A travelling exhibition exploring forced marriage and abandonment abroad will be shown in Belgium for the first time at Antwerp City Hall and Antwerp-Central Railway Station from 26 October to 16 November 2026. ‘Not My Choice‘ (‘Niet Mijn Keuze‘) features ten portraits: five of people who experienced forced marriage or abandonment abroad, and five of the professionals who supported them.
First presented in the Netherlands in 2025, the exhibition highlights situations that often remain hidden. People may be forced to marry against their will or left abroad without their consent, sometimes without a passport or access to help. These practices can affect people of different ages, backgrounds and gender identities, and their warning signs are not always easy for relatives, friends, teachers or professionals to recognise.
Stories of pain and survival
The photographs and personal accounts reveal the human impact of these experiences. The people portrayed remain anonymous, but their stories are real.
Photographer Ernst Coppejans said: “Nobody expects to have control over their own life taken away from them. Yet that is exactly what happens in forced marriages and abandonment. The people I photographed have experienced this first-hand; and come through it. Their resilience is extraordinary, and it deserves to be seen.”
Antwerp Alderwoman for Equal Opportunities Lien Van de Kelder (Vooruit) said: “Being free to make choices about your own life, your future and your partner is a fundamental right. Yet people still face forced marriage or abandonment, often in silence and out of sight of society. With ‘Not My Choice’, we are bringing this issue into the open: we show not only the pain experienced by those affected, but also their courage and resilience.
“All the partners and services involved have an important responsibility. By working closely together, they can ensure that victims receive the tailored support they need, including when they risk disappearing from view.”
Cross-border cooperation
The exhibition is a collaboration between the City of Antwerp and GemmA, its Gender and Migration Support Centre, alongside the Dutch National Expertise Centre on Forced Marriage and Abandonment (LKHA), photographer Ernst Coppejans and the Open Mind Foundation.
The LKHA has supported victims, relatives and professionals since 2015, providing advice, assistance and training while working on prevention and awareness. The Open Mind Foundation uses artistic projects in public spaces to address social issues, including domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, child abuse, mental health and the position of LGBTQIA+ people.
Practical information
- ‘Not My Choice’ is free to visit from 26 October to 16 November 2026.
- Antwerp City Hall: daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
- Antwerp-Central Railway Station: ground floor, opposite Louis Delhaize, accessible via Pelikaanstraat or Kievitplein. Open daily from 4:00 to 00:30.
Anyone experiencing forced marriage or abandonment abroad, or worried about someone at risk, can contact GemmA for free and confidential support. Call or send a WhatsApp message to 0487 37 82 68, email gemma@antwerpen.be, or visit www.antwerpen.be/gemma during opening hours.