Across the Netherlands, a small country of 16 million, there are empty houses, empty offices and empty seats belonging to the 194 Dutch nationals who died after Malaysia Airlines flight 17 was shot out of the sky over the eastern Ukraine, last week Thursday.
Relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers are reminded of those who are no longer there, uncertain what to do with the places left behind. Dutch photographer Ilvy Njiokiktjien documented the lives lost.
Sascha Meijer’s sun bed
Each summer, Sascha Meijer, 24, a journalism graduate, would return home to her family’s house in Amersfoort. During high school she and a group of friends would sunbathe, sing and try to do their homework on the terrace. “After a sleepover we would even have breakfast up there,” said a friend, Tessa Schop, 24.
“She was sharp, a really good journalist,” said a friend, Fleur Launspach. “I’m confident she would have made great documentaries in the future.”