[Dutch Provo, Prison Press, Comix] Bajeskrant Nos. 1-24 [Complete Run]

The Hague: Bajeskrant, 1974-1979. Various sizes, most 9 x 13 ½ in. First issue, 8 ½ x 11 ¾ in. Offset in newsprint. Unbound, folded folios. Text in Dutch. Item-level inventory available upon request.

The complete run of this remarkably illustrated Dutch prisoner’s periodical from the 1970s, with important links to the Provo and Nieuwmarkt movements and the alternative comix scene.

Published in The Hague and compiled by ex-prisoners and their family members, students, and other activists, Bajeskrant was designed to promote conversation about and within the Dutch prison system.

In 1974, Steef Davidson helped found Bajeskrant along with Anton Boersma, Anna Bos, Gerard Goosen, Johannes Hin, Peter van Ravensteyn, Jan de Visser, Gerard van Vliet, Iplo de Vos and Piet Zuidwijk. 

Davidson (1943-2010), the nephew of the leftist artist and designer, Meijer Bleekrode, was a poet, activist, author, and collector, and an active member of the Dutch anarchist movement Provo during its short period of activity from 1965 to 1967. After its dissolution, Davidson joined the fight to save buildings in the Nieuwmarkt area that were at threat of being demolished to build a new subway station, before helping to found Bajeskrant. 

In addition to writing and art from folks in prison and prominent anarchists, the magazine featured frequent contributions from Dutch comic artist, Robert van der Kroft, active in the mainstream and alternative comics scenes. This intimate awareness of the political power of graphics is reflected throughout the periodical in impressive illustrations.

Six holdings of various issues on OCLC as of March 2021, though only one North American institution, the University of Michigan. An important prisoners’ periodical, and an essential piece of the history of the Dutch left.