This army information service (Legervoorlichtingsdienst) poster illustrates the risks that Dutch soldiers encountered in the tropics. It was not just the war that presented a danger but also the unfamiliar surroundings and the tropical climate. In addition to instructions on hygiene and warnings about sexually transmitted diseases, the information service also called attention to protection against disease. The dark-blue background in this poster promoting vaccination suggests the night with all the invisible dangers it brings. A large mosquito is portrayed prominently, representing the risk of malaria, a dangerous disease that could be fatal.
‘Ziekten maken meer slachtoffers dan kogels, bescherm uzelf door inenting’. Poster for the Legervoorlichtingsdienst, The Hague. c. 1946. Design: Art Studio. Dimensions: 55 x 80 cm. Or. 27.011-24.