Hey, thanks for visiting my profile here :)

Please read my profile AND 'My Home' before asking me to host you. I get many requests. I host only occasionally, when it fits into my schedule, and only when I feel there will be some kind of rapport, so I will unfortunately have to say no often. I ignore requests from people who are just looking for a free place to crash and sleep (that’s not what couchsurfing is about). I try to respond quickly to requests from people who seem to have taken notice of my profile and home section, and get the concept of couchsurfing 😆

My apartment is in 'De Jordaan', part of the historical centre of Amsterdam, close to Westermarkt, Anne Frank House, Leidseplein and museum quarter (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Stedelijk (modern art). Bus / tram stops are around the corner.

I'm semi-retired but still do a lot of work (mainly pro deo), and mainly from home.

Bit of a social activist at times

Gay / gay friendly
(Some guys who are gay or curious about it want discretion; in that case I will not submit / expect a reference)

My main passion: classical piano. I have played on really good grands in the past. At the moment I work on and record from a digital piano. That has it's limitations but I have learned to live with it. This is one of my recordings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6h2tV6WePc and this is my channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLegendaryBastard

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I heard about couchsurfing by coincidence. A friend from Malaysia who stayed with me for a couple of days (summer 2015) told me about it. I thought is was a great concept, so I joined the community, mainly as an occasional host. In my experience it is a great way to meet and connect with interesting people from different backgrounds and cultures. I wholeheartedly support the key values of couchsurfing: Share your life; Create connection; Offer kindness; Stay curious; Make the world a better place.

Interests

Photography (especially taking portraits); playing piano (classical), I post some of my piano recordings, for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6h2tV6WePc, on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLegendaryBastard; reading (books, newspapers, scientific publications); YouTube; watching movies in the cinema and binge watching (Netflix) tv series at home; food (preferably healthy food but I do love sweet things); visiting musea; just enjoying having a morning coffee or afternoon drinks and snacks at one of my favourite places in the beautiful historical canal area of Amsterdam where I live; experiencing different cultures; talking about political, cultural and social issues; working out a bit (got some equipment at home); having breakfast and a walk by the sea (usually in Zandvoort, abt 35' drive from Amsterdam); travelling (not that much recently though) Belgian beers; etcetera

• photography
• movies
• piano

Music, Movies, and Books

This could be a long list. Some random favourite movies: Tapas (I love that one!); Smoke; Le Conseguenze dell’ Amore; A Single Man; The Ghostwriter; the work of Hirokazu Kore-Eda
Documentaries: Inside Job; Experts speak out (abt 9/11).
Series: Desperate Housewives (great entertainment, brilliantly done); The Crown; Breaking Bad / Better call Saul;
Books: Big fan of John Grisham (good entertainment with a healthy dose of activism - almost all his books are a critique of the US judicial system).

I do spend a lot of time reading scientific publications and following experts regarding subjects that interest me.

I will add more to this

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Saved a Chinese victim of slave trade (not sex- but labour-related). It wasn’t so amazing actually, just something I was alerted to by friends. It made me angry and I decided to stop my regular work (for about a month, as it turned out) to (successfully) deal with it in cooperation with the police, justice department, an NGO and the government. Four criminals were rounded up and convicted, the victim was saved, got medical treatment and a permanent Dutch residency. In general I sometimes like to help ppl who encounter injustice / legal issues (see www.tekstvanpeter.wordpress.com - for English click on the bow tie). If you’re interested I can tell you more if we meet.

Teach, Learn, Share

Pretty good at (real) massage (got a professional table)
Meaningful conversation
Photography

What I Can Share with Hosts

See the above. Also, some of my signature dishes (I sometimes like cooking); most of my surfers have tasted at least one ;)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands