Demolition of ‘het glaspaleis’

This demolition site on Rijswijkseweg, Den Haag, is one of the most compelling subjects I have ever covered with my camera. Shot on an exceptionally sunny day in late October, and on a hastily inserted roll of black and white film, these images would’ve never been captured had it not been for a lead from my friend: “go to Rijswijkseweg right now, there’s a building being demolished”.

I did not hesitate. The spontaneity of the moment excited me, and the conditions were perfect. I was already out on my bike, the weather was brilliant, and I happened to have my camera with me, a Rolleiflex 2.8e.

15 minutes later I was at the spot, and in an exuberant mood. The scene was better than I had hoped for. The tarnished facade of the building stood boldly in the sun. Curious pedestrians looked up, craning their necks at the enormous machine that was slowly eating into the ruin. With the carcass of the old ‘glaspaleis’ looming over me, I got to shooting.

The resulting set of photographs are some of my favourites that I’ve taken on film. Shooting a whole roll on just one subject was a first for me, but given the perfect conditions I felt it would be a shame not to document this as a set. After all, vacant buildings and demolition sites are a rare sight in The Hague. The timeframe to record such a site is small. Demolitions are quick and ruthless. The building is gone, the subject is lost. I figure that’s what makes me proud of these photographs: I captured something that, upon reflection, I had never captured before. In a sometimes static city, I captured change.

Bart Huisinga

Bart Huisinga