It started with a slightly wacky idea from our Enschede VP Monica Schreiber: what if photographers in Palo Alto and Enschede swapped photos of the “beautiful and ugly” sides of their hometowns — then talked about them over Zoom? That’s how Fotoclub de Zoeker in Enschede and the Palo Alto Camera Club first connected.

Fast forward to late October 2025, and that online experiment jumped from screen to real life when photographers Martin Klein Schaarsberg and Roald Kooijman spent a week in Palo Alto on a full-fledged photography adventure.

The project’s success owed everything to the photographers in both cities who were open-hearted enough to engage with random shutterbugs from halfway around the world.

With help from a dream team of Palo Alto Camera Club tour guides (Wright Schickli, Judy Kramer, Mark Gerow, Bob Fisher, and Allan Colby), the week included wanderings around downtown Palo Alto, wildlife shoots at the Baylands, a day of redwoods and ocean, and a trip to Monterey/Carmel with Monica and her husband.

Special appreciation to the Camera Club’s enthusiastic co-presidents Sue Borg and Bob Fisher, who embraced the collaboration idea from the get-go and generously hosted our photographers. Sue and her husband Jeff Sultan opened their home to Roald, while Bob and Jan Fisher hosted Martin.

In a full-circle twist, the visit rekindled ties dating back to a 1980s high school jazz band exchange, when Bob and Jan (who hosted Martin) first visited Enschede and were hosted by a Dutch couple who became lifelong friends. That experience inspired them to open their own home — decades later — to Martin.

A “goodbye” message from Sue summed up the spirit of the exchange:

“I was sad to drop Roald off at the train station this morning. We welcomed him as strangers and said farewell as friends … Thank you to Monica and Neighbors Abroad for initiating and organizing this wonderful visit. Truly our world needs more of this. And I can’t wait to see how our collaboration evolves.”

A Message from Photographer Martin Klein Schaarsberg

“Our time in Palo Alto is already coming to an end. Today and tomorrow we’re going to Monterey and Carmel, next to the Pacific Ocean, with Monica and her husband. Then one more night with our hosts until we travel onwards.

Creativity is flowing through me, I’m thoroughly enjoying this experience together with Roald and all the wonderful people I’ve met here.

I’d like to thank a few people. Monica, the driving force behind the exchange. Cor, who made connection with De Zoeker. Roald, my wonderful travel companion. Bob & Jan, who welcomed me with so much love into their home. Wright, Allan, Judy, Roland, and Mark, for their inspiring tours through Palo Alto and the surrounding area. Sue & Jeff, the Palo Alto Camera Club, and Neighbors Abroad, for the festive reception on Wednesday and the dinner on Friday. Guus, Jenneke, and Edwin, for lending various materials. And everyone we’ve met along the way — people like Sonny, Teddy, and Donald.

What a warm and generous welcome!”