101 portraits. 1 community. A sold-out night to remember.
The Best Medicine
A photographic project about community, laughter, and belonging—featuring the faces behind Amsterdam’s English-language comedy community.
Photo credit above Simón Ducos, right: Arshya.
Why These 101 Portraits Matter
The Best Medicine is a project about the power of laughter and community.
In just two days, 101 comedians, writers, and producers shaping Amsterdam’s English-language comedy scene stood for a portrait.
The project resulted in an art zine and a sold-out release event—celebrating a group of people devoted to helping others feel less alone through laughter.
It was born from a simple belief: that physical spaces, shared experiences, and face-to-face connection matter now more than ever.
Comedy is the thread—but community is the real subject.
The Best Medicine in Numbers
101 comedians, writers, and producers photographed
250-seat release event sold out in advance, with a long waiting list.
Featured in national and international press — including a two-page spread in Het Parool.
400 limited edition zines printed.
A dedicated Instagram account with 1M+ reach via collaborative posts and sharing by all 101 featured comedians.
6 videos produced, including:
• A behind-the-scenes mini doc
• A recap of the release event
• A full capture of the show
The Faces of The Best Medicine
A selection of portraits from the project.
Zine Showcase
A 20-page newspaper-style zine designed by Maxwell George and printed by Newspaper Club.
Size: Tabloid (289 × 380mm)
Edition: 400 copies
The Release Show
On May 17, 2025, we gathered at De Balie for a celebration of community and creativity. The evening featured a live show and the debut of the art zine. Images by Simón Ducos.
Recap video by Joseph Frank.
Behind the Scenes
Making The Best Medicine was just as meaningful as the result. Studio day moments captured by Simón and Arshya, plus a short doc by Alain.
Credits & Partners
The Best Medicine is a project conceived and photographed by WESLEY VERHOEVE, at Studio 13 in Amsterdam
Edited by WESLEY VERHOEVE, MAXWELL GEORGE
Designed by MAXWELL GEORGE
Photo Assistants: LYDIA O’DONOGHUE, TAYLOR FOSTER
Interviews: NIHARIKA IYENGAR
BTS Photography: ARSHYA RAYHANDRA, SIMON DUCOS
BTS Video: ALAIN GALJE
Catering: NASTYA KLYMENKO (Via Via Dinners)
Social Media & Friendly Propaganda: ADI PARMAR
Typeset in New York City, USA; Film Development and Scanning by Carmencita Film Lab in Valencia, Spain; Printed by Newspaper Club in Glasgow, Scotland
Special thanks to Newspaper Club, Studio 13, Kodak Alaris, De Balie, and Carmencita Film Lab. Their generous support helped make this project possible.
What's Next / Get Involved
This is just the beginning. The Best Medicine is part of an ongoing commitment to document communities that matter.
Want to support or collaborate on future editions?
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