Dutch photographer Martin Roemers has shared the most personal image of his life: a touching portrait of his late parents, who passed away hand in hand through assisted dying in the Netherlands, on May 1, 2024. Klaas and Fenny Roemers, elderly and in serious health, had decided to leave life together, rejecting life in a nursing home and the idea of ??living without each other.
Assisted dying is legal in the Netherlands, and Roemers' parents underwent all the necessary medical assessments to take this step. They also had a final family dinner — a simple, human moment that Martin describes with a deep sense of acceptance and pain.
The photo, taken shortly after their separation, was an idea that had been discussed with them beforehand, and they had approved it. All the family photos were placed around them, as their mother wished. Roemers shares that while for her the photo represents loss, many people have experienced it as a beautiful and peaceful image.
For Roemers, this photo is more than a personal act – it is also a statement to contribute to the international debate on dignity in death. He first published this portrait in The Guardian, transforming it into a profound reflection on love, freedom and the end of life.
Source: The Guardian
