Dutch book Grenzeloos vrij (second editon 2022)
Journey along with me and let yourself be inspired by alive and kicking ancient wisdoms, pristine wilderness and experience what boundless freedom could mean for you. The book and e-book are available in Dutch at your local bookstore, Bol, Managementboek, Ten Have and other locations.
The making of Grenzeloos vrij
Notepad in the backpack
During my travels across heavy seas, barren deserts and rolling hills, I encountered Aboriginals, Native Americans, Maori’s and Zen teachers. Their old wisdom inspired my wisdom and humbled by the beauty of nature I learned to live in harmony with my inner nature.
As a senior coach I often ask people critical questions, however during my travels I asked those questions to myself and was surprised by the answers I uncovered. In the meantime, I documented my experiences and inspiration in colourful journals.
Returning to yourself
After a long trip with my green hiking tent through New Zealand and Australia in 2019, I wrote my first story about an exhilarating situation in inland Australia. This story recounts how I ended up stranded on a steep and narrow potholed dirt road when I came to a sudden stop and I was stuck between cliffs on a precarious hilltop. The area was rumoured to be home to venomous snakes. With the sun hot on my face and with the crickets echoing, it became deafeningly silent within me. And with uncharacteristic confidence, I turned the car around.
I later wondered if I had turned or if I had been turned. This question drove the first story: sometimes it’s necessary to turn around, it just might be the return to yourself.

Wave after wave after wave
Each story washed up to me, like waves on a beach. Stories about how an Aboriginal painting taught me to look with the eyes of my heart, about a ceremony amongst rattlesnakes with a Native American and about infinite potential while watching English carp and cows.
About being free to pursue the most important things in your life. About being free to remain peaceful no matter what happens. About being free to let your destination find you. After each story, I reflected on my own story. The coach in me asked myself: What did I just experience that could help you?
A lesson in true listening and absolution
The book became a magnet: It was the first thing on my mind in the morning as I ran down the stairs to my computer. Yet when my mind decided what I should be writing, I shut down. I learned to truly listen to what wanted to be written, instead of what I wanted to write. A lesson in humility and patience, mainly spent on a wooden stool, in the middle of a nature area in Midden-Delfland.
If I stared out over the top of my screen, I would gaze upon fields with herons, hares and cows. When I ran out of inspiration, I would put on my polka-dotted boots and take a stroll in the orchard or go for a swim in the Schie.
Publisher Ten Have
After five months I was able to send my first draft to twelve critical reviewers. With their advice in hand I approached publisher Ten Have. Two weeks later, they invited me to their office in Utrecht and we made it official! ‘Today’s wise lessons from all over the world’ my publisher wrote in their brochure about my book.