Wolterbeek photographed and filmed for decades, for AD, De Telegraaf, ANP news agency and Van Gewest tot Gewest, among others. He has spent most of his life taking photos for various media, but also supplied companies and government agencies. Wolterbeek was also involved in world news such as the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise and the demonstrations at the nuclear power plant in Borssele in the 1980s. He sold many photos internationally.
Even on his deathbed, the photographer continued to take photos, says son Janne Wolterbeek. “He loved lying in bed with his laptop on his lap looking up photos from his own archive and sharing them. He actually remained a photographer until literally his last breath.”
His father’s death was not unexpected. He had been ill for months. “He has been transferred to a care home since December. He then had esophageal cancer and, strangely enough, it has recovered, against all expectations. So we had hope for a while,” says Janne. “But then it turned out to have spread to his liver and he actually only lived for two months.”
Despite the short illness, family and friends have had the time to visit Wolterbeek several times and discuss things with him. “It feels good that we were able to say goodbye quietly. It may sound a bit crazy, but I think I’m lucky. Not everyone can say goodbye like that.”
While cleaning out the photographer’s house, son Janne and his mother came across many more photos. He has now housed most of the photos in the Zeeland Library, among others. “I plan to make a book with his work in it. And I want to set it up with a crowdfunding campaign. I think there is a lot of interest in it.”
For those who cannot wait for the book yet, you can search for ‘Jaap Wolterbeek’ via the image bank of the Zeeland Library. Then you will not only find portraits of the photographer himself, but also a very large part of his work archive.
Tags: Wellknown Zeeland photographer Jaap Wolterbeek died age
