Fortis Foil

Fortis is the largest European bank to be bailed out because of the credit market turmoil. The Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg governments bought nearly half of its banking subsidiaries.
The pictures were made last november during a Fortis sponsored "Holland Village" right in the centre of Hong Kong's financial district.

© Kees Metselaar 2007

Run On The Bank

Thousand of nervous customers of the Bank of East Asia in Hong Kong were queueing up yesterday and last night to withdraw their deposits. Apparently a rumour was spread the day before that the 90 year old and Hong Kong's fifth-largest bank was in trouble. The trouble was supposedly connected with the US subprime mortgage crisis.
The Hong Kong Monetary authority and the Hong Kong government gave assurances yesterday that the bank was sound and that the rumours were unfounded.
Here the run on a BEA branche on des Voeux Road West.

© Kees Metselaar 24/9/2008

From The Train 2

With the Eurostar from Brussels to London. Here in the French Belgium border zone.
Unfortunately the service has stopped yesterday (September 11, 2008). A fire broke out in the Channel Tunnel.

© Kees Metselaar August 14, 2008

From The Train 1

West Friesland, close to the city of Hoorn, from the Amsterdam-Enkhuizen train.

© Kees Metselaar, August 13, 2008.