Bram Willemse - Product professional on Bram Willemse

Now

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:42:00 +0200

Keeping busy

I am working with Flow Money Management as a Product Owner. Flow is a Dutch startup, recently acquired by software company SnelStart. We develop embedded finance products for the B2B2X market.

Personal development

I am currently reading:
- Snap by Belinda Bauer. A fun and quick-paced murder mystery with some dark edges.
- Heroes. The classic myths of Greek Heroes, retold by Stephen Fry.
- Driving Value with Sprint Goals by Maarten Dalmijn.
I recently finished:
- the Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson. Happy to know that more books are coming though. I’m addicted!
I still want to finish:
- The Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett (1/3 left)

Keeping calm & fit

I am getting strong after going to the gym twice a week again, for the first time in decades as I am trying to work on my base level fitnes. All this to prevent injuries and discomforts in running and bouldering and improve my quality of life in general.
I’m returning to some kind of running form again. I got sick (a bit of COVID probably) but recovered relatively quickly and increasing my running distance slowly. Follow my ups & downs on Strava.
I am practicing yoga once or twice a week. I mainly practice yin and. It’s a great contrasting exercise next to running, gym workouts and perfect for addressing Post-COVID symptoms too.

This page was last updated on December 23rd, 2025 at a friend’s home in the Morvan area, France.

Developers are doomed

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:25:10 +0100

Seeing

After keeping my hands off, at the end of 2023 I started to realize generative AI was here to stay and I began seeing the potential while my team and I pitched an improved data architecture to FedEx execs. (Who remembers tiny Bram?) Introducing a proper integration layer also gave them the opportunity to easily plug in OpenAI solutions, for example to provide fallback answers for specific topics based on FAQ content that our department had been working hard on to clean up and update. We ran some prototypes using LlamaIndex that already provided answers - like a new tool in a toolbox that some people are hesitant to use because they don’t fully understand its potential.

Veluwe views, Elspeet

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 12:54:41 +0000

Veluwe villa, Tongeren estate

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 15:13:20 +0000

Verscholen Dorp (Hidden Village), Vierhouten, Netherlands

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 12:22:18 +0000

A hidden village in the forests of Vierhouten, that was used to hide about 80 people during WW2. Discovered by the Nazis but most people could escape.

Veluwe views

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 11:58:42 +0000

Pontlife @ Pontsteiger

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 18:09:52 +0000

Cute Couple, pt 20

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:30:09 +0000

Perfect gradient #bramsterdam #cityscapes #staatsliedenbuurt

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:01:18 +0000

Kennemerduinen

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:31:17 +0000

“Wild” horses in Kennemerduinen National Park #kennemerduinen #horses #santpoort

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:05:59 +0000

Cute couple, pt. 19 #cutecouple #westerpark #amsterdam

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 07:56:15 +0000

Reichswald near Kleve, Germany

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 11:39:36 +0000

Reichswald near Kleve, Germany

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 11:39:31 +0000

Mia near the fireplace

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:05:19 +0000

#pontlife

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:09:33 +0000

Bosbaan

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 11:34:33 +0000

Renault 5 (2025)

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 14:06:49 +0000

Renault 5 Electric (2025)

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 13:50:55 +0000

IJmuiden aan Zee, Gemeente Velsen, North Holland, Holland

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 13:20:13 +0000

Bloemendaal aan Zee, Gemeente Bloemendaal, North Holland, Holland

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 12:45:18 +0000

Holtinge, Gemeente Westerveld, Provincie Drenthe, Holland

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 10:38:25 +0000

Wapserveen, Gemeente Westerveld, Provincie Drenthe, Holland

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 09:47:17 +0000

Bahía Ballena, Osa, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:07:39 +0000

Bahía Ballena, Osa, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:34:41 +0000

Bahía Ballena, Osa, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:32:36 +0000

Corcovado National Park

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:28:25 +0000

Corcovado National Park

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:14:54 +0000

Corcovado Crocodile, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:26:47 +0000

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 12:11:06 +0000

Spider monkey couple, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 11:28:17 +0000

Spider monkey, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 07:54:36 +0000

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 04:44:21 +0000

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 04:36:24 +0000

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 04:11:35 +0000

Boat beaked Heron, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:19:13 +0000

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 08:52:14 +0000

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 07:58:08 +0000

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 07:02:22 +0000

Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 04:15:49 +0000

San Isidro, El Guarco, Provincia de Cartago, Costa Rica

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:20:46 +0000

San Isidro, El Guarco, Provincia de Cartago, Costa Rica

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 09:16:44 +0000

Cedrela Lodge view, Dota, Costa Rica

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:50:50 +0000

La Chumeca coffee farm, Costa Rica

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:12:52 +0000

Cahuita, Talamanca, Provincia de Limón, Costa Rica

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:05:38 +0000

Heron in a river, Costa Rica

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:23:09 +0000

Cahuita, Talamanca, Provincia de Limón, Costa Rica

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:06:42 +0000

Cahuita, Talamanca, Provincia de Limón, Costa Rica

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 12:38:59 +0000

Red Blue Jeans frog, Costa Rica

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 11:45:19 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:29:09 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:16:02 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:05:23 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 08:58:11 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 08:20:07 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:28:54 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:23:31 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 07:51:24 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 15:53:45 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:06:49 +0000

Arrondissement de Metz, Moselle, Grand Est, France

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 08:10:59 +0000

Arrondissement de Metz, Moselle, Grand Est, France

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 08:10:37 +0000

Arrondissement de Metz, Moselle, Grand Est, France

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 08:03:04 +0000

De Pijp, Gemeente Amsterdam, North Holland, Holland

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:40:39 +0000

Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid vs Hyundai Ionic 5 N

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:25:15 +0000

Hyundai Ionic 5 N

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:14:13 +0000

Hyundai Ionic 5 N

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:06:10 +0000

Hyundai Ionic 5 N

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:04:05 +0000

Het Moer, Gemeente Westerveld, Provincie Drenthe, Holland

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:09:07 +0000

Balloo, Gemeente Aa en Hunze, Provincie Drenthe, Holland

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 08:35:14 +0000

Vredeveld, Gemeente Assen, Provincie Drenthe, Holland

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 15:51:05 +0000

Vredeveld, Gemeente Assen, Provincie Drenthe, Holland

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 15:46:17 +0000

Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 11:10:03 +0000

Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 09:43:08 +0000

Stadtkreis Heilbronn, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 06:02:17 +0000

Stadtkreis Heilbronn, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 05:46:30 +0000

Enzkreis, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:26:04 +0000

Enzkreis, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 11:48:39 +0000

Enzkreis, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 11:39:21 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 10:43:26 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:52:07 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:49:19 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:34:16 +0000

Stadtkreis Heilbronn, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 06:01:28 +0000

Stadtkreis Heilbronn, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 05:57:11 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:32:31 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:48:40 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:40:47 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:05:12 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:41:33 +0000

Landkreis Ludwigsburg, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:52:12 +0000

Landkreis Ludwigsburg, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:01:59 +0000

Landkreis Ludwigsburg, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:51:36 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:00:48 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:03:29 +0000

Stadtkreis Stuttgart, Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:03:10 +0000

Zwarte Goor, Gemeente Nunspeet, Provincie Gelderland, Holland

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:49:51 +0000

Untitled Photo

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 02:34:53 +0000

Oost-Vlieland, Gemeente Vlieland, Friesland, Holland

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 18:44:05 +0000

Radio Kootwijk, Gemeente Apeldoorn, Provincie Gelderland, Holland

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 07:22:36 +0000

Radio Kootwijk, Gemeente Apeldoorn, Provincie Gelderland, Holland

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 07:13:59 +0000

Alassio, Provincia di Savona, Liguria, Italy

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 19:18:14 +0000

Alassio, Provincia di Savona, Liguria, Italy

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 19:12:11 +0000

Untitled Photo

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:52:51 +0000

Untitled Photo

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:55:04 +0000

Untitled Photo

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:48:35 +0000

Ormea, Provincia di Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:16:27 +0000

Ormea, Provincia di Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:45:46 +0000

Ormea, Provincia di Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:05:35 +0000

Alassio, Provincia di Savona, Liguria, Italy

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:11:17 +0000

Alassio, Provincia di Savona, Liguria, Italy

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:52:50 +0000

Garlenda, Provincia di Savona, Liguria, Italy

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 14:00:13 +0000

Lerici, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 11:58:30 +0000

Lerici, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 11:08:13 +0000

Portovenere, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:01:47 +0000

Portovenere, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:39:18 +0000

Portovenere, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:37:39 +0000

Vernazza, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:00:40 +0000

Arcola, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:35:00 +0000

Arcola, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:29:31 +0000

Arcola, Provincia di La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:20:33 +0000

Bellagio, Provincia di Como, Lombardy, Italy

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:16:27 +0000

Pella, Provincia di Novara, Piedmont, Italy

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:36:55 +0000

Pella, Provincia di Novara, Piedmont, Italy

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:05:24 +0000

Airolo, Leventina District, Ticino, Switzerland

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:36:22 +0000

Andermatt, Uri, Uri, Switzerland

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 08:33:17 +0000

Andermatt, Uri, Uri, Switzerland

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 15:59:12 +0000

Ingenbohl, Schwyz District, Schwyz, Switzerland

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 13:19:19 +0000

Stadtkreis Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 07:27:07 +0000

Stadtkreis Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 19:56:03 +0000

Cologne, Germany

Sun, 26 May 2024 14:57:01 +0000

Cologne, Urban District, Cologne District, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany

Sun, 26 May 2024 08:16:46 +0000

Cologne, Urban District, Cologne District, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany

Sat, 25 May 2024 15:06:09 +0000

Cologne, Urban District, Cologne District, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany

Sat, 25 May 2024 14:01:28 +0000

Cologne, Urban District, Cologne District, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:00:46 +0000

Museum Ludwig, Köln, Germany

Fri, 24 May 2024 14:00:51 +0000

Honswijk, Gemeente Houten, Provincie Utrecht, Holland

Thu, 23 May 2024 17:18:24 +0000

West, Gemeente Amsterdam, North Holland, Holland

Sun, 19 May 2024 07:31:54 +0000

Follega, De Fryske Marren, Friesland, Holland

Fri, 10 May 2024 14:20:57 +0000

Winsum, Het Hogeland, Groningen, Holland

Fri, 10 May 2024 07:25:49 +0000

Bellingeweer, Het Hogeland, Groningen, Holland

Fri, 10 May 2024 07:04:01 +0000

Steph Strings @ Arminius church for Motel Mozaique 2024 #momo24

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:55:06 +0000

Daudi Matsiko @ Arminius Church, Rotterdam for Motel Mozaique 2024 #momo24

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 13:52:02 +0000

Wu Lu @ Arminius church, Rotterdam during Motel Mozaique 2024 #MOMO24 #WuLu

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 22:15:42 +0000

West, Gemeente Amsterdam, North Holland, Holland

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 05:58:38 +0000

Cute couple, pt. 18

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 05:56:18 +0000

Mariahoeve, Gemeente Den Haag, South Holland, Holland

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 14:17:51 +0000

Untitled Photo

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 12:26:27 +0000

Mariahoeve, Gemeente Den Haag, South Holland, Holland

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 11:59:19 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 08:48:17 +0000

Gorges de la Canche, Morvan, France

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:12:18 +0000

Gorges de la Canche, Morvan, France

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:30:09 +0000

Autun, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:00:06 +0000

Gemeente Leusden, Provincie Utrecht, Holland

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 08:29:52 +0000

De Wallen, Gemeente Amsterdam, North Holland, Holland

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 12:32:54 +0000

Coldenhove, Gemeente Brummen, Provincie Gelderland, Holland

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:00:17 +0000

2021 themes and goals

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 11:00:39 +0100

The good news is: I am okay! It’s been a long lockdown winter. But I actually managed to get out for a bit, review last year and with fresh eyes look ahead. I even already reviewed the first quarter of this year and I am really happy where I am at. And no, not because I have checked off a lot of goals and have made myself proud doing so.

The best parts of 2020

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 11:32:00 +0100

Project: Home renovation

My main goal this year was to build my home and build my home I did. I bought my home in January, started demolition in March, construction in May and I moved back in on October 24th. It has been the toughest project of my life, but I am proud of how I managed it and the result is quite amazing.

A timelapse of my home renovation in 2020

Runner up project was designing and building a campaign website with my friends Sythe & Stef for a non-profit organisation. Sadly the page is still waiting to go live (related to political developments) but it was great to take on a project by myself again for the first time in year and to do this together with 2 great colleagues and friends. It reminded me of my ambition to lead my own company one day.

The Wolf Weekly #11

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 12:16:47 +0200

How can I be more sustainable in my work?

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 15:59:48 +0200

And the first thing that popped up was to contribute more to a sustainable economy & society. I already do my best with things like separating waste, and trying to limit my use of water and energy. But I do not do much about it through my work. That’s an opportunity, right?

I started asking colleagues and friends how they think we could make our field of work more sustainable.

The Wolf Weekly #9

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:37:48 +0200

Doubts during a crisis

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 08:54:51 +0200

When will this end? How badly will I get sick? And my friends & family? Should I cancel my new kitchen? And my yoga subscription? Should I take any paid job that comes along? Should I move house? Should I cancel the renovation? Is it fair that I receive welfare now? Should I sell my Airpods Pro?

I know the answer to that last one, and no I refuse to sell the house. But damn, it’s all a lot to figure out.

The Wolf Weekly #10

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 21:53:02 +0200

The Wolf Weekly #8

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 21:53:02 +0200

The Wolf Weekly #7

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 14:37:34 +0200

Crisis

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 21:00:03 +0100

It’s scary

I have just bought my home and have started to tear it down, paying my mortgage AND paying rent. I have not done paid work for a few months now, because I spent it to properly plan, arrange the acquisition of my house and now I have started demolishing the house. Which is a cost saver, but it’s harder than I planned, now I have less people available to help me out with it.

The Wolf Weekly #5

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 17:50:55 +0200

The Wolf Weekly #6

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 15:25:15 +0200

My 2020 goals and how I set them

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 17:29:03 +0100

As you might have read I was quite satisfied reflecting on my 2019 goals. But even before I published that article, de.foundation’s Charles shared a list of life areas he tends to use for his yearly reflections. After some research, I unveiled that list to be part of a whole method, developed by Alex Vermeer and before I knew it I was totally caught up in mind mapping 15 life areas.

The Wolf Weekly #4

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:17:49 +0200

The Wolf Weekly #3

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 22:17:55 +0200

The Wolf Weekly #2

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:50:55 +0200

The Wolf Weekly #1

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 11:46:55 +0200

My favourite moments of 2019

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 11:29:03 +0100

Morvan Oxygene Trail

The Morvan Oxygene Trail was going to suck. I already had given up on my goal to run my first ultra marathon, because I got injured a month before. To make things worse I’d had a fever the night before the 30km race.

From the first step I felt I had no energy in my body. Every step was going to be a challenge, especially in these steep Morvan hills.

My favourite things of 2019

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 11:29:03 +0100

Book

I’ll kick off with the hardest choice. I read more books than I did in ages (or maybe ever), and because of that I also read a very varied collection of books.

I rediscovered fantasy. I loved Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy and N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy equally. It is lovely to just disappear in a totally different world.

I finally read the runner’s classic Born to Run and was really inspired to give barefoot running a try again. And I could keep naming many other books, like Shape Up.

Reflecting on my 2019 goals

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:59:35 +0100

Winter is a great moment to go along with nature. Stock up on energy, find a warm hole and drop everything for a bit to prepare for another year of hard work, a bit of pain & the pursuit of pleasure. This week I’m hiding on an island from the city; from work; from my a home renovation I need to plan. The ideal moment to calm down and reflect.

A note on meditation

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:58:35 +0100

Meditation has made a positive impact in my life. It helps me to start my days from a state of calm and keep it throughout the days, weeks and months, whatever I do. It helps me explore the relation between my body and mind. And it’s a way to keep tabs on what I think, how I feel and what I want to do with all that.

When talking about my health and about stressing less in life and work, I can’t not mention yoga & meditation. In 2017 I picked up yoga again since moving to Amsterdam in 2013. This year I got back on my twice-a-week streak and I couldn’t be happier about it. Properly punishing my body running, it really needs a regular, good stretch.

Book: Shape Up, by Ryan Singer

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 12:04:06 +0200

Basecamp’s latest book

Right after I finished ‘It doesn’t have to be crazy at work’ – go read it, it’s great! – out came ‘Shape Up’, a web only book by Basecamp product strategist Ryan Singer.

The former is about building a calm company, focused on getting the best out of your people, instead of the most. The latter is about Basecamp’s way of work, focused on actual product design & development.

Interview about Koning van Spanje trailrunning race

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 12:27:19 +0000

This is an interview conducted with me, by my training buddies of ATAC (Amsterdam Triathlon And Cycling) Club. It was published in their monthly newsletter.

Southern Limburg is the most hilly part of the Netherlands which most of us already know through cycling. It’s also a beautiful and demanding region for the KvS. This year there were 2 Atac members present. Brian Gibson did the 32k event on Saterday, Bram did the 42k on Sunday. Some real amateurs/masochists did both. The 42k was also the Dutch Championships trailrunning.

Travel Notes: Taking a step back with Applied User Story Mapping

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:16:56 +0000

My blog is not very suited to it, but I’m going to try and make this post visual. Because that’s what today mainly was about: getting out all my ideas and make a choice on what to prototype.

Applied user story mapping

So I don’t want to talk too much about the idea of Applied USM. Let me just show you what I did and you might get the idea. The steps in short:

Travel Notes: the concept

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 12:14:45 +0000

I hereby promise that’s the one and only Trump-reference I’ll make here. Sorry about that. Let me tell you how I’m fixing my problem. Trust me, it’s huuuge!

Didn’t read the Travel Notes introduction? D’oh!

The problem

… only one ♫

So according to a huge group of very experienced, highly intelligent travellers (me ?), us travellers are facing a huge problem: Taking note sucks when it comes to travelling. Not because there are not good note taking apps out there. There are plenty. But because it’s not focused enough on our needs: we take notes for ourselves, but we tend to meet awesome people we want to share parts of them with.

About Travel Notes

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 09:14:43 +0000

In high school history classes I wrote down the important stuff and connected everything with arrows. And nowadays when I take written notes, I write them in lists: Agenda items, issues, possible solutions and actions. Workflowy facilitates just that: taking note in lists. A match made in heaven!

Using Workflowy for travel

Most of you might know I’ve been travelling for a bit, last year. Guess how I prepared for that trip..