Dutchman Stan van Haasteren has published a book called ‘The Belfast Busker’. 55-year old Stan writes about his experiences while living in Belfast in the 90s. Between 1996 and 1999, he worked as a freelance journalist, reporting on The Northern Irish Troubles and the peace process, while also making a bit of extra cash busking the streets of Belfast. The book is available on Amazon. For Dutch media (radio, TV, and print), Stan reported on events such as the IRA ceasefire, the peace process, the Good Friday Agreement, the violence surrounding the Orange Order parades, the Omagh bombing etc. He describes how he was welcomed to the city by random strangers he met during jam sessions in many Belfast bars. He made some great friends, fell in love (twice), wrote many songs, played gigs in bars, lost his voice, had pellets fired through his window, and drank more than a few pints of beer. The story is full to the brim with hilarious anecdotes, insightful observations, love for Ireland, music, and politics. Desperately trying to stay neutral in a city divided by conflict, he often feigned ignorance. He learned that it is nearly impossible to be neutral in a city where the side you are on can not only be told by the religion you practise or the party you vote for, but also the football club you support, the jewellery you wear, the bar where you drink, the sports or musical instruments that you play, where you live, your name, and the songs that you sing. Hell, even the name of your cat can blow your cover. Returning to the ‘scene of the crime’ 25 years later, he noticed how his own life has changed more than Belfast; even though there is peace, he finds the city is still very much divided.
Book can be purchased on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Belfast-Busker-Stan-van-Haasteren/dp/B0CKDDVD22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701953332&sr=8-1