‘Just another’ blog from a visual designer of luxury brands

My daily life stories as a Dutch visual designer of luxury brands and posts about what inspires me.

Back of the WordCamp Nederland T-shirt with the WordPress logo and a water buffalo

post // WordCamp Nederland 2022

Together with Luc, Rosanne, Remkus, Marcel, Taco and Luís, I was part of the organising team of WordCamp Nederland 2022 that was held in Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem.

sign with a text hanging on a tree

post // Voedselbos Brievengat | Visiting an inspirational project in Curaçao

I support this project wholeheartedly. It not only provides food and fun for the neighbourhood of Brievengat, but it also offers an opportunity to connect.

Nativity Scene in Princenhage at night

post // Spending Christmas 2021 in Breda?

Since 2000 Stichting Kerststal Princenhage has built a life sized Nativity Scene every Christmas in the centre of Princenhage – a village in the city of Breda.

Saltpan before sunrise

post // It is going to be a good day

After arriving in Curaçao, the fun part of being out of sync with my daylight and nighttime schedule is to wake up at 5 in the morning. An hour before the sun rises.

purple thistle flower close-up

travelling // Capturing flowers in The Miracle Garden, Amsterdam

I prefer to avoid Amsterdam. It is way too crowded and too touristy. However after seeing the Instagram posts of The Miracle Garden I changed my mind.

plate, saucer and cup with roses

travelling // High tea at ‘t Buiten Huys near Breda

Hidden in the woods of Rijsbergen – a five minute drive from Breda – you find ‘t Buiten Huys, an ideal place for a leisurely high tea or a luxurious lunch.

Artwork of clourful plastic

post // How Elodie Heloise expresses her dismay at plastic pollution

Besides sharing her amazing stories, writer Elodie Heloise creates colourful assemblage artworks of collected plastic waste washed up on the beaches of Curaçao.

Dutch postcards Studio Noors

post // The artwork of Studio Noors shares a story of family ties and homeliness

Studio Noors is founded by Dutch designer and illustrator Noortje Nieuwkoop. Besides pretty postcards Studio Noors designs extraordinary crockery and T-shirts.

colourful postcards by G. de Waal

post // Postcards created by local artists in Curaçao

I love browsing in souvenir shops, looking for postcards and small artworks created by local artists. I found these postcards in the souvenir shop of Bloemhof.

Gate with plenty of green trees

travelling // Getting inspired at Landhuis Bloemhof, Curaçao

Plantation house Landhuis Bloemhof offers a unique blend of art, nature and history of Curaçao. It is a vibrant meeting place for visual artists and art lovers.

Lunchroom Number Ten

travelling // Coffee & cakes at Number Ten in Curaçao

Next to Landhuis Bloemhof you find Number Ten (Santa Rosaweg 10). A great place for freshly brewed drinks and delicious home-made buns, cakes and pastries.

lemonade

travelling // Hofi Cas Cora Veggie lunch on Curaçao

The aim of Hofi Cas Cora to raise awareness on local produce consumption, really speaks to me. It is a perfect location to get a delicious and healthy lunch.

silhouette on a beach

travelling // Relaxing on CasAbou Beach, Curaçao

If you are looking for a beach in Curaçao with crystal clear waters, palm trees with coconuts and palapas for shade, CasAbou Beach is where you should go.

Salt marshes hiking

travelling // Hiking through the salt pans of Jan Kok, Curaçao

The area of the former plantations Jan Kok and Rif St. Marie features various hiking trails around the Saliña (saltpan) that are great for all skill levels.

Sunrise Salt pans

post // Sunrise in Curaçao, observing the skies in their full glory

One of the positive things about being jet lagged is that it offers a perfect opportunity to watch sunrise. A reward of awaking up early at Curaçao.

Great-grandmother

post // Portrait drawing challenge

I have made it my goal to create a portrait drawing every day. Therefore, I have chosen a small, early 20th century portrait of my great-grandmother.

post // Hiking in the hamlets The Rith and Lies near Breda

Thanks to the dark weather the views were amazing. The overwhelming skies reminded me of paintings of 17th century Dutch landscape painter Jacob van Ruisdael.

Sketchbook daydream drawings

post // Daydreaming and drawing

From time to time I enjoy zoning out and let my mind wander freely. It is a perfect way to visualize dreams, goals, and ambitions I would like to achieve.

post // I just did my first 10k running event!

In 2016 I downloaded the app Start2Run with Evy Gruyaert. After 1,5 year running 2-3 times a week, I managed to complete the first lesson of the app :(

Postcards Zeeland

post // Postcards from Zeeland

Whenever I am travelling and visiting a new location or area, I love to look for postcards created by local artists. I enjoy buying these unique postcards.

Gasthuiskerk church

travelling // Zierikzee, a small harbour town in Zeeland

With its many impressive historic buildings, Zierikzee is in the top 10 of monumental towns of the Netherlands. A perfect town for a stroll through history.

dramatic sky above dunes

travelling // Feel the ferocious waves of the North Sea

How I love to watch and listen to the waves of the North Sea when visiting the extensive beach at Vrouwenpolder in Zeeland during a spell of bad weather.

coffee and cake

travelling // Ticho Chocolaterie in Yerseke, Zeeland

Are you planning to visit Zeeland? Be sure to include Ticho Chocolaterie. A must-stop boutique for chocolate treats and the best place for coffee and cakes.

moodboard Glamour of Paris

post // Paris and living in an imaginary glamorous world

When I was a little girl, I had this stunning image of Paris. Like a glamorous perfume advertisement. A lively city where every one was perfect, pretty and happy.