Koningin Wilhelmina en prins Hendrik in de gouden koets op het Rokin, Amsterdam 1901

Barend Groote made this photograph of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik in Amsterdam. I feel the street is totally brought to life by the crowd lining the pavements and leaning out of windows, all keen to catch a glimpse of the royal couple in their golden carriage. I wonder what Groote was thinking as he captured this moment – probably something along the lines of, ‘I hope I get the exposure right’! It must have been a challenge to capture such a dynamic scene in the days of slower photography. I can imagine him carefully composing the shot, trying to balance the light and shadow, the stillness of the buildings with the movement of the crowd, the excitement and the sense of occasion. There’s a real energy here, a buzz in the air – I reckon Groote really captured that mood. It's something that connects his work to other photographs which document social life at the time, and offers a specific window into the world. Photos like this also invite us to reflect on photography’s capacity to freeze a moment in time, preserving memories and stories for future generations.