CURRENT MISSION

Tell and write the stories behind the stories. I love narrative journalism. In 2017 I went to Thailand and wrote some articles about dutch people in rehab. The stories are in Dutch:

https://www.ad.nl/amersfoort/ex-verslaafde-runt-succesvolle-afkickkliniek-in-thailand~aa68b468/

https://www.trouw.nl/samenleving/afkicken-in-thailand-zinvol-of-zonde-van-het-geld-~a566b389/

In 2014 flood hits Bosnia. I drove a truck with mattresses in a aid convoy to Sarajevo took pictures and wrote a couple of stories: https://www.trouw.nl/home/nederlandse-matrassen-voor-bosnie~ab632a3a/

ABOUT ME

I worked for eight years as a truckdriver and got really fed up with it. I went back to school in 2005 when I was 27 and became a journalist. After my bachelor journalism I went to University to complete a master International Relations in historical perspective. It is my curiosity about life: you are never to old to learn something. Education has changed my life, yet I realize that you can always improve yourself. 'life is a lesson, you'll learn it when you're through.' (Limp Bizkit :))

PHILOSOPHY

It's never too late to change lanes. Take life as it comes, but have the courage to change. God gave us free will, you are the director of your own life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

People from all over the world can come to my village Spakenburg in the centre of Holland and I will show them around. Maybe I can regulate a couch or even a bed. I offer a coffee, drink or something to eat.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first couchsurfexperience in Iceland by the way was very good! Gudlaug Bjornsdottir, such a lovely woman! Couchsurfing is a good way to meet people from all over the world. But maybe even more important, you learn much more about the culture of the country, then when you're staying in a hotel and it's easier to make friends.

Interests

I'am a chessplayer and play tabletennis in as well. The last couple of years I started long distance running and completed my first New York marathon in 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSAGpsoGVMU In 2018 I ran the Marathon of Stockholm and Chicago. In 2019 Berlin is on my list. I'm an ambassador of Cliniclowns Netherlands, in English: medicalclownproject.org I also like to watch football and sometimes practice it myself. I like to read books, magazines and newspapers. I also love philosophy, personal development, travelling, and meet new people.

• culture
• books
• education
• chess
• international relations
• journalism
• travelling
• freedom
• long distance running

Music, Movies, and Books

I like the American film director David Lynch. Watch Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire! Other films: the legends of the fall, The Shawshank Redemption, Curious case of Benjamin Button. Breaking Bad! The Americans.

Books:Fjodor Dostojevski,Ryszard Kapucsinski and Geert Mak. Music: Stereophonics, Joy Division, Nick Cave, Chris Isaak, The Verve.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Too many to mention. In the centre of Australia ,near the Devils marbles, I saw the moon rise up in the evening and in the morning when I woke up I saw a clear sky with many stars. I was thinking to myself: wow, life is beautiful. Australia is awesome.

In 2008 I went to Greenland to write about climate change and one year later I went to Iceland and wrote articles about the 'kreppa' the economic crisis. Here is one of my stories. It is in Dutch:

https://www.trouw.nl/home/blut-ijsland-houdt-moed~a994935e/

Teach, Learn, Share

If you like backpacking and want to experience the free life, go to Australia and New Zealand. I went there for 10 months and it was one of the best experiences of my life. South-East Asia, Central America and Israel are also gorgeous.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I live in the centre of Holland forty miles away from our famous capital Amsterdam. I can show you around in Amsterdam or the lovely city of Amersfoort as well. We can thrink coffee or have lunch together. I live in a small village, I got a couch but the dog sleeps on it. If you want to stay the night just ask and I'll see what is possible.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands

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