They walk at night, holding their children close. Their footsteps leave marks in the mud of a nameless border. Their dream: to reach Europe. It is this dream—fragile, torn, sometimes tragic—that Danish photographer Jacob Ehrbahn recounts in his book Dream of Europe.For five years, Ehrbahn followed the paths of exile across the Mediterranean and the Balkans, between hope and disillusionment. His book is not just about migration: it is about humanity.
Discover Dream of Europe in audiobook format
Dream of Europe: Jacob Ehrbahn's book that puts a face to exile
They walk at night, holding their children close. Their footsteps leave marks in the mud of a nameless border. Their dream: to reach Europe. It is this dream—fragile, torn, sometimes tragic—that Danish photographer Jacob Ehrbahn recounts in his book Dream of Europe.
For five years, Ehrbahn followed the paths of exile across the Mediterranean and the Balkans, between hope and disillusionment. His book is not just about migration: it is about humanity.
A testimony at eye level
Since 2015, Jacob Ehrbahn has been documenting the biggest migration crisis Europe has seen since World War II.
From Lesbos to Calais, via Serbia, Bosnia, and Hungary, he has photographed families on their way to an uncertain future. His images reveal strength, fear, and dignity.
We see faces marked by cold and fatigue, but also the smiles of children playing in the dust of the camps.
Each photograph is an encounter, a fragment of life suspended between departure and arrival.
Why read it?
Discovering Dream of Europe is like diving into a historical and deeply human document. This book reminds us that behind every exile statistic lie stories, names, faces, and destinies. Jacob Ehrbahn's images are a silent cry, a call for compassion and responsibility.
Far from assigning blame, the photographer seeks to reveal what we often prefer to ignore. His work thus becomes a collective memory, a duty to remember those who crossed seas and borders in pursuit of a dream: that of a better life in Europe.
The European dream laid bare
📚 Buy the book: Dream of Europe is published by Dewi Lewis Publishing (296 pages). Available online and in bookstores.
💬 Share the story: use the images and testimonials as a basis for discussion in schools, associations, or the media.
🌍 Support NGOs: help those who assist refugees, such as Doctors Without Borders, SOS Méditerranée, or the UNHCR.
📸 Follow Jacob Ehrbahn's work: discover his other reports on his Instagram page.