Niels Bekkema

Niels Bekkema (1989, Groningen, the Netherlands) is an artist and writer. He has an MFA from the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. His artworks have been exhibited in the Netherlands, South Africa, Canada and Mexico. Alongside his practice, he works as teacher for graduating students at the Minerva Art Academy in Groningen, and as the assistant editor for the Polity of Literature.

26 min Read Now

Polity of Literature (11/28)

Refugee on Trial: The Hole in the Donut

Written by Niels Bekkema, Illustrated by Ken Krimstein

The 11th piece in the Polity of Literature series looks at the various rules set by courts and immigration authorities, from the perspectives of artists working to critique those systems.

Werkinstructie 2019/17 from the Dutch IND

23 min Read Now

Polity of Literature (Addendum)

Werkinstructie 2019/17 from the Dutch IND

Translated by Niels Bekkema

This supplement to the 10th and 11th pieces in the Polity of Literature series contains the Dutch Werkinstructie, the primary document of guidelines for decision-making by Immigration & Naturalization Department interviewers of LGBTQ asylum seekers.

Refugees Tell Their Stories to the State

35 min Read Now

Polity of Literature (10/28)

Refugees Tell Their Stories to the State

Written by Ralph Severijns, Translated by Niels Bekkema, Afterword by Matthew Stadler, and Illustrated by Ken Krimstein

The 10th piece in the Polity of Literature series studies the encounter of the asylum seeker with the host nation, and the processes that determine the refugee’s legal fate.