Hi, welcome to my website. My name is Marieke Struijk, and I’m a film director and photographer from the Netherlands. Looking through the lens is my natural way to explore subtle emotions. I love to see large life themes in small situations and I’m intrigued by human interactions and relationships.
My filmmaking journey started as a teenager, when I borrowed my father’s camera and began photographing and filming friends and family whenever I could. From behind the lens, I found a safe space to quietly observe the behavior and energy people brought into a room, and to connect with it in my own way.
In my work, I’m drawn to slice-of-life storytelling and intimate, one-on-one settings where silences, eye contact, and small gestures reveal inner worlds. I prefer to follow one character closely, observing how emotional maturity unfolds over time, giving my fiction film a documentary-like authenticity. Within interactions, I explore how the things we say or do to one another influence the way we see ourselves.
I’m known for putting great care into creating an inclusive and safe working culture, as I believe that everything that happens within and between people behind the lens reflects on screen. I work with extensive preparation, developing character backstories with actors and involving crew members throughout every stage of the process, from pre- to post-production.
My first fiction short is currently in post-production and I’m writing a second short exploring subtle relational abuse, set within a therapy environment. I aim to evolve toward creating a feature film. Alongside my film work, I work as a commercial photographer and founded De Coachkade, a coaching practice where young people are welcome to make space for emotions and explore ways to move forward.
Photography Exhibitions
Beneath the surface - City of Rotterdam (2024 - ongoing)
Drawn by life - Dutch Museum for Photography, in collaboration with ExPex (2023)
Media
Havenloods - Interview about the urgency of sharing our deepest fears
Gemeente Rotterdam - News item on ‘Beneath the surface’
UITgids - News item on ‘Beneath the surface’
Radio Rijnmond - Interview about Museumnacht Rotterdam
