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On 12 September we raced through Amsterdam together: one day, four themes and one rule. For each theme, a series of three photographs that build one idea.

The checkpoints on one route through the city. The themes came along the way.

  • From 10:00CP1 · StartMuseumpleinRegistration, then Theme 1: Falling apart
  • 12:30-13:30CP2Playground, Servaes NoutstraatThemes 2 and 3: Almost happy and Not my problem
  • 15:00-16:00CP3Behind Brouwerij 't IJTheme 4: Somewhere else
  • 18:00-19:00CP4 · FinishOedipus BrewingFinal check-in and a cold beer
Racers at the start on Museumplein, Amsterdam, 12 September 2026
01

Bram Busink

Best Photographer

Best Theme 1 · Falling apart · Jury's Favourite, picked by all three jurors

€250 cash · Angelbird PRO storage card · Saal Digital €100 voucher · Capture One for one year

After the themes were given, I started looking for an original approach. When I photograph, I look for stories with a human element. In general, I am really attracted to colour, light, and reflections. In the final selection, I found a harmony between all these elements.

Bram Busink · Amsterdam 2026 · Falling apart, frame 1
© Bram Busink · Falling apart
Niels van de Laar · Amsterdam 2026 · Falling apart, frame 1
© Niels van de Laar · Falling apart
02

Niels van de Laar

Best Theme twice: Almost happy and Somewhere else

€150 cash · Albelli €100 voucher · Saal Digital €100 voucher

Mechteld van Kessel · Amsterdam 2026 · Falling apart, frame 2
© Mechteld van Kessel · Falling apart
03

Mechteld van Kessel

€100 cash · Photofacts Academy for one year · Saal Digital €100 voucher · Angelbird USB-C 4.0 Solid Flex cable

Best Theme

Three photographers judged every series.

  • Bas Losekoot, juror · Amsterdam 2026

    Bas Losekoot

    Amsterdam photographer · urban behaviour

    I photographed extensively in the streets of Amsterdam myself, and know the city by heart, and yet, these series created during the race were shot in some interesting locations I have never seen before.

  • Dougie Wallace, juror · Amsterdam 2026

    Dougie Wallace

    Scottish photographer · long-form documentary

    What stood out was how the photographers developed an idea and carried it through the work. The strongest entries had a clear concept, but left room for humour, ambiguity and unexpected details, giving the pictures something beyond their immediate visual appeal.

  • Giedo van der Zwan, juror · Amsterdam 2026

    Giedo van der Zwan

    Street photographer · ShootLikeaLocal

    I’m not exactly sure what it is, but there seems to be a kind of “soul” to this event. And you can feel it in the work of every single participant.

In the racers’ words.

  • It's always great to visit Amsterdam as a non-tourist. Hunting weird corners, random encounters, urban oddities and beautiful bits of chaos. Turning the whole city into our playground.
    Siebe Jacxsens
  • It was such a freaking enriching experience to discover the city in such a challenging and unexpected way. I loved every minute of it.
    Bart Pierreux
  • Finished my first photo race and it will certainly not be the last!
    Yordi Verkroost
  • I loved being part of this edition, it was a great mixture of fun, effort and unexpected visual results.
    Bram Busink
  • Great race in a dynamic city. The themes made me look differently for a day.
    Ingrid Claassen
  • Blisters and stiff legs, but it was so worth it. See you next year.
    Jeroen Bloksma

The day in photographs.

With thanks to our partners.

  • Based at the foot of the Austrian Alps, Angelbird designs and engineers high-performance storage media and purpose-built workflow solutions for professional film, photography, and audio production. Driven by real-world needs and trusted by industry leaders like ARRI, Atomos & RED, Angelbird combines precision craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, pro-level customer support, and uncompromising reliability to empower every stage of the creative process.

    angelbird.com
  • Saal Digital is the trusted partner of professional photographers and photography enthusiasts who demand the highest quality. Specialising in premium photo products, from fine art prints and high-quality photo books to personalised wall art in HD, they turn special moments into real masterpieces that last a lifetime.

    saal-digital.com
  • The professional choice for photographers worldwide, known for fast, reliable tethered shooting, true-to-life color processing, and precision editing tools built for the way photographers actually work.

    captureone.com
  • Freedom on the streets is digital, but art belongs in print. Albelli is a premier photo printing specialist that turns your fleeting race-day captures into beautiful, tangible photo books and high-end wall art. They are the final step in your creative process, helping you bring your best urban frames off your memory card and onto your walls.

    albelli.nl
  • Photofacts is a leading online photography education platform packed with masterclasses, Dutch courses, and practical tutorials designed to level up your skills. Whether you're trying to master tricky low-light exposures or nail composition on the fly, Photofacts provides the knowledge you need to capture the city like a pro.

    photofactsacademy.nl
  • Born in Amsterdam in 2012, Oedipus Brewing was built on friendship, curiosity and a refusal to follow the rules. We brew beers that blend craft with imagination, tradition with surprise. From our brewery and Craft Space in Amsterdam-Noord, we keep pushing flavor in unexpected directions. Crafted for the curious.

    oedipus.com
Niels van de Laar · Somewhere else · Best Theme, Amsterdam 2026

Thank you, Amsterdam.

UPR One

One theme, three hours, three photographs, the race in a shorter day.

  • 21 NovUPR One · Day · 11:00-14:00Rotterdam, NetherlandsTickets
  • 12 DecUPR One · Night · 18:00-21:00Rotterdam, NetherlandsTickets