Chinatown Amsterdam

In 1972, Chinatown in Amsterdam was photographed by Ab Koers. The IISG received this photo collection in 2006. Ab Koers originally took these photographs in and around the Binnen Bantammerstraat for a reportage, which appeared in the magazine Avenue in 1973. This reportage, made together with journalist Nico Polak, was characterised as 'stunning and outstanding' in the book De rafelrand van Amsterdam (The frayed edges of Amsterdam). In this 1977 publication, the Chinese minority were labelled as 'not easily approachable'.

This presentation includes nine photos from Ab Koers' collection and an accompanying text about the Chinese minority in the Netherlands, which also devotes attention to the traces of this community that journalists and photographers have left behind.

Read the accompanying text or click on the images for a larger image and data.

Binnen Bantammerstraat

Chinese restaurant

Cook

Cinema

Family altar

Wedding

Gambling house

Opium dive

Fireworks