I'm Stefan, a Zeeuw, a native of Zeeland, a province in the southwest of the Netherlands. I've lived here for most of my life, first in Goes and Middelburg, now in Vlissingen. In between, I moved abroad, spending 8 years in Ghent, Belgium. Missing the sea and the storms, I moved back home.

I'm not your typical Zeeuw, though. I'd like to think of myself as somewhat cosmopolitan. Learning English in school and growing up with the internet opened up the world to me. All of a sudden I was able to get in touch with anyone anywhere and read about anything. I attended an international university college, got involved in the expat community and of course became an active member of Couchsurfing.

I haven't travelled as much as I might have liked, but I have spent considerable time in Paris and Brussels and hope to be more adventurous in future!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm a really curious person, who loves getting to know new people and turning strangers into friends. Sarah and I have hosted over forty people so far, three of whom twice! I've surfed, shared rides, shown travellers around and organised and attended events.

Couchsurfing has proven to be a great way of meeting kind and interesting people. I love being part of a global community that's so positive, generous, open to foreign perspectives and new experiences. I believe this is the right attitude in life.

As a host I enjoy going around with my guests, getting lost together, seeing familiar places through different sets of eyes. Vlissingen, where I now live, and Middelburg, where I used to, are two small neighbouring cities that each have their own distinctive character. The surrounding area is full of surprises and stunning views.

My history as a surfer is more limited but no less positive. I've met great people along the way and I'm grateful for those who've opened their homes and hearts to me. It's been wonderful to feel so welcome.

Interests

Lately I've been particularly fascinated by astronomic discoveries, uncontacted tribes and mediaeval Dutch poetry. I enjoy long walks, eating fruit outside, making fire, taking up new hobbies like painting, bird-watching and film, and reading personalised couch requests.

• poetry
• chocolate
• gardening
• board games
• hiking
• soccer
• astronomy
• tea
• hip-hop
• acrylic painting

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to music all the time when I'm at home or on the road, mostly hip-hop and jazz. My favourite artists include A Tribe Called Quest, Kool Keith, Run the Jewels, Aesop Rock, Billy Holliday, Etta James, Chet Baker, Mac Miller, Flatbush Zombies, J.Cole. I'm a bit old fashioned in that I prefer albums on repeat to playlists created by AI, though they're a great way to discover new loves. Mixtapes made by friends are the best!

In terms of movies, I watch quite a lot, anything from Ghost Dog to Ladyhawke, but I'm not keen on horror! I like science fiction films like Contact, The Man from Earth and Arrival, and documentaries such as A Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Callas by Callas, and Piripkura. I also enjoy watching film analysis like Every Frame a Painting and Lessons from the Screenplay. Other favourite Youtube channels are Primitive Technology, Kurzgesagt, TierZoo, and Shut Up and Sit Down. Some series I saw from start to finish and would recommend: Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Deadwood, Fringe, Brooklyn 99. As of this writing, we're waiting for new episodes of Westworld, Rick and Morty, Travelers, The Good Place. Whew!

I love reading in bed or outside in the sun, but I also love sleeping in bed and outside in the sun... I don't read fast and I'm always halfway through multiple books. Some titles that resonated recently are Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari, Torpor by Chris Kraus, and Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel. Shout out to Sarah who read the entirety of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire to me at bedtime.

Bonus: games! In recent years I've only really ever played one video game, but Horizon: Zero Dawn is truly amazing. Board games and card games are very group-dependent, but some favourites of my collection are Mysterium, Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu, Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective, Escape: Curse of the Temple, and Evolution: Climate.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My exploration of London and Paris was mainly by bicycle. It was positively thrilling to overtake those red double-decker buses and go around the Arc de Triomphe during rush hour! It felt somewhat similar to an experience on another trip: taking a dive in the ice-cold Aare and letting it carry me through Bern. I've also seen a Venus transit, multiple solar and a lunar eclipses, countless sunrises and sunsets, I've watched the Perseids at the beach, and witnessed a mob of deer darting ahead in the headlights for minutes at dusk.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share my experience growing tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and other plants. I would love to teach you to play some of my favourite board and card games. I have maps for cycling and walking which you may use to plan your next adventure.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good company, help, thoughts, laughs. I'd like to be the kind of guest I would enjoy hosting myself.

Countries I’ve Visited

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Netherlands