I like Belgium so much (2004)
This documentary shows the successive stages of the official Belgian asylum procedure in 2004. It critically questions the failing asylum system and emphasizes its dehumanizing effect on the applicants.
“Nick Hannes is able to go beyond the victim frame, leading the tone in many social documentary photography projects. He searches for a way out, ‘beyond compassion’.
(Inge Henneman, curator)
The project was made on assignment for the Antwerp FotoMuseum and resulted in the book and exhibition ‘Au mauvais moment, au mauvais endroit’, published by Roularta Books, with contributions of author Bart Demyttenaere, photographer Dieter Telemans and myself.
Asylum seekers waiting at the gate of the Aliens Office in Brussels
Asylum seekers waiting at the gate of the Aliens Office in Brussels
Security control at the entrance of the Aliens Office in Brussels
TBC check at the Aliens office in Brussels
Waiting room of the Commissioner-General for Refugees and Stateless Persons in Brussels
Roma family in the waiting room of the Aliens Office in Brussels
The open reception centre in Jodoigne
Nepalese asylum seekers in the open reception centre in Kapellen
The open reception centre in Jodoigne
TV room at the open reception centre in Kapellen
Koko from Togo, at he open reception centre in Jodoigne
Munkshuren from Mongolia, at the open reception centre in Jodoigne
A man from North-Korea, found in a shipping container, is being interrogated by the marine police in Zeebrugge
Trucks heading to Great-Britain are being scanned to detect clandestine passengers in Zeebrugge
Emergency reception centre in Sint-Pieters Woluwe
Transitcentre 127 in Melsbroek
Transitcentre 127 in Melsbroek
An Indian man, caught while trying to hide in a shipping container, sleeps on a table at the marine police office in Zeebrugge
Control room at the detention centre for illegal people in Merksplas
Detention centre for illegal people in Merksplas
Congolese women, praying at Transitcentre 127 in Melsbroek
Isolation cell at the detention centre for illegal people in Merksplas
A Congolese man is being released from Transitcentre 127 in Melsbroek, after his application for political asylum was declared accessible