Dutch and Afghan troops have fought hard this past week with large numbers of Taliban fighters. The fight was an important opium route in the Chora district in the Afghan province of Uruzgan. (meer…)
Demolishing Mafao Minefields
A couple of miles of Juba, capital city of South Sudan, are the Mafao-Minefields. The place is extremely dangerous. Residents of villages in the area and members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have indicated where the mines are located. (meer…)
“Team spirit keeps us going”
Fire Brigade is ready 24/7 The firefighting crew who have been stationed for four and a half months at Kamp Holland in Uruzgan mainly consists of men from the Gilze-Rijen Airforce Base, supplemented by men from Soesterberg and Leeuwarden. (meer…)
Nurses in war zones have to keep their head cool
Corporal Shareena (23) and Corporal Maaike (26) from The Netherlands work at the “Uruzgan Medical Center” of Kamp Holland and have been friends for years. Shareena cleans medical equipment and Maaike works on the blood bank and in the laboratory. (meer…)
“In a few years I will come back”
Commander Reconstruction Team works on rebuilding Afghanistan. Captain Twan (39) is the commander of a Dutch provincial team that works on the reconstruction of Uruzgan. “In our work it is important that you have the confidence of the people. (meer…)
“After the fight, I wanted to go back”
Soldier Bart from the Netherlands is a shooter in combat unit
The first time he ended up in a gunfight, soldier first class Bart (20) from the Netherlands will never forget. “It was in early April when we moved from the base in Poentjak to the north. We had already heard from other troops that there were a lot of shelling and attacks were being carried out with roadside bombs and suicide bombings. (meer…)
“People determine the success of the mission”
Commander Van Griensven leads reconstruction mission in Uruzgan
Koen (10) and Tim (8) are very proud of their father, Colonel Hans van Griensven. “In a restaurant they asked the waitress if she knew who I was”, the Colonel smiles. (meer…)
For my son, this is also the third mission
Apache pilot from Hank is pilot by heart and soul
Home of the Redskins, that’s the name of the shelter where the pilots of the Apache squadron of the airbase Gilze-Rijen are housed. Captain Martin (36) from Hank is a pilot on the Apache combat helicopter for the third time in Afghanistan. (meer…)
“Erika is one of the guys”
Young female soldier is the fire chief on the largest artillery of Kamp Holland
She is only nineteen years old, but Kamp Holland’s biggest artillery does not fire a single shot without her. Guardian Erika from the dutch Army is the fire chief on the panther howitzer, a 36 ft long artillery gun that can shoot over 20 miles with great precision. (meer…)
About me
Bart Coolen is a photojournalist, based in The Netherlands.
He covered stories for newspapers and magazines in Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkana/Kenya, Sudan, the USA and most European countries.
Contact: bartcoolen@outlook.com (0031 6 53386113).
You can see more of my photo’s on www.bartcoolen.nl.