'This was in a hotel where I was staying. I had breakfast there at 7am, then I saw these clouds coming. Two minutes later, it started to rain and bridges were collapsing' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'We were driving around, and our driver said he knew a place to have lunch. I didn't expect this deserted pool on top of a hill. It was strange. Nobody was there' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'Those guys were just there. The translator was busy so we couldn't talk to one another, but without words they just did this for me. They gave us free smoothies – the best I've ever had' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'My parents drive to Portugal every winter with their camper. There are many retired people over there; you don't see anyone younger than 55. And they are completely enjoying their old age' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'I was in Liberia making a series about agriculture in the city, and I found this pool by accident. You can see that this was a luxury place in the past, but now the luxury is completely gone. The water was so dirty that it moved and bubbled a bit' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'These are low-cost workers in Bangladesh – they're standing on a really small ledge on the 10th floor. You or I would have fallen down. They build these beautiful pools, but not for themselves' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'I didn't talk to these girls; they were just there and saw me taking photos. They loved it. This was a beautiful resort with five swimming pools, fitness, good food. It had everything' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'Most of the time I visit pools where it's not busy at all. Here, I think the tree is talking to me a little bit. He's also a bit sad that there's nobody there at all' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'People react to this photo saying: "They only have empty swimming pools in Afghanistan; it must be because of the war." But it's just that it was March and it was too cold. This was their New Year's Day – the city was very calm and everything was relaxed at that moment' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden/Marieke van der Velden
'The coffee farmer who owned this pool had built a new, much bigger one 300m down the road. I liked this one much more, because it had such a great view' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
'Of all the pools I photographed, this is the only one I swam in, along with a lot of little animals. I'm not a very good swimmer, and most of the time I'm working so I don't have time to stop and swim' Photograph: Marieke van der Velden
