Jannis Deeleman

I was born in 1965 in The Netherlands.
That is where I still live and work.
I work for the Dutch Rail Infrastructure Manager (ProRail) on international timetable projects. In addition I write articles about state borders for several magazines and on Internet travel sites.
My interest in borders started already when I was young. I grew up near the Belgian-Dutch border. I studied Geography at the Univeristy of Groningen in The Netherlands.
I specialised myself in the development of the infrastructure near borders and in social development in border areas.
I don't have any political or strategical interest or involvement.

The areas of my intrest are:
- The history of the borders in Europe.
- The history of the border markers in Europe.
- The area around the border. Border crossings, fences, villages. So, how looks life at the lands end...
- since 2010 my interest moves to the development at the borders of central and East Europe, to the Schengen Borders.
There is much development since the Baltic states became a part of the EU and since the western countries protect themselves against illegal immigration and agressive terrorist states.

On my website you will find some information about these borders. I could only do this with the kind support and cooperation of the Polish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovakian, Hungarian, Romanian, Moldovian and Norwegian State Border Guards Services and Border Police Organisations who supported me and permitted me to enter the protected border areas and to take pictures.

I am one of the full members of the International Border Research Group (IBRG). The International Border Research Group is an organisation of border enthusiasts, experts and academics who organise and support research into international borders, tripoints, border markers and other border related features.
I am the author of articles about these topics for the University of Groningen and for several international magazines about travelling in nature. For example, in 2010 I wrote an article about the Swiss borders in AFAR.

In 2004, 2008 and 2009 I appeared in some television documentaries about the history of Dutch and Belgian border.
For example in:
"Publiek Geheim (Belgian National Television, Canvas)
"Man bijt hond" (Dutch national television, NCRV) and
In 2015 I was interviewed for the Dutch Public Radio 'Plein 5'.
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Besides that, I have this website where I publish a selection of photos and results of my expeditions to several borders.

On the homepage you will find a comprehensive selection.

I hope you enjoy this website with stories, maps and pictures of the European borders.
Of course you can always help me with corrections, additions and interesting places.
You will find a link to my e-mail of the homepage of this website.

Thanks for your interest and your support!

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