About
Background
Born in the mid-1980s, I became fascinated by the digital world at an early age. Raised by the internet in the 1990s - a glorious time when frames, tables, and animated GIFs were still considered cool - I taught myself how to build just about anything. I spent countless hours creating websites, first in GeoCities and later using HTML and CSS, while exploring all kinds of digital design.
At the same time, I developed a passion for craftsmanship. In my early teenage years, I took goldsmithing classes and immediately became hooked. Forging, sawing, soldering - I quickly discovered a natural aptitude for the craft. What began as a hobby eventually grew into a serious passion, although I had no idea at the time that formal education in goldsmithing even existed in the Netherlands.
Both passions eventually became my profession. In 2010, I completed my goldsmith training at the Vocational School for Gold- and Silversmiths in Schoonhoven, following the traditional apprenticeship path and creating my masterpiece. Two years later, I began studying Communication & Multimedia Design at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, where I graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science (9).
Life beyond work
Alongside my freelance work, I spend much of my time working closely with animals - something that brings me a great deal of joy, balance and fulfillment. At the animal meadow where I work as a caretaker and manager, I care for the animals myself, while also guiding and supporting volunteers and interns, helping the place run smoothly day to day.
In addition, I manage website content, social media, branding, content creation, marketing and overall communication - where I can apply my creativity in a practical, hands-on environment that naturally connects with my background in design.
Previously I worked at a bird sanctuary where I rehabilitated birds and released them back into the wild. I’m a true bird nerd - birds have been my lifelong love. At work, you’ll therefore often find me with a bird by my side, but I can also regularly be found with our old Dutch dairy goat Robijn, who is already 19 years old and still going strong!
With pet raven Rita
(back when the darkness still fit in my hands)