CURRENT MISSION

To cycle from the Netherlands to Australia

ABOUT ME

Hi there! A smile does wonders. Often it can even solicit a smile back. :-)
I think people would say that I am a fairly easy going guy that is easy to get along with. I like discussions on a wide range of topics from politics to the environment, to traveling, to people. Meeting for a drink in a small group is more my thing than partying into the night.

I am now turning my life dream into a reality. In September 2014 I will be leaving my job, getting rid of my worldly possessions, and cycling from Holland to Australia. Back to my roots. I'm really excited and scared at the same time!

PHILOSOPHY

Live and let live.
I like to engage in discussions with people and understand their views and ideas.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None up to now.

Interests

I like learning languages. I can speak 4 languages fluently (English, Dutch, German and French) as well as several others that I learnt with a book and CD language course (Spanish, Swedish, Hindi and Thai). I love communicating with people in their own language, and am not afraid to make a complete fool of myself trying. :-) I think the nicest sounding languages are Swedish and Dutch. The prettiest scripts are Hindi and Thai.
I am a bit of a sport addict. I like running and cycling. I also go to the gym, but that is more to catch up with my new and current affairs podcasts, with the added benefit that it makes you look and feel better at the same time.

As of September 2014, cycling will become my daily life as I cycle from Holland to Australia. I have been building up to this, cycling further and longer each year. In 2013 I cycled 6315km from Holland to the North Cape in northern Norway. My nick (and blog) is called 'arctic-cycler' as I have done most of my cycling (and hiking) in the arctic. I love the raw, rugged landscape of the far north. Now arctic-cycler is going global.. :-)

My last job (before September 2014) was at the communications department of Philips, working on communications material for healthcare innovations. This was a bit of a career move from my technical background (of mathematics and physics).

• books
• environment
• running
• partying
• drinking
• politics
• traveling
• blogging
• podcasts
• cycling
• hiking
• sports
• communications
• languages
• mathematics
• physics
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

On the beach. Nevil Shute
Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Richard Bach
Guns, Germs and Steel. Jared Diamond

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Spectacular nature brings me to peace. The Auyuittuq National Park in northern Canada was beautiful with its rugged mountains and glaciers oozing down into the valley. Hornstrandir in north-west Iceland is another spectacular arctic wilderness.
In 2013 I cycled 6315km from Holland to the North Cape in northern Norway. Now my sites are set for a world adventure on the bicycle.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am blogging about my cycling trips. I will also be blogging on my world cycle tour.
http://arctic-cycler.com

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Germany, Netherlands