The image is a logo that features the name "Rick Akkerman" with "RI" placed above the first letter "K" and an orange vertical rectangle positioned to the right of the text.
The image is a flag with three horizontal stripes: red on top, white in the middle, and blue at the bottom.
Product has been added to your cart.

Heilige Momenten

“Holy Moments”
A priest in white and red robes kneels at an altar rail while another priest stands, laying hands on their head in blessing inside a modern church with a cross, organ, and rainbow banner in the background.
A family gathers in a cozy living room. Two adults and two children sit around a coffee table as an older man, standing, serves popcorn from a large bowl. The room is warmly lit and decorated with art and plants.
A group of people stand facing a speaker at a podium in a church with tall stained-glass windows. Musicians with instruments are positioned on either side of the podium. The chairs in the foreground are mostly empty.
A person dressed in white stands among gravestones in a sunlit cemetery, holding flowers. Leafless trees and shrubs surround the area, casting shadows on the ground.
A middle-aged woman with short brown hair and blue eyes wears a white collared shirt, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression against a plain beige background.
A middle-aged man with short dark hair, a trimmed beard, and mustache poses against a plain brown background while wearing a white t-shirt. He is facing the camera with a neutral expression.
An older person stands outdoors in a leafless park, wrapped in a large blue and yellow flag, with sunlight casting long shadows on the ground.
A woman in a purple jacket stands with arms crossed inside a wooden clock tower, surrounded by large gears, cables, and wooden stairs. Warm light filters through the machinery.
A woman with glasses and long dark hair, dressed in black, holds an old-fashioned oil lantern with a small flame, standing against a dark background.
A woman wearing a blue hijab and patterned pants sits on a beige sofa, reading a book in a cozy living room with warm lighting, cushions, houseplants, and a window letting in daylight.
Four adults in winter coats gather outside around a fire pit at night, holding drinks and warming themselves. A warmly lit building is behind them, and bare trees are visible in the background.
Two people kneel at an altar rail in a church, receiving communion from two clergy members; sunlight streams through large windows and stained glass in the background.
A person sits alone on a bench inside a spacious, high-ceilinged synagogue with tall windows, dark wooden pews, chandeliers, and a colorful stained glass window overhead.
A woman in a red dress and a man in a gray suit dance together in a sunlit room with large windows, wooden floor, and a potted plant on the left.
A man sits cross-legged on a red carpet in a spacious room with framed portraits on the wall, cushions along the walls, and sunlight streaming through high windows.
An elderly man stands beside a black marble monument with a Star of David, in a busy square in front of a modern building with “Almada” signage, as people walk by.
Three people jogging outdoors on a dirt path through a wooded area with leafless trees, under a cloudy sky. They appear to be dressed in athletic clothing, enjoying a run together in nature.
A priest in white and red robes kneels at an altar rail while another priest stands, laying hands on their head in blessing inside a modern church with a cross, organ, and rainbow banner in the background.

About this project

Holy Moments

The members of the peace dialogue group wanted not only to talk, but also to take action. This is how Holy Moments came to be: an exhibition that introduces visitors to the members of the peace dialogue group through photographic portraits captured during a moment they consider sacred.

The photographs were made by photographer Rick Akkerman and invite visitors to pause and reflect on the unique and universal moments that give our lives meaning. Life defining events, milestones, grief, happiness, or a small but significant instant. Everyone has such holy moments.

The exhibition shows how different people can be, and also how much they share. What constitutes a holy moment differs from person to person and from culture to culture. But the desire for peace and connection is the same everywhere. Visitors experience how the members of the peace dialogue group grew closer: from distance and difference to encounter and connection.

Finally, visitors can sign the Alkmaar Peace Manifesto. This declaration was drawn up by the members of the peace dialogue group and calls on everyone to commit themselves to peace.

The peace dialoque group

In response to tensions in the world and their impact on local communities, a special peace dialogue group was launched in Alkmaar in November 2023. The aim of this dialogue is to foster greater connection, respect, and understanding within the diverse communities of the municipality of Alkmaar.

“In a world of increasing polarization, it is essential that we continue to find one another. With the exhibition Holy Moments, we show that despite our differences, we all share moments of meaning and connection. Peace begins with recognizing what binds us and respecting each other’s stories,” said Mayor Anja Schouten.

The peace dialogues bring together representatives of peace organizations and religious institutions. Every two months, they discuss how to counter prejudice and discrimination. Together, they develop activities that contribute to a connected and peaceful Alkmaar community. The most important goal? To listen to one another, understand one another, and keep the conversation going.

A woman with long brown hair, wearing floral earrings and a black and white patterned blouse, poses against a dark blue background. She has light eyes and red lipstick, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
An older woman wearing a white hijab and dark clothing poses in front of a deep blue background, looking calmly at the camera with a gentle expression.
A man with short gray hair and a beard is wearing a dark blazer over a light blue shirt, standing against a dark blue background, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
Portrait of an older woman with short brown hair wearing a white shirt and gray cardigan, smiling softly against a dark blue background.
An older man with thinning gray hair and a receding hairline, wearing a black hoodie with a colorful graphic, poses against a dark blue background. He has a neutral expression and is looking slightly toward the camera.
An older woman with short gray hair and glasses, wearing a colorful floral-patterned jacket and a single dangling earring, sits against a dark blue background, looking calmly at the camera.
A man with short brown hair and glasses wears a patterned dark shirt and looks at the camera with a slight smile, posed against a solid dark blue background.
A person with gray hair tied back, wearing round glasses and a white button-up shirt, smiles gently against a dark blue background.
A woman with long dark hair and glasses wearing a green sweater and a pendant necklace, poses in front of a dark blue background.
A bald older man with round blue glasses wears a black turtleneck and a checked blazer, posing against a dark blue background.
A middle-aged woman with shoulder-length dark hair, glasses, and a neutral expression poses against a dark blue background. She is wearing a black cardigan over a patterned blouse.
A man with short dark hair and light skin wearing a yellow polo shirt poses against a dark blue background, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
A person with short, curly brown hair and glasses, wearing a red jacket and a clerical collar, poses against a dark blue background, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile.
A man with short dark hair and a trimmed beard wearing a light beige sweater over a light blue collared shirt, posing in front of a dark blue background.
A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wears a black and yellow police uniform, standing against a dark blue background.
An elderly man with a white beard and glasses wears a brown sweater over a blue plaid shirt, featuring a yellow ribbon pin. He has a neutral expression and sits against a dark blue background.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing floral earrings and a black and white patterned blouse, poses against a dark blue background. She has light eyes and red lipstick, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
Three large photographs are displayed on a black curtain wall in a dimly lit gallery space, each mounted above a stand with information placards. The room has spotlights and a carpeted floor.
A dimly lit art gallery displays five large photographs on black curtains, each showing different indoor or outdoor scenes. White benches and information stands are placed in front of the artworks.
A dimly lit gallery room displays framed portraits of various people on black curtains, with spotlights illuminating each photo. A few empty chairs are arranged in the foreground.
A group of people sit around a table covered with papers and drinks, engaged in discussion. Two others stand nearby, smiling and observing. The setting appears to be an office or conference room. The image is in black and white.
A spacious outdoor plaza with art displays in glass cases, people walking, and a modern building with horizontal slats in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
A woman stands indoors, reaching up to adjust or hang paper cranes suspended from strings. She is surrounded by the hanging origami birds and is facing slightly to the right. The photo is in black and white.
Black and white photo of numerous paper cranes made from written-on paper, hanging from the ceiling in front of large windows, creating a sense of movement and lightness in the room.
An art installation in a bright room features hundreds of white paper cranes suspended in midair between two metal poles, creating the illusion of a flock flying through the space. Large windows and a blue wall are visible in the background.
A person with long blonde hair stands in a glass structure, reading display boards. A blue sign on the door reads "Het Vredesplein." The space is warmly lit and decorated with a carpet and furniture.
A corkboard covered with numerous handwritten notes and small cards, featuring various messages and drawings. There is a blue poster on the right side with white text and an origami bird illustration.
Three large photographs are displayed on a black curtain wall in a dimly lit gallery space, each mounted above a stand with information placards. The room has spotlights and a carpeted floor.

The closing exibithion

The closing exhibition could be seen and experienced for a month in the former UWV office building. Visitors began in a dark room where they heard the voices of the Peace Group. Then the lights came on and the portraits of the members became visible. In the next space, visitors could view large photographs of each person’s Holy Moment. At the end of the route, visitors were invited to sign the peace manifesto by folding a paper crane, which was then hung up. Visitors could also enter into dialogue with one another on the conversation bench, or leave their own Holy Moment on a postcard.

Later, in September, during Peace Week, the exhibition was transformed into an outdoor exhibition on Canadaplein and renamed Moments of Peace. For one week, Canadaplein became “Peace Square,” where people could leave their peace quote in the Peace Palace. The audio from the dark room could again be listened to on visitors’ own phones.

Both exhibitions were a great success and received broad support.

Facts:

2025 | Former UWV building & Canadaplein | Alkmaar, Netherlands | Visitors Approx. 5.000

Production:

DOSS Event Support

This project was made possible by:

| Gemeente Alkmaar | Victorie Fonds | VSB Fonds

Back to projects

Other projects

error: Content is protected !!
Yummie! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use this site, you agree with it. Privacy Policy