Introduction

Sense of Place & Belonging

The Sense of Place & Belonging projects delve into the emotions and meanings tied to locations and regions, exploring how people and their surroundings shape each other over time. These stories are brought to life through hand-painted prints, books, and other media.

The projects involve collaborations with regional and local governments, artists, and both national and local businesses that take pride in celebrating their historical roots.

Projects

Sense of Schagen

Discover the rich cultural and historical tapestry of Schagen through a unique collection of 26 postcards, each representing a letter of the alphabet and a captivating moment from the town's past. From ancient traditions to modern milestones, this series celebrates the vibrant stories, landmarks, and events that have shaped Schagen’s identity, offering a visual journey through its heritage, one postcard at a time.

Sense of Oranje

The hand-painted picture book Sense of Belonging visually captures the evolving sense of community over the 150-year history of the Dutch town of Oranje. For each period of significant change, a person and their connection to both their environment and community are depicted through a series of paintings.

About

Sonja de Boer (NL) is an illustrator and textile artist. Over the past ten years she has developed and applied the Sense of Place & Belonging model across various locations. Using the model, she blends historical and analytical research with hand-painted storytelling to explore regional solidarity, uniquely visualised for each region. The model debuted at the Dutch Design Week in 2016.

Sonja holds a Master’s degree from the Design Academy Eindhoven and a Bachelor’s degree from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. She has worked internationally, including at the MIT Media Lab, in the creative hub of Tokyo, and early in her career as a print designer at Oilily.

Your sense of place?

Are you involved in regional creative initiatives, an arts council, cultural or marketing efforts for your local government, company or organisation, and curious how Sonja’s work could benefit your community?

Please send a brief message below to explore how we can connect art, culture, and marketing in your region.