Then and now, photo blending in Dordrecht, The Netherlands

[Marcel]

I

This is really great work Marcel, I cannot stress enough how much I like these, you are truly talented at your profession.

Thank you. It's not a profession, but merely a hobby. But I'm getting the hang of this, that's for sure.

 

[SaparotRob]

I

Thank you. It's not a profession, but merely a hobby. But I'm getting the hang of this, that's for sure.

To put it mildly. Hauntingly beautiful images.

 

[Marcel]

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German soldiers posing by the Grote Kerk ( Great Church ) in Dordrecht, sometime between 1940-1945. The church was a popular photo location for German soldiers in Dordrecht. At the beginning of the war, the atmosphere was friendly. German soldiers behaved more like tourists in the city than occupiers. Many German soldiers, in the early stages, went out armed with a camera rather than their rifle. Many prominent spots in the city center were lovingly photographed, including the Grote Kerk. As the war progressed, this changed significantly with increasingly harsh measures against the civilian population and the daily life. The occupation became more grim as a result.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wayne Little]

Excellent stuff Marcel, most impressive...!

 

[Peter Gunn]

Love this, keep 'em coming Marcel

 

[Marcel]

Thank you guys.

 

[Snautzer01]

With 5 mei on the Dam Amsterdam and all celabrations, how about this.

Smug faced.

 

[Marcel]

Hmmm, it's not Dordrecht. I can do Amsterdam later, once we have this project finished

How about this?

So I posted this picture before, but in a different location. I got info that I had the location wrong. So I remade it at the right location.

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On May 13, 1940, German tanks drove over the Wieldrechtse Zeedijk towards the city center of Dordrecht. At the intersection of Oude Veerweg - Schenkeldijk, they engaged in combat with the Bicycle troops of the Dutch army. The battle was decided in favor of the Germans. The black and white photo was taken on May 13, 1940. The current photo was taken in April 2024. As you can see, little has changed on the Wieldrechtse Zeedijk since then.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Marcel]

I was on local TV this week with this project. Not the best interview, but okay-ish. It's dutch, but I guess the subtitles with translate will work?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brKY5DJtMKU

 

[Airframes]

Great !
Couldn't see any subtitles, but got the idea anyway.

 

[Marcel]

Great !
Couldn't see any subtitles, but got the idea anyway.

Click on the left one of these icons. I believe you can select the language and some AI will try and butcher what I said in your language of choice

 

[Airframes]

Tried that already, but it just flashed up for half a second ( in Dutch), then vanished !
Saw your other post - bit of a dumb thing they did not mentioning where the photos can be seen !!

 

[rochie]

Thought it was great Marcel, but you never told me you could speak Dutch !

 

[Marcel]

Thought it was great Marcel, but you never told me you could speak Dutch !

Trust me, I had to practice a lot.

 

[Marcel]

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The corner of the Albert-Cuypsingel and the Spuiweg in May 1940. Dutch soldiers take up positions behind the erected barricades in the Singel. A few Dutch soldiers are seen chatting on the street corner. Given the seemingly relaxed atmosphere, there were likely no fighting in the area yet, indicating that the photo was taken before May 12, 1940. The photo is a very rare capture of the events of May 1940 in Dordrecht. It is one of the few photos from the Dutch side during May 1940. The soldiers in the photo are most likely Army Maritime Engineers. On May 13, they were forced to clear this barricades as German tanks approached from the direction of the station toward the Spuibrug. A clash occurred at the Spuibrug with the Dutch Anti-Tank Gun unit that was positioned there. The anti-tank gun was destroyed in the process. This section of the Singel has changed very little since May 1940, as can be clearly seen in the photo.
Historic photo: www.Dordrechtindeoorlog.nl

 

[Wurger]

 

[SaparotRob]

Really thought provoking and haunting images.

 

[Marcel]

On the 4 Th of May we remember the fallen. On the 5th of May, VE Day we celebrate that we have the freedom to remember. Remember guys, war is not always somewhere far away like in the Ukrain or Israel. It once was at our doorstep.

To celebrate our freedom, here a composite of the Canadian liberators driving through Dordrecht, my home city. Ironically 10 meters further up street from the last picture which marked the start of the war here, but 5 years apart, marking the end:

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May 5th, it's Liberation Day! Today we celebrate freedom, and that calls for a liberation photo. This blended photo was taken on the Albert-Cuypsingel. The street hasn't changed much since the war. Dordrecht was liberated by the Canadians, and in this photo, you can see a Canadian army vehicle driving down the street with Dordrecht citizens. After five tough years of occupation, the occupation finally came to an end. Dordrecht was free once again!

Source historic photo: Zoeken in de archieven