2011:
Stipo: one year on! The combination of the Stipo project-based approach and Urban Anthropology progressively takes on its own form as the two disciplines are increasingly combined in a number of projects. I enjoy discovering that contractors are more and more interested in the aspects of urban anthropology: there's an increased demand for insight into lived city spaces. I enjoy interpreting this from the Stipo project-based approach into ‘planned city spaces'.
Some of the projects I am involved in:
- Achterhoek Revisited: A film analyzing the everyday perspectives on urban shrinkage in the Achterhoek. This is a NEL project for the housing corporation Site in Doetinchem.
- Research on the Social quality in a quite new neigbourhood, Vrachelen, Oosterhout: together with my colleague Kees Jansen and carried out for the Oosterhout Municipality.
- Toolbox strategy for a child friendly track in Poelenburg, Zaandam: Anthrolopological fieldwork, concept design and coalition forming, together with colleague Jeroen Laven for the government's chief architect.
- Common Grounds: Research into the use and experience of 6 public spaces in the North-Holland province, in collaboration with Neeltje ten Westenend and Leeke Reinders (NEL) and in assignment for the SEV and Primo nh.
- ‘Natural neighbourhood renewal': Alternative option in these times of crises? Schiebroek, Rotterdam; for the city-district and corporations and together with my colleague Hans Karssenberg.
- Social enterprises in Bo-Ex, Utrecht. Research and coaching sessions.
- Research into the ‘soul' of Landsherenkwartier and restructuring the advice process for Housing enterprise leder1, Deventer.
2010:
Time to network and find some inspiring people to further explore the city theme. From my previous links with Stipo, I decide to join their team in January 2010. As Senior Advisor, I continue developing my interest in Urban Anthropology in the assignment for Buro Babel. Exciting!
2008-2009:
I decide to leave De Bakkerij and to freelance for a year. I launch ‘Buro Babel', in which I further develop my interest in Urban Anthropology: linking its social vision to the physical. Amongst other projects, I become involved in searching for the ‘soul' of Landsherenkwartier, a district in Deventer. This year I also team up with the Holland Branding Group in a neighbourhood-branding project in Bijlmer and Heerhugowaard.
2008:
The year in which my partner Pieter and I move to Amsterdam North and have our first son Berend. Less city-life, but more space: an extra floor for Yoga and music!
2004-2008:
The combination of working with a neighbourhood- and children focus leads to a new job at ‘De Bakkerij': a young club of innovative and creative people working on neighbourhood renewal. First as project leader, then as creative director, I discover new social perspectives on urban development. Here, I develop the subject matter ‘Neighbourhood Anthropology' and the ‘social acupuncture' metaphor. Through this method, I realize various successful concepts such as ‘PorchPorters' and ‘Thuis bij'. The methods adopted by De Bakkerij work as an impulse in forming a collaboration between corporations and the Municipality with regards to urban livability: a novelty at the time! In the meantime, I've completed the Yoga course and regularly give Yoga lessons, preferably in the dunes, on the beach or in the Spanish mountains.
2004:
I realize that my interests lie elsewhere: I leave University to focus on my passion in linking the theory and practice of different world experiences. I discover that this can be explored perfectly at a neighbourhood-scale: as a type of mini-society. I start working for the Neighbourhood Alliance and ‘De Vrolijkheid' foundation. Furthermore, I start a course in teaching Yoga: besides a focus on the mind, also a focus on the body.
2001-2003:
My first job: at the ‘Twain' audiovisual production company- a company that produces business and educational films, told in a story-like manner. A great shift to some practical work after University, although I do miss it. I decide to go back to University to study Cultural Anthropology, with the intent to eventually do a PhD.
2000: A good year to graduate. I specialize in media, identity and image-forming: themes that will prove to be applicable in my future career in urban development.
1996:
I start a second study in Cultural Anthropology, which truly engrosses me.
1995:
A time to finally leave the town and embrace city-life: Amsterdam! I consciously decide to follow Communication studies at the University of Amsterdam, as this study offers the possibility to combine a whole range of social-cultural modules.
1989-1995:
In a class of 12 students, I attend the Maerlant College in Brielle, where I complete my high school.
1977:
Born in Heenvliet, the most northerly island in the Zuid-Holland province. Soon afterwards, we move to Oostvoorne, where I grow up: on one side, we have views of the beautiful dunes, on the other: the sparkling lights of the Europoort. Talking about contrasts!
