Stichting Basalt & van Zoetendaal Collections

Stichting Basalt & van Zoetendaal Collections is a Dutch foundation and publishing house rooted in the photography book culture of the Netherlands. It originated in 1994 when graphic designer Willem van Zoetendaal (born The Hague, 1950) began publishing his own photography books, initially under the name Basalt in collaboration with Frido Troost, and later under the imprint Van Zoetendaal Publishers. The organisation is based in Amsterdam and operates internationally, distributing titles through ideabooks.nl and a network of bookshops. The publisher is known for its carefully constructed photography books, which Van Zoetendaal describes as 'spacious constructions' with a strong emphasis on selection, montage and rhythm. Its catalogue features Dutch and international photographers, and the foundation also manages the estate of filmmaker and photographer Johan van der Keuken together with Noshka van der Lely. Beyond publishing, Van Zoetendaal has curated exhibitions in the Netherlands (Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, FOAM), France (L'Institut Néerlandais, Maison Européenne de la Photographie), Japan (Louis Vuitton Tokyo) and Korea (Kumho Museum, Seoul). From 2000 to 2014 he also ran a gallery for contemporary photography; in February 2014 the gallery space was converted into a studio for his own art projects, art books and installations. A significant part of the foundation's heritage is the photography collection Van Zoetendaal built while teaching at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in the 1990s. In 2008 the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag acquired this collection of more than 1,200 photographs, which included early works by now renowned Dutch photographers such as Céline van Balen, Koos Breukel, Rineke Dijkstra, Paul Kooiker, Esther Kroon and Harold Strak, as well as found footage by anonymous photographers. Today Stichting Basalt & van Zoetendaal Collections continues to publish and promote photography books, maintaining a blog, a list of artists, and special editions through its website.

Stichting Basalt & van Zoetendaal Collections traces its origins to the early 1990s, when graphic designer Willem van Zoetendaal (born The Hague, 1950) began producing photography books. In 1994 he started publishing his own books, first under the name Basalt in collaboration with Frido Troost, and subsequently under the name Van Zoetendaal Publishers. This marked the beginning of a publishing practice that would become influential in Dutch photography. During the same period, Van Zoetendaal curated photography exhibitions in the Netherlands at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen and FOAM; in France at L'Institut Néerlandais and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris (in collaboration with Elisabeth Nora); in Japan at Louis Vuitton Tokyo (also with Elisabeth Nora); and in Korea at the Kumho Museum, Seoul (with Kim Song Min). From 2000 until 2014 he also operated a gallery for contemporary photography. In February 2014 he converted the gallery space into a studio to focus on his own art projects, art books and installations. A key chapter in the foundation's history is the photography collection Van Zoetendaal assembled while lecturing at the photography department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in the 1990s. In 2008 the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag acquired this collection, which comprised more than 1,200 photographs. It included early works by photographers who have since become renowned, such as Céline van Balen, Koos Breukel, Rineke Dijkstra, Paul Kooiker, Esther Kroon and Harold Strak, as well as striking photographs by anonymous photographers (found footage). Together with Noshka van der Lely, Van Zoetendaal manages the estate of filmmaker and photographer Johan van der Keuken. Van Zoetendaal's approach to bookmaking—considering his books as 'spacious constructions' and emphasising selection and montage to create rhythm—has been highly influential. The foundation continues to publish photography books and maintains an active presence through its website, blog, artist list and special editions.

• 2014

  In February, Van Zoetendaal changes his gallery space into a studio to develop his own art projects, art books and installations.

• 2008

  Gemeentemuseum Den Haag acquires Van Zoetendaal's photography collection of more than 1,200 photos.

• 2000

  Van Zoetendaal begins operating a gallery for contemporary photography, which he runs until 2014.

• 1994

  Willem van Zoetendaal starts publishing his own photography books, first under the name Basalt in collaboration with Frido Troost.

High-quality, artist-driven photography book publishing with a strong emphasis on design, montage and rhythm.

• Raw Art on Paper by G.P. Fieret

1. 1Van Zoetendaal Publishersvanzoetendaal.com
2. 2About – Van Zoetendaal Publishersvanzoetendaal.com
3. 3Stichting Basalt & van Zoetendaal Collectionswikidata.org