Stephan Vanfleteren - Transcripts of a Sea

With a dangerous obsession and palpable longing, Stephan Vanfleteren analyses the sea in all its forms and lighting conditions. Along the coastline from northern France to the southern Netherlands, he sought out places where waves and swells manifest themselves as unpredictable wonders.

The photography exhibition Stephan Vanfleteren – Transcripts of a Sea is a quest into the depths of a surface and a small still life of a vast, living sea. Through surprising images, Vanfleteren reveals its diverse forms: from smooth water surfaces, ephemeral misty scenes and storm-like threats to a devastatingly stormy or, conversely, deceptively calm sea.

“Whilst the world is on fire, I head for the shore. I photograph a sea that cannot be extinguished. I photograph what will soon engulf us all.” - Stephan Vanfleteren

Through his reflections, memories and experiences, Vanfleteren takes you on a journey from room to room, inviting you to engage in personal reflection. In this way, you become a part of his long-standing fascination, his insatiable hunger and his audacious quest to unravel the mystery of the sea.

About Stephan Vanfleteren

Stephan Vanfleteren (1969) is one of Belgium’s most renowned photographers. He is best known to the general public for his poignant black-and-white portraits of both famous and anonymous people. His body of work, however, is far more diverse than that. Vanfleteren began his career as a press photographer, producing compelling photo-essays on events that dominated the news.

Whether working on journalistic, documentary or artistic photographic projects, Vanfleteren always remains true to his characteristic style and aesthetic. His extensive personal narratives and reflections on encounters are enchanting journeys by a photographer who feels as much a witness as an accomplice. Within this sensitive photographer lies a melancholic soul.

In September 2025, Stephan Vanfleteren presented the exhibition Transcripts of a Sea for the first time. With this exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent (BE), he shared for the first time the enchantment that has driven him to the sea – or rather, into the sea – in recent years. Transcripts of a Sea will be on display at the National Maritime Museum from early October.

Stephan Vanfleteren – Transcripts of a Sea will be on display at the National Maritime Museum for six months from early October

For press enquiries, please contact pr@hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl.