#11. Back in the Netherlands: A Weekend Filled with Art, Connections, and Inspiration

What a wonderful weekend it was to be back in the Netherlands! I thoroughly enjoyed the photo weekend and the chance to reconnect with so many dear people during the art exhibition at the beautiful 'De Nispenhoeve', perfectly organized by John Heller and his wife Wilma.

It was special to meet old friends and connect with new faces—from my childhood friend to the manager of my very first job at Philips nearly 20 years ago. Current colleagues and other (photography) friends were also present, such as: Jolanda Pikkaart 👒, René Hogenes, Miranda van Krugten van Dijk, Jacinta Kogelman, Helga Nuchelmans, Mark Heller, Mark Dankers, Mascha van Velzen en Ankie Wetzels.

One of the visitors described the exhibition as a unique experience: "It felt like I was being drawn into the work, making me take my time to absorb it all. With the story behind it, it comes even more to life." These kinds of reactions touch me deeply, as this is exactly what I aim for in my work: inviting people to pause and let themselves be carried away by the story. And hopefully, it brings some comfort too. By the way, the exhibition will be open for two more weekends.

What stood out to me was how new connections were formed, both personally and through my work. It was a weekend full of warmth, connection, and gratitude. Alongside the exhibition, I also enjoyed lovely breakfasts and dinners with family and friends—it was great to see so many people again.

Since last night, I'm back home, and I have to admit, I need a little time to recharge. Now I’ll slowly start preparing for my long-awaited dream trip to Antarctica in six weeks. If you missed it, I shared more about this in my first LinkedIn newsletter.