Debt Society

In a working-class neighborhood in North Amsterdam, almost everyone is deep in debt. Every month a parade of heavies, a bailiff, a police officer and a locksmith moves through the streets to evict people from their homes. It’s the ultimate, most dramatic consequence of the centuries-old hunt down on debtors. While the locals struggle with fines, guilt and shame, bailiffs and social workers face locked doors. You can’t get blood out of a stone. So who pays the price in the end and who is to blame? I photographed for 2 years during the shooting of a primetime tv documentary series and podcast episodes. Debt Society, directed by Ester Gould and Sarah Sylbing , was a national TV hit in the Netherlands, led to public debate and won several awards including the Silver Nipkow Disk.