Way back when…
Growing up in a rural city in the north of The Netherlands, I came to understand at an early age what a location means for your sense of identity. In 2009, I lept into capturing what happened around me as photographer for VPRO‘s online music magazine 3voor12/Friesland. Some years later I advanced to become the local Editor-in-Chief, leading a team of volunteer music and media fanatics.

Until one day…
Fast forward to 2018, when Leeuwarden-Friesland wore the title of European Capital of Culture. This large-scale international project put a sense of community, identity and sustainability at the heart of its programme. From early 2015 until the end of 2018, I developed myself synchronously with this quickly maturing organisation; as all-round content manager in a small marketing team in 2015, to spearheading the international press and marketing team in a full-fledged marketing machine of 60+ people at the height of 2018. Along the way I took an active role in the events of 2018, with leading a team of 100 volunteers to guide the Giants of Royal de Luxe through a crowd of 420.000 people as the absolute highlight.

But now…
A sense of identity is never static. It needs to be tested and transformed. After 2018 I moved to The Hague to pursue working as freelancer. Today, I work with start-ups tackling societal issues and a variety of cultural projects. I develop creative ways for companies to stand out from the crowd through content, livestreams, events, and press campaigns. Companies I call home are UP! and Common Ground, Common Sense, working with clients such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare (VWS), the municipality of Leeuwarden, and a multitude of local and regional cultural operators.

Current projects:

• Common Ground Common Sense – a multitude of projects aimed at showcasing the things we share (the commons) through arts and cultural development.
• UP! – a movement creating a new perspective on growing older.