Den Helder Exhibition Celebrating LGBTQ+ Elders Targeted
An outdoor photo exhibition in Den Helder's Stadspark, titled 'Oudroze' (Old Pink), has been partially destroyed by vandals. The exhibition, which showcases portraits and personal stories of the pioneering older generation of the LGBTQIA+ community, was targeted over the weekend. A portrait of two men was cut from its display with a knife, and text accompanying other portraits was also slashed, according to reports.
The exhibition, which runs from February 20 to March 13, is intended to honor the struggles and visibility of elders who fought for acceptance. The damage has been met with dismay by its creator and local officials.
'Tolerance is Going Backwards'
Photographer Ernst Coppejans, the creator of the series, expressed his profound disappointment. "This hits me hard," he stated. "I created this project to show that this community has always been here and that they fought for tolerance. Tolerance is going backwards; it's a difficult time for the LGBTQIA+ community."
Coppejans noted that while his exhibitions have been targeted before, this instance feels particularly egregious. "It affects me more because there are vulnerable elderly people in the photos. They are still, at a later age, on the barricades to show that they are just people. And still, people react disrespectfully."
Official Condemnation and a Pattern of Hostility
The Den Helder municipal executive condemned the vandalism, calling it "terrible." A spokesperson stated, "These people have had to fight for their position in society... You keep your hands off other people's property." The municipality is working with the exhibition's organizer, Stichting Open Mind, to replace the damaged panels and is attempting to identify those responsible.
Stichting Open Mind noted a worrying trend. "The first few years we never had problems with it. That this is happening now, we as a foundation find terrible."
This is not an isolated event. The 'Oudroze' exhibition has faced hostility before. In 2024, its display in Heerhugowaard led to threats against a municipal employee and community members, resulting in the removal of two portraits. In 2023, a similar outdoor exhibition in Alkmaar focusing on intersex individuals was also repeatedly vandalized.
