Hello, I'm Daan. I am 19 years old and I’m currently on my gap year. I would like to travel around the world before I go to university in September (going to study Biomedical Sciences with French or German ) and hopefully meet people alone the way. My hobbies are swimming and badminton as I used to do both of those sports competitively. However, what I love the most is travelling as it gives me an experience I would have never have expected to do. Since I have now recovered from a life threatening condition, I am now able to have that experience freely! In my spare time, I love going to the gym, making scrapbooks and spending time with people! When I was in high school, I liked to participate in Model United Nations (MUN)!

I would describe myself as a funny, caring guy who went from being a complete introvert to an extroverted person. On the other hand, my friends wrote in my yearbook that I am a genuinely nice person who is supportive and extremely enthusiastic about trying new things.

Since I was 16, I have been working as a waiter in the heart of Oxford. I serve mostly tutors, professors and students in one of the Oxford colleges part of the university. I also work in a coffee shack linked to the same Oxford college serving tourists visiting.

I have lived in 4 other countries and although moving around has definitely been a challenge, going to European and International schools has taught me to appreciate different cultures and also being myself. I speak English, Dutch and Arabic (sometimes) at home, and I have an intermediate level of French and Spanish due to school and growing up with the language.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on Couchsurfing because I love connecting with new people, experiencing different cultures, and sharing stories over good conversations. For me, travelling isn’t just about seeing places—it’s about the people you meet along the way. I enjoy immersing myself in local life rather than just being a tourist, and I believe the best way to do that is through genuine connections. Whether it’s exchanging travel tips, cooking together, or just exploring a city, I’m always up for new experiences and meaningful interactions. Going travelling is one of the best things I have ever done in my life. When I was a child, I would usually go travelling with my mother and my twin sister but now I usually go solo. I would love to expand my horizons and travel elsewhere to get to know local cultures on my year out!

Interests

• culture
• cooking
• traveling
• music
• cricket
• rugby
• swimming
• badminton
• biology
• psychology
• volunteering
• travel
• nature
• learning languages
• europe
• eurovision
• eurovision song contest
• biomedical sciences

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Anything Eurovision but will listen to anything!

Movies:
Anything Disney, Paper Towns,

TV Series:
Squid Game, You, Umbrella Academy, Stranger Things, Blood and Water, Virgin Water, Cobra Kai

Books:
Me before you, The Fault in Our Stars,

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Took my first trip when I was just 16 years old.
I volunteered teaching English and maths in Tanzania to 70 under privileged children for 3 weeks.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
Phrases in the languages I can speak (English and Dutch mostly but can do Arabic too)

Learn:
Language skills, More about your local culture and day to day life in a different country!

Share:
Adventures and Experiences, Conversations about travel and life, Oxford and London top tips and where to visit!

What I Can Share with Hosts

My travel experiences moving around as a child.
I can help improve your English skills if you are learning!
I can bring a little something from where I live!

Everything shown above.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States