.

When I grow up, I really want to become a doctor to help sick people. To me that’s more important than earning a lot of money. My wish for Zaanstad? That more people do good things for each other. It makes you happy.”