Hans de Vries

Hans de Vries

It is with sadness in our hearts that we have chosen world-famous fashion photographer and our dear friend Hans de Vries as our Hero of the Week. Hans passed away on April 25.

When the fashion business plummeted in the Netherlands five years ago, Hans moved to Stavoren to live near long-time friend and artistic ally Robert Dupper, who runs Solari Europa. Blown away by the beauty of his fashion photography, Robert and Catherine invited him to take pictures of the Solari “people bank.” Whenever we had friends or allies visiting Stavoren, Hans would do a photo shoot. We would give them the pictures for their websites and celebrate their friendship and accomplishments on our website and in our Wrap Ups.

Hans sometimes accompanied us to conferences and interviews with people around Europe. His stunning picture of Wim Hof graced the cover of our 2021 Annual Wrap Up on Sovereignty, marking Hans’s transition from top fashion photographer to photographer of the networks bravely fighting for human health and freedom.

Hans also documented the beginnings of my collection of “Spooneys,” small, whimsical, one-of-a-kind statues created by Dutch artist Botas.

Solari’s Netherlands team will miss Hans sorely. Stay tuned for a photo spread of Hans’s work for Solari in the 1st Quarter 2025 Wrap Up, the focus of which, appropriately enough, is on “Loving Art.”