Almost 10 years ago I started learning the beautiful Greek language. Almost every day (I study 5 days a week) I learn a little bit more. I’ve experimented with many tools, online as well as offline. And of course most of them were useless. I’m happy to share which tools and routines have stuck for years now. You can use… Continue reading How I learn Greek
This year, I started working with L&T Studio – 2 passionate young programmers (Lucas & Teun) who are studying computer sciences in Amsterdam. They help me automate processes for clients. I describe what needs to be done, L&T do the coding and make sure everything runs smoothly on their servers, I do the testing and we go live. It’s a… Continue reading We can automate your processes
Maxim Februari’s “Doe zelf normaal” (untranslatable I guess, but this house of representatives debate is the basis for the title) for me the most though-provoking thing I read in 2025. The essay (in Dutch) is from 2023. We like to imagine technology as something neutral: a tool that just helps us do things faster or more conveniently. And usually that’s… Continue reading The Automation of Virtue – Maxim Februari
After at least 10 trips from Amsterdam to Athens (or the other way) via the Balkans since 2017 we took the last trip in our beloved stealth camping “vannaki” last summer. Almost every trip, we took a different route. Here’s a few of the best ones – I really enjoyed remeniscing! The fastest (land) route During early Corona times, we… Continue reading Driving Athens <> Amsterdam
After the acquisition of Spotted by Locals in 2021 – the beloved community Sanne & myself founded in 2008 – I stayed on as “Interim CEO” for a while. Spotted by Locals was the third start-up I co-founded that was acquired, after Eurodidakt Suriname (1997) and Gezond Verzuim (2001). What I did To prepare the acquisition I: After the acquisition… Continue reading Project case study – Spotted by Locals
I’ve always been fascinated – and frankly a bit obsessed – by “filing” information. I guess this gene was passed on from my father, who has always been an early adopter of technology and an avid digital filer of photographs. From his phone he will find a picture of a birthday party in 1987 in seconds! My father gave me… Continue reading Organize all the information in your life
Stealth camping is wild-camping without being noticed. I really recommend it if you love freedom, and don’t like big campers & campgrounds.
This year we had the pleasure to spend our 6th summer in our favorite wild camping spot in Greece: Elea, West Peloponnese. A big thanks to Antonis & Irini for introducing us to to this magical place in 2009. This year we spent it with very special guests: the A&J&A&P&A family from Amsterdam came to visit us for a second… Continue reading Wild camping Peloponnese
Reben is a really cool Amsterdam start-up producing a better Spritz. With local Dutch rhubarb – and way less sugar! Geerben – a daring entrepreneur I really admire – started Reben with his mother’s unique recipe, using rhubarb from her backyard. Now it’s rapidly popping up in some of the best restaurants and bars in Amsterdam. And: you can order… Continue reading Project case study – Reben
Recently, I read “Buy back your time” by Dan Martell. If I had seen this picture before I got the book, I definitely would not have started…., And maybe you won’t want to read on either. But I do recommend you to get the book if you’re an entrepreneur. I read it twice! Outsource more The main message of the… Continue reading “Buy back your time” – get an assistant
