Hollandse zeilschepen versierd met vlaggetjes liggen in het water. c. 1903

Frits Freerks Fontein Fz. captured "Hollandse zeilschepen versierd met vlaggetjes liggen in het water," or "Dutch sailing ships decorated with flags lying in the water," in a photograph. The early twentieth century was a time when national identity was being constantly negotiated. Fontein’s photography suggests the tensions between tradition and modernity in Dutch society. The flags and sailing ships are potent symbols of Dutch maritime history, a source of national pride. But it is also a reminder of the nation's colonial past, and the more complicated legacies of global trade. Fontein’s choice to photograph the boats, possibly at a regatta, speaks to the way festive events can be a stage for performing national identity. Look closely. The image seems to freeze a moment of collective identity, one where Dutch identity is celebrated, yet also subtly interrogated. The photograph then becomes a mirror, reflecting the intertwined relationship between cultural pride and historical awareness.