Gezicht op het Huis aan de Balans bij de Abdij van Middelburg, 1895 after 1900

The brothers van Straaten captured this photographic view of the Huis aan de Balans near the Abbey of Middelburg in 1895. Captured on the cusp of the twentieth century, this image invites contemplation on the intersections of identity, history, and place. Middelburg, with its rich maritime history, stands as a site of cultural exchange and colonial enterprise. The architecture embodies the complex interplay between power and identity of its inhabitants. How might the concept of 'home' be challenged and redefined by the realities of exploration and exploitation that occurred at this time? This photograph serves not just as a visual record, but as a cultural artifact that prompts us to consider the intertwined narratives of personal experience and collective memory embedded within the built environment. While seemingly a straightforward depiction, it reveals a world shaped by historical forces.