The origin of Hartjesdagen (heartsdays), an old streetparty in some areas of Amsterdam, lies somewhere in the middle ages. The “common” people got, once a year at the third monday in august, permission of a landlord to hunt deer. Fires were kindled and people where singing and dancing in the streets. The story goes that the people had no money for special party clothes, so they wore each others and this way it turned into a kind of cross-dressing carnival, where men dressed as women and women dressed as men.
In the second world war, the Germans forbid the festival, but since 1997 it is brought back to life at the Zeedijk, a street near the red light district. Part of the street fest is the parade, when crossdressed people stroll along the Zeedijk, passing jury members sitting up in the windows. They judge them on their act and performance and of course there are winners, but most important is; people sing, dance and party in the street like in the old days. A party with fun and respect and where people dare to show up crossdressed, knowing they are accepted for who are or want to be. It is not a classic or professional dragparty but everybody can attend.

The people in these portraits are contestants, made during the time when they sign up as Heart or Queen to join the parade and contest. Yhey will perform a small act, for the judges along the route and at the end of the day winners will be chosen.
I made the portraits in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. Due to the COVID pandemic there was no hartjesdag in 2020 and 2021.