co-founder of Monsoon Adventure
Willem was born in the Netherlands on 28 March 1963. His father, a jazz-musician,
is from the Netherlands. His mother, a historian, was born in Batavia, the
former Dutch Indies.
He left home at the age of 15 but finished High school successfully. During his school period he attended the so called Dutch "soccer-school" in Nijmegen (NEC).
After finishing High school Willem enlisted in the army. During his service time he would be challenged mentally and physically but he was looking for more intellectual challenges.
Therefore, after finishing his army training (1985) he decided to go to the University of Nijmegen in order to pursue a possible career as a lawyer ! He graduated from Law School with distinction and a specialization in International and EU Law in early 1991. In his University period he was also a member of an illustrious self-initiated fraternity called "Euthymos". In this latter context he was responsible for field trips in and outside the country with or without educational purposes.
During this High school and University period he worked in a variety of different jobs in order to finance his (expensive) hobbies such as traveling and motor-racing. Besides reading about history and discoveries, his hobbies include experiencing and exploring new cultures & customs, meeting new people and setting sail for new horizons. His greatest passion remains traveling in the different continents especially Asia.
Immediately after receiving his masters degree he went abroad to discover the rest of the world. He traveled extensively in Asia, in countries such as Nepal, Indonesia and other parts of South East Asia. Sometimes he had to take jobs in order to continue his personal Odyssey.
Upon returning in the Netherlands he had difficulties to settle down. His career in the tourism sector would start in the beginning of 1992. He has worked in different countries (Turkey and the whole of South East Asia) and in jobs on different levels within the tourist business. He has been working and traveling with guests and colleagues from all walks of life. His passion remains traveling with the guests and trying to give them something extra in order to take home that special feeling or experience.
Since 2000 Willem is a freelance Tour Leader and has become more involved in improving the quality of tourism and trying to reduce the possible negative impacts that tourism certainly can have. He worked for all kind of tourist organizations who offer trips that range from "the luxury everything organized private trips to the adventurous improvisation expeditions."
In 2007 Willem made the move to an office job where his knowledge of Southeast Asia and his practical experience could be combined and made to good use. He started as a Division Manager Marketing with Turismo Asia Company, one of the largest and most important inbound agents (DMC) in Thailand. He could use his in depth knowledge of this region into "products" and in his Marketing and Sales function where he would have to handle various European accounts of TUI (among them Kras, Holland International nowadays TUI NL, De Boer & Wendel and NRV) and other independent tour agencies.
After that Willem continued his career at another newly established inbound agency whose major agents were located in Germany and Switzerland. Here he had a very diverse "all round function" combined with sales and marketing responsibilities. In this period Willem would be engaged in all the "ins and outs" of an inbound agent (DMC). From creating new tour programs, attending International Trade Fairs to attract new customers to the more organizational and daily tasks of such an inbound agency.
Willem has been following his heart and his passion all his life. Being true to this passion wasn't always easy for him. He loves to give service to his guests and he emphasizes quality with a personal approach and does not prefer quantity in any way. He prefers to work in smaller companies with positive and supportive like minded people and surroundings. That is one of the main reasons why he founded Monsoon Adventure with his long time friend Johan.
Discover the real Asia with the Monsoon Adventure Group Tours.
