They call me the flying Dutchman... Seriously though, as cliché as that nickname sounds, there's a truth to it: I'm originally from the Netherlands, have lived all over Europe, and love exploring places that are blank spots on the average traveller's map. This curiosity extends to people and their ideas: I believe you can learn something new from every new person you meet, and that there's no better way to get to know someone than by inviting them into your home or by visiting theirs.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Just like there's no better way to get to know someone than by inviting them into your home or by visiting theirs, there's no better way to get the feel of a place than by staying with a local. For those visiting Vilnius, I want to show that Lithuania is so much more than "one of those soviet countries" and share the magic of this place, and if I'm staying at your place, I'd love to get a glimpse of your city through your eyes.

Interests

Geopolitics, urban planning, languages and everything in-between are my go-to subjects for all-night discussions. Apart from that, I like land- and cityscape photography, mountain biking, longboarding, and I'm a fan of local streetwear, Tintin, and LEGO. If I were to ever buy a car, it'd be an UAZ 452, I'm fascinated by optical illusions, and I could eat Greek gyros every day for the rest of my life.

Music, Movies, and Books

Almost all the books I read are travel stories, mostly about Central Asia (Erika Fatland, anyone?) or remote islands. Every once in a while I like some sci-fi (Stranger Things, Dark) or a movie that messes with my head (Memento). Music wise, I'm a big fan of drum 'n bass and the Liquicity label and its events. My favourite artists are DROELOE and Camo and Krooked, who are experimental electronic genres on their own, but I also like indie folk. Oh, and I love hiphop in languages I don't understand.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Organised the state visit of the king of the Netherlands to Estonia

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway