Dive into the heart of Dutch culture with “Between the Sea and the Sky”. This 528-page hardback unveils over 350 stunning images, each capturing the soul of the Netherlands.

Through intimate portraits and iconic landscapes, Nelson’s tailor-made 10×8 analogue plate camera brings forth exquisite detail and a romantic quality reminiscent of Dutch masters. The photographs, complemented by hand-drawn illustrations, provide a visual narrative of Dutch heritage. The free Jimmy Nelson app unlocks behind-the-scenes videos, enriching the experience. Immerse yourself in the captivating tales, history, and myths of each region, revealing the resilience and beauty that define the Dutch spirit. This is not just a book but an artistic voyage into the very essence of the Netherlands.

Using the monstrous 8×10”-format film plates ensures that I push myself to the limits of my experience and skill.

The laborious process enables me to engrave the images with a real signature: it is the struggle to see, the imperfection of the self, that gives my pictures the artistic authenticity for which I strive. Then, camera and tripod in hand, I quite literally fell in love with the famous Dutch light.

The myth about Dutch light started circulating in the 19th century. In the 1850s, the Netherlands became popular with artists. The likes of Monet, Manet and Whistler all came to see the country’s famous 17th-century paintings and the typical countryside for themselves. And in their slipstream came writers, painters and photographers from all over the world. Reading through their diaries and journals, it almost seems as if the Dutch countryside was discovered through 17th-century paintings, as if the landscapes and the light were the inventions of artists.