Alkmaar's Maggie van Spall (74) touches hearts on World Vitiligo Day: “We deserve to be seen – as we are”

Alkmaar/Amsterdam, June 25, 2025 – With an infectious laugh, historical flair and a strong sense of connection, Maggie van Spall (74) from Alkmaar was in the middle of the Living Canvas – The Art of Vitiligo, an art manifestation at the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam. The event took place on World Vitiligo Day and literally put people with vitiligo – a skin condition in which pigment disappears from the skin – in the spotlight.

In historical costumes, Maggie and dozens of others, from young to old, brought classic paintings to life. “We made visible what was missing in art history for centuries. Simply because a skin condition did not fit into the prevailing ideal of beauty. But what you do not see, you do not learn to appreciate or accept. That absence still has an effect: many people with vitiligo feel watched, questioned or excluded,” says Maggie.

Handkerchiefs as a gesture of appreciation and connection
During the event, participants handed out symbolic handkerchiefs, apples and personal letters. Not ordinary gifts, but small gestures with a story. The handkerchief – once a subtle way to attract someone’s attention – took on a new meaning on this day: a wink to the past and an open hand to the present.

“We didn’t drop them to seduce anyone,” Maggie jokes, “but to make contact. A little eye contact, a smile – and hopefully a little more understanding of what vitiligo is.”

Each handkerchief and letter contained a QR code to the campaign website www.wereldvitiligodag2025.nl, with stories, explanations and background about vitiligo and the purpose of the manifestation.

Why June 25?
World Vitiligo Day takes place annually on June 25 – not coincidentally, the anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson, who himself had vitiligo. Because he rarely spoke openly about it, many people still do not know about it. And that is precisely what makes this day so important: vitiligo is visible, but often remains invisible in art, media and culture. For people with dark skin, this is often even more painful, due to the greater contrast and the stronger reactions.

“You can only embrace what you learn to see,” says Maggie. “That’s why visibility in art and society is not a detail, but a necessity.”Energy and expression from Alkmaar
Maggie van Spall danced between the living paintings, spoke to passers-by and candidly shared her story. “I do this not in spite of my age or my vitiligo, but with both. This is who I am. And if others recognize themselves in this – then that is w