iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#Transnistria is a small strip of land lbetween the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border with Ukraine. It declared independence in 1990, but the UN legally consider it a part of the Republic of Moldova. One of our explorers sourced some goodies to be the quiz prize at our next Off the Map.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Next up: Off the Map filmfestival on the island Vlieland! 19-21 February 2027. Keep an eye on our site or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The flag of the United Nations originates from 1947 and has a world map in the azimuthal equidistant projection. It is centred on the North Pole and lacks Antarctica. Today, the UN voted to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scale. Read more here: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

RIP #DollyParton. Pictures below from her World on Fire release cover and concert. Geopolitics meets country.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

De indringende podcast Dichter aan het Front, die journalist Michiel Driebergen ( @3bergen.bsky.social) maakte voor Bureau Buitenland (VPRO) is genomineerd voor de Prix Europa. Op 16 september is hij bij ons in Mimik bij Van de Kaart en vertelt daar over verschuivende en vastgeroeste grenzen.

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Reposted by De Facto

3Bergen @3bergen.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Op woensdag 16 september ben ik te gast bij DeFactoBorders in MIMIK Filmtheater in Deventer. Over schuivende en vastroestende grenzen tijdens oorlog. Zie ik je daar? Er zijn nú nog kaarten: www.mimik.nl/agenda/de-fa...

mimik.nl

De Facto

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

De Facto recommends: geopolitics on Lowlands Festival (2/3): Together with @volkskrant.nl, BKB has put together a geopolitical program about #Sudan, with a focus on the humanitarian disaster that is taking place there and how to factcheck as journalists: lowlands.nl/acts/bkb-x-d...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Next up: Off the Map in Mimik, Deventer, September 16, 2026. With journalist Michiel Driebergen about Ukraine and with Kamil and Gülendem Abas with live music on Uygur traditional instruments. And of course also with Jorie Horsthuis and Suzanne Hendriks. Tickets: www.mimik.nl/agenda/de-fa...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

De Facto recommends: geopolitics on Lowlands Festival (1/3): lowlands.nl/acts/bkb-hoe.... BKB has put together several geopolitical programs you might like, like this one with Shermin Chavoushi and Maral Noshad Sharifi (@maralns.bsky.social), that will focus on real stories about #Hormuz and #Iran.

lowlands.nl

BKB – Hoe ziek is de geopolitiek: Iran

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Reposted by De Facto

Historisch Nieuwsblad @historischnwsbl.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Tienduizenden Marokkaanse jongeren staken massaal de grens over bij de Spaanse exclave Ceuta. Paolo De Mas legt uit hoe de exclave eeuwen geleden in Spaanse handen kwam en bleef. ‘Hoe rechtsgeldig de Spaanse claim op het gebied nu nog is, kun je je afvragen.’ buff.ly/IRuQvbe

historischnieuwsblad.nl

Spanje wilde Ceuta niet afstaan als het Gibraltar niet kreeg

Hoe kwam Ceuta eeuwen geleden in Spaanse handen? ‘Hoe rechtsgeldig de Spaanse claim op het gebied nu nog is, kun je je afvragen.’

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The World in a Cloverleaf, is a 16th century #map of the world, drawn by Heinrich Bünting. The original is to be found in the National Library of Israel. Special mention to the #merman on the right, who seems to be slightly more interested in the headless other merman nearby than the clovershape.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Gotta have a #cat #stamp on International Cat Day (August 8). This one is from the Sahrawi Republic, a partially recognized state that claims the territory of Western Sahara, but controls approximately thirty percent of it. Read more about it on our site: www.defactoborders.org/places/weste...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

To all you bordercrossers: send us your photos! This one is from the Czech town of Hranice, literally meaning border. It was once a tripoint border, with the GDR, West-Germany and Czechoslacakia, now it serves as a border between Germany and Czech Republic. Are thre more aptly named border towns?

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

July 27th marks 73 years since the Korean Armistice Agreement and the still existing ceasefire between South and North Korea. 'K-Scar' is an online documentary project by journalist Roland de Courson exploring the inter-Korean border, its history, landscapes, and the people living in its shadow.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Looking forward to our event Off the Map, on September 16th at Mimik, Deventer. One of the guests this evening will be Kamil Abbas, who will play Uygur music for us. Get your tickets through our site or that of Mimik: www.mimik.nl/agenda/de-fa...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Most maps don’t mark out Somaliland. But going there is getting easier. The self-declared republic, an autonomous region of Somalia, hopes that international visitors will function as de facto ambassadors to the non-recognised nation. Check out the new article on our site, written by Aron Goossens.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

It’s hot! Seven years ago, De Facto’s own Floor Koomen (@fkoomen) launced her maptastic literary Project Antarctica: floorkoomen.com/Project-Anta.... Go get lost! Bram van den Berg. Drawings by Elliott Dechamboux

floorkoomen.com

Project Antarctica - Floor Koomen

Webdesign for literary Project Antarctica. Programming by Bram van den Berg. Drawings by Elliott Dechamboux.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Blerick (NL) might not have the best smelling train station in the country, but it DOES have a very cool 17th century #map on one of the staircases.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

For Roma youth, belonging is not a place on a map — it is memory, music, and the recognition of a cousin you have never met. Nina Yaminah Daneshvar is a journalist and multimedia storyteller whose work explores identity, belonging, and underrepresented communities. Check out her story on our site.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Japanese world map from the Kihon chizo-cho (Basic Atlas) - a popular and widely used school atlas, published by Ninomiya Shoten and Yamakawa Shuppansha. It features not just 360 degrees, but even 540 degrees and 2x the Americas (left and right).

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

De Facto recommends: The Studio #11, Bonnefanten in Maastricht (NL, with Malina Suliman. The exhibition includes an installation of two large maps of the world, through which she addresses themes like forced migration, violence and the idea of borders versus borderlessness. June 13- September 6.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

De Facto's own Jorie Horsthuis just crossed the border with Germany, heading to the launch of the 'law & borders' research network at the University of Regenburg.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

YESSSS. More revolving globes in shopping centers PLEASE. If you see a #globe somewhere that you think we should know about, let us know. Have a globalicious day! This one is in Roosendaal (NL) by the way

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

De Facto recommends: Qaqnas. What does freedom mean for women today? This powerful, musical ode is made by composer Huba de Graaff and Dutch-Kurdish singer-songwriter Naaz. Voice, electronics and resistance take centre stage. At Holland Festival Amsterdam, June 11-14: hollandfestival.nl/en/qaqnas

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Two travel documents from countries that don’t exist anymore. On the left: passport for the Independent State of Croatia, that existed only from 1941 to 1943 and on the right: a Reisepass from the Deutsches Reich, these travel documents were issued between 1871 and 1945.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Nice! The article that Afghan journalist Saadat Mousavi wrote for De Facto, has been translated in Dutch and published on RFG Media, who support refugee journalists. Check out the article in Dutch here: rfgmedia.nl/aan-weerszij....

rfgmedia.nl

Aan weerszijden van de grensoever klinkt hetzelfde lied - RFG Media

Hoe voelt het om op te groeien op een kruispunt van grenzen? "De regio is als een appel die in twee helften is gesneden," schrijft de Afghaanse journalist Saadat Mousavi in zijn poëtische essay over h...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Who has been to the Mapparium in Boston? This 3-story stained-glass globe allows visitors to stand inside a globe depicting the world of 1934. It includes defunct names like Italian East Africa, Upper Volta and Siam, Soviet Union and Yugoslavija, but it also explains about political changes after.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Today is Towel Day. 'Home Is Where I Hang My Towel' is the anthem of a micronation called Aerican Empire, a cute reference to Douglas Adams' The Hithchikers Guide to the Galaxy. Check out our site: www.defactoborders.org/places/aeric...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

On this day in history, May 24th 1993, the flag for an independent Eritrea was hoisted for the first time. Today Independence Day is being celebrated in Eritrea. Picture credit of the flag in the shape of the countr: Darwinek via Wikicommons

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Did you know there is a library exactly on the #border between Canada and the United States? Tonight in Dutch TV-show Metropolis, by HUMAN 21.05 NPO2.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Check out 'An Inside View Of Kalakuta Republic', written by @leendertvdvalk.bsky.social, about Fela Kuti’s music and activism, as well as his #Kalakuta Republic. A review of the new podcast 'Fear No Man', by Jad Abumrad, Higher Ground Media and Audible. www.defactoborders.org/places/kalak...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Next up: Off the Map in Mimik, Deventer, on September 16, 2026, secure your tickets here: www.mimik.nl/agenda/de-fa...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

On 18th of May 1991, Somaliland claimed independence after a long and brutal civil war. This self-declared republic and autonomous region of Somalia functions as a de facto state with its own military, government and currency. It remains, however largely unrecognized. Photos by Aron Goossens

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Last month we were at Theatre De Richel, Amsterdam, with photographer Rachel Corner and music by Alex Tugushin and of course De Facto's own Jorie Horsthuis, Floor Koomen and Suzanne Hendriks. Read about the event here: www.defactoborders.org/homepage/off... Thanks Hester den Boer for the photos!

defactoborders.org

Off the Map at De Richel, Amsterdam – De Facto

De Facto explores the realm of unrecognized states, micronations and contested territories.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Hoe we buren werden - gedicht van Jaap Robben, gespot op de Gruitberg in Nijmegen door een van onze bezoekers. Dank Mo!

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Nationalism is the most influential ideology of the modern world. Who could possibly imagine a world without passports, borders and citizenship? Go and watch this exhibition until 20 September 2026 at Designmuseum Den Bosch (NL): designmuseum.nl/en/tentoonst.... De Facto recommends.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Next up: Off the Map at Mimik, Deventer. Save the date: 16th of September, program will be announced later. Photo credit: Jerney Hakkenberg.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

'Borders - I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.' Quote by Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian writer and adventurer

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Border between two Dutch provinces. Drenthe and Overijssel, spotted by one or our regulars, Mark Honig. Grens tussen Overijssel en Drenthe op de provinciale weg tussen Steenwijk en Frederiksoord. Gespot door Mark Honig, een van onze vaste bezoekers.

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Komende woensdag is fotograaf Rachel Corner te gast bij Van de Kaart, in Theater de Richel in Amsterdam. Luister alvast naar de podcast Het Beloofde Bos, van de NTR via NPO luister, #aanrader! Foto door Rachel Corner. npo.nl/luister/podc...

npo.nl

Podcast Het Beloofde Bos luister je op NPO Luister

Make the desert bloom. Dat is het motto van het Joods Nationaal Fonds, de organisatie die de afgelopen eeuw ruim 240 miljoen bomen plantte in Israël. De bomen vergroenden het land, maar verdreven ook ...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Next up: De Richel in Amsterdam! On April 8th, we will host an evening Off the Map with photographer Rachel Corner, live music from Alex Tugushin, geopolicis, utopianism and some nerdy quizzing. Come join us! Evening will be in Dutch: theaterderichel.nl/evenementen/...

theaterderichel.nl

Van de Kaart - Theater De Richel

Geen kaas gegeten van geopolitiek, maar wel interesse in de wereld? Kom naar Van de Kaart in theater De Richel in Amsterdam. Hier gaan we voorbij het nieuws en nemen we je mee de wereld over op zoek n...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Welcome to De Facto's new interview series, in which we interview scientists, artists and journalists about contested borders. This edition: Gaëlle Le Pavic and Said Gezerdava, who write about #Abkhazia. ‘We co-write, co-research, and also co-publish.’ www.defactoborders.org/places/abkha...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Spotted by one of our regulars

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Next up: Off the Map in Maastricht. In exactly a week, on April 1st, we will be at AINSI, with writer Philip Dröge about Moresnet and live music by Daan Soenens cs. Expect some geopolitics, utopian imagination and geo-quizzing as well! Last tickets here: www.theateraanhetvrijthof.nl/voorstelling...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Dat was een mooie avond, gisteren in LUX, Nijmegen! Met een aandachtig en geïnteresseerd publiek dat ook nog eens mooie gedachten op papier zette op onze vraag 'welke grenzen zou je willen afschaffen en waarom?'. Wat zou jij antwoorden?

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Welke kant op? Naar LUX Nijmegen, komende dinsdagavond: Van de Kaart. Met een mini-college van Radbouds eigen grensprofessor @henkvanhoutum.bsky.social en muziek van harpist Jareach Gilula, presentaties en interviews EN een nerdy quiz. >>> LAATSTE KAARTEN: www.lux-nijmegen.nl/programma/va... <<<

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Interested in Secessionist and Statehood Bids in Times of Crises? The University of Tartu is organising a Summer School in Cyprus, at the heart of one of Europe’s most enduring divided societies and frozen conflicts. You can apply until April 6: skytte.ut.ee/en/news/univ...

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De Facto @defactoborders.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

De Facto launches a new interview series with scientists, artists and journalists about contested borders. What is their perspective on this urgent theme, and how does their work contribute to a better understanding? First one is with Ramesh Ganohariti, a scholar who researches #defacto states.

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