Ellen Kok

Photographer and Writer

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Happy Birthday! Dutch Children’s Parties

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Location: New Hampshire, USA

Nationality: Netherlands

Biography: Ellen Kok is a photographer and writer from the Netherlands, who combines photo essays with written stories. She builds long-lasting relationships with her subjects, often following them for years. Her photography is based on trust and intimacy.... MORE

Five girls play Bite the Marshm...ten, The Netherlands. May 1996.

Five girls play Bite the Marshmallow at the fifth birthday party of one of them.
The birthday girl wears a paper crown.
Linschoten, The Netherlands. May 1996.

A boy's first birthday.... The Netherlands. January 1997.

A boy's first birthday. His father makes a video while his uncle tries go get him to blow out the candle on a Lion King cake.
Amstelveen, The Netherlands. January 1997.

The birthday sleepover of a boy...t, The Netherlands. March 1999.

The birthday sleepover of a boy who turns nine.
Oegstgeest, The Netherlands. March 1999.

Egg race in a garden during the... The Netherlands. October 1996.

Egg race in a garden during the birthday party of a boy who celebrates his sixth anniversary.
Malden, The Netherlands. October 1996.

Four friends during the birthda...The Netherlands. November 1996.

Four friends during the birthday party of a boy who turns twelve. The glasses of Coca Cola have been emptied, the cake has been eaten, the boys tell tall tales.
Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. November 1996.

Slow dancing during a disco in ...orn, The Netherlands. May 1997.

Slow dancing during a disco in honor of the birthday of two twelve year olds in a room behind the local snackbar. At this age the girls are generally much taller than the boys.
Zuidhorn, The Netherlands. May 1997.

A group of boys celebrate the b...n, The Netherlands. March 1999.

A group of boys celebrate the birthday of a newly seven-year-old with a scouting expedition in the Dutch Museum of Antiquities. The children are dressed like Romans. They raise their fingers to be chosen to answer the guide’s question.
Leiden, The Netherlands. March 1999.

Baking cookies in the Children&...m, The Netherlands. April 1997.

Baking cookies in the Children’s Cooking Cafe to celebrate a girl turning six.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands. April 1997.

A boy waves balloons at this se...he Netherlands. September 1996.

A boy waves balloons at this second birthday party. In the background guests and his father, who has just inflated another balloon and is tying it up.
Den Haag, The Netherlands. September 1996.

Children eat cherry pie at the ...The Netherlands. November 1996.

Children eat cherry pie at the party of a nine year old girl (center). They eagerly raise their fingers to attract the attention of the parents handing out the treat.
Zetten-Andelst, The Netherlands. November 1996.

Birthday party of a boy (on the... The Netherlands. October 1996.

Birthday party of a boy (on the right) turning six. He is on a treasure hunt with his friends in a forest at night. They’re getting sleepy.
Malden, The Netherlands. October 1996.

Twin sisters who celebrate thei...The Netherlands. December 1996.

Twin sisters who celebrate their sixth birthday, and one of their guests, relish the whipped cream that their mother squirts into their mouths while decorating the home baked birthday cake.
Dordrecht, The Netherlands. December 1996.

A twelve-year-old boy (third fr...The Netherlands. November 1996.

A twelve-year-old boy (third from the right) celebrates with his friends at the bowling alley. His mother keeps score.
Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. November 1996.

A birthday girl enthusiasticall... The Netherlands. October 1996.

A birthday girl enthusiastically sings along with the Happy Birthday sung for her at her party.
Linschoten, The Netherlands. October 1996.

Girls wait to hear the score of...The Netherlands. December 1996.

Girls wait to hear the score of a game of shuffleboard at the birthday party of twin sisters (on the left and the right) who turn six.
Dordrecht, The Netherlands. December 1996.

A birthday party at a zoo for a...The Netherlands. February 1999.

A birthday party at a zoo for a girl (on the left) who turns seven. The children get to touch and even hold a python.
Emmen, The Netherlands. February 1999.

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Thumbnail of Five girls play Bite the Marshma_oten, The Netherlands. May 1996.

Thumbnail of A boy's first birthday. _, The Netherlands. January 1997.

Thumbnail of The birthday sleepover of a boy _st, The Netherlands. March 1999.

Thumbnail of Egg race in a garden during the _, The Netherlands. October 1996.

Thumbnail of Four friends during the birthday_ The Netherlands. November 1996.

Thumbnail of Slow dancing during a disco in h_horn, The Netherlands. May 1997.

Thumbnail of A group of boys celebrate the bi_en, The Netherlands. March 1999.

Thumbnail of Baking cookies in the Children&a_am, The Netherlands. April 1997.

Thumbnail of A boy waves balloons at this sec_The Netherlands. September 1996.

Thumbnail of Children eat cherry pie at the p_ The Netherlands. November 1996.

Thumbnail of Birthday party of a boy (on the _, The Netherlands. October 1996.

Thumbnail of Twin sisters who celebrate their_ The Netherlands. December 1996.

Thumbnail of A twelve-year-old boy (third fro_ The Netherlands. November 1996.

Thumbnail of A birthday girl enthusiastically_, The Netherlands. October 1996.

Thumbnail of Girls wait to hear the score of _ The Netherlands. December 1996.

Thumbnail of A birthday party at a zoo for a _ The Netherlands. February 1999.

Public Story

Happy Birthday! Dutch Children’s Parties

Copyright Ellen Kok 2024

Date of Work May 1996 - Feb 1999

Updated May 2024

Location The Netherlands

Topics Birthday, Black and White, Celebrations, Children, Culture, Culture stories, Friends + Family, Happiness, Joy, Parenting & Family, Personal Projects, Photography, Youth

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Ellen Kok

Also by Ellen Kok —

The Final Days of a Dairy Farm

Farming for the Neighbors

I Have a Tribe, They Are Only Americans

American Moments

The Laundromat

Cadets

Drewsville & Beyond

On the Land

You'll Hear Us Roar

You Are a Girl and You Want to Milk Cows

School

A Very Personal Animal

Farewell, With Elegance

The Other Farm

With God and Ayudante Across Guatemala