After my years as GM at the e-security company Baltimore Technologies, I now happily spend my Thursdays digitizing, archiving, and doing a variety of odd jobs at the Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation. I can't be accused of a 9-to-5 mentality. I work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I also enjoy occasionally assisting at concerts in the foundation’s office and concerts in collaboration with Natuurmonumenten. I'm a notoriously bad cellist, so I passively enjoy music. From Beethoven to contemporary music, for example.
‘I spend a lot of timeon collecting andrestoring wristwatches’
I spend a lot of time on collecting and restoring early mechanical wristwatches. With one of my friends from the Société Néerlandaise des Montres, I researched anonymous makers of Swiss timepieces from the period 1910-1930. After eight years of study, our book, "Early Swiss Wristwatches and their Manufacturers," was published.
I worked for a while as a language coach for a Syrian refugee for the Dutch Council for Refugees (Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland). I really enjoyed it.
I'm a grandfather to Borre (born in 2018) and Otta (born in 2020). They live in Utrecht. I look after them irregularly with my wife Els. Sometimes they come to stay with us in Heiloo. It's always busy but a lot of fun.
Every week, I play billiards for an hour and a half with my friend Seán. We play libre.
Finally, a few words about my football career. If the weather isn't too bad and I'm not injured—which is happening less and less often—I play soccer with friends on Monday evenings. By the time I head to the Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation on Thursday morning, my muscle pain has pretty much subsided.
My favourite instrument
The Gaspero Piattellini double bass, as played by Sasha Witteveen with her refined technique, is my favourite. It sounds powerful, complex, generous, and refined. Phenomenal.
check out the bass