NOTE: if you're going to request my couch ... read my profile!

I'm just a normal relaxed guy who likes to travel, and who's mad about scuba diving. If I don't travel, I spend a lot of time on my computer, reading books, going to the gym or just discovering my own city. I really love Amsterdam, and love to show my city to other people.

I have joined CS in the summer of 2011 and have hosted almost 500 people in the first 5 years, and many have come back for return visits, and have become friends. My surfers have taught me things about life in ways that most probably don't even realise and have given me loads of travel ideas.

I'm an easy going guy, love my private space, but also love to look after people. I've recently had 2 strokes (in June 2017 and August 2019) and have still not fully recovered. not very mobile, so I won't go into tow for a tour anymore

PS: I'm gay, if that bothers you, move on :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've realised that the best experiences in life are usually when you are out of your comfort zone. I tend to love my own space, but CS allows me to meet new people that pull my out of that comfort zone, and tell me the most amazing stories. People you'd otherwise never meet. And they often take me to places in Amsterdam I never been at.

Also, the best 2 times of my life have been times where I was abroad and surrounded by people from all over the world. I think it's good for (young) people to travel and meet different cultures, and I therefore think people should be able to see Amsterdam and make their own judgement about this "Sin City". As Amsterdam is a pretty expensive I wanna give people a chance to see the city without breaking the bank.

Been on CS for five years and have hosted over 500 surfers. Even host people when I'm on holiday myself: I once hosted 18 different people in Amsterdam while I was in Asia for three weeks. Clearly I really enjoy it.

Met some great people, made some wonderful friends, and been inspired by all the travel stories and all. I have even done some amazing things in my life - like stopping my career as a programmer to become a dive professional - which I would never have dared to do without the inspiration I got from my surfers.

I tend to just host - only surfed a handful times with people who I had hosted before and knew pretty well - so people often ask me what I get out of it. Well, as I said above: inspiration, travel stories, meeting some amazing people, finding an interesting story in everyone, and most of all: the smiles of my guests.

PS: if you write a request, please add the word "scuba" to it, so I know you actually read my profile. No "scuba" = no answer.

Interests

Travel, scuba diving, football (watching), fitness (powerlifting), dance parties (techno, electro), rock climbing, internet, poker.

• books
• fitness
• yoga
• powerlifting
• traveling
• poker
• fishing
• scuba diving
• marine biology
• weightlifting

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: some of my favourite artists of all times are the Cure, Hüsker Dü, Slayer, Coil, Kanye West, Laibach, the Pet Shop Boys, Die Antwoord & Eminem. My mp3 player contains stuff from Jimi Hendrix to Rihanna and old hardcore punk to obscure late 80s electro.

Films: Stanley Kubrick, Guy Ritchie, Quentin Tarantino, The Truman Show, Gran Torino. I don't watch enough movies.

Books: American Psycho, tho don't let that scare you. I tend to read more non fiction. Just read a brilliant book called Amsterdam by Russell Shorto.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Becoming a dive instructor at 45!

Releasing baby sharks and turtles at Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.

Diving Sipadan (off the coast of Borneo, Malaysia) was definitely the highlight of my life so far! Sharks, many huge turtles, large schools of all kinds of fish. Mind-blowing!

Floating aimlessly in the Sea of Aqaba for an hour or so, and then crashing onto a reef where a rescue boat picked me up was quite unforgettable. Especially as I don't like water (yes, you heard that right).

11 solo flights parasailing off some French Alps with zero previous experience.

Seeing the Pyramid at Giza, and visiting Angkor.

Celebrating a traditional Polish wedding from two couch surfers and experiencing Polish hospitality.

Some other things I will never forget: visiting the Killing Fields in Cambodia, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and visiting Auschwitz. All very humbling.

Teach, Learn, Share

Anyone. You can really learn from anyone. I prefer people who are open minded, who can be social but can also be very autonomous.

What I Can Share with Hosts

48 years of life's experience. A couch or even bed.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Belgium, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom

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