From the canals of Amsterdam, to a North Sea beach and a nightclub, a merry band of girls and boys enjoyed themselves in the Netherlands for the Special Fashion issue of M Le magazine du Monde. The idea? To pay tribute to Dutch creativity, because for years, this flat country has been providing the industry with some of the steepest feats in fashion: Rianne van Rompaey is at the top, but there's also superstar Imaan Hammam, Marte Mei van Haaster, Saskia de Brauw and Doutzen Kroes.

"Holland, the other country of fashion": The reference dates back to the 1990s, but it sums up the project of this series by stylist Imruh Asha, a regular contributor to M and himself a citizen of the Netherlands. He is both a witness to and a player in this effervescence, which began over 20 years ago with photographers Inez and Vinoodh and designers Viktor and Rolf. Today, he often works with his partner, photographer Carlijn Jacobs, and knows all the players in this series, whom he meets in Amsterdam, their base, when they're not crossing paths in Milan, Paris or New York.

Traditional, with its unique cultural heritage ranging from Rembrandt to Viviane Sassen, Van Gogh to Mondrian, as much avant-garde and mixing influence, it's a creative metropolis, but not hectic or snobbish like many other major European or American cities. Imruh was drawn into this adventure by his accomplice Jean-Baptiste Talbourdet-Napoleone, creative director of M as well as photographer, who is marking his first series for the magazine.

It was his idea to put this "scene" in the spotlight. They are delighted to have been able to bring together virtually all working Dutch models, both male and female. But these two football fans were particularly proud to have been able to include Edgar Davids, a legendary footballer who is now an artist. Imruh, whose family has Caribbean roots, bears an uncanny resemblance to Davids, who was born in Suriname. A fine summary of this fashion story about the vibrant school of the North.

Photos and videos Jean-Baptiste Talbourdet-Napoleone
Styling Imruh Asha @Art Partner

Production Iconoclast
EP Iconoclast Jean Duhamel & Maeva Tenneroni
Producer Iconoclast Clémentine Guy
Producer Iconoclast Image Ravo Adiba
Executive Producer Kenneth Okorley

Casting Piergiorgio Del Moro DMCASTING
Director of Photography Nicolas Loir
Hairstyling Damien Boissinot @Art+Commerce
Makeup Irena Ruben @House of Orange
Manicure Daniel Smedeman
Set design Ines Marty Monzon

Models James Bergwijn, James Brady, Saskia de Brauw, Edgar Davids, Mila van Eeten, Beauïse Genç, Erik van Gils, Imaan Hammam, Ollee Means, Marte Mei van Haaster, Mohamed Hassan, Jill Kortleve, Doutzen Kroes, Evandro Lauren, Farah Nieuwburg, Parker van Noord, Felice Nova Noordhoff, Rianne van Rompaey, Joseph Uyttenhove, Robbie Jr.

Acknowledgements Lolita Jacobs, Marie-Pierre Lannelongue,

A.P.C, RVZ, GRIPWISE, BE 4 POST, MORENO MANUPUTY, LSD LAB, Agnes Costa