About

Born in the late 60′s in Rotterdam, The Netherlands where I spent all my childhood and adolescent life. Then in 1993 I decided to go on a “round the world trip” that did, how cliche it might sound, turn my world upside down. When I came back after 1.5yrs of traveling and tried to go back to the “normal” life it turned out that there actually was not such a thing. I just couldn’t do it anymore.

After 3.5yrs of trying hard and 13 jobs I decided that it was time for something different altogether. I signed up to become a tour leader for a Dutch travel organization and on July 13, 1998 I arrived in China.

The tour leading lasted 2 seasons, but my “tour” in China lasted a LOT longer. End of 1999 I settled in Beijing and started to discover the party life and made many like-minded friends in the process.

After working 2 years for two different companies I decided that it was time to cut loose from the whole “working for a company” thing as it clearly is not made for me!

I took over a monthly business networking event and from that I made a franchise organization with 2-3 social- and business networking events per month in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen: YPHH.

After 6.5yrs of doing that some other things came on my path and I decided to change direction. Beijing Day Trips and Homestay Beijing 2008 saw the light and both have been very successful initiatives.

And then the Olympics arrived and with it the strict visa regulations. After 10 years of “loyal labour” my visa did not get renewed and I took it as a sign, an omen if you wish.

So within 3 weeks time I made the decision to pack my bags and move on, destination Valencia, Spain.

In Valencia a lot of things happened and didn’t happen at the same time. My personal life saw many changes: my girlfriend managed to get a student visa into Spain, so she joined me there. April 2009 we got engaged in the Alhambra in Granada and a year later we got married in Alfafar, a dot on the map next to Valencia.

In business most of the things didn’t happen, which eventually led us to decide to move back to Beijing, where we arrived at the end of August 2010.

I am very grateful for everything that I have learned and experienced in the places where I have lived, all the people I have met, all the good friends I still have, most of them spread out over this globe and I am sure that with my experience, enthusiasm, flexibility and general positive look on things, in Beijing I will again be able to meet great people and can continue my story in a wonderful way!