Sabbatical

My First 'Tussenpensioen'

My first 'Tussenpensioen' (sabbatical) was, when I went to the Pacific for 5,5 months. The journey started on 18 november 2013. I would have loved to travel longer, but life came up and my student debt. It was beautiful traveling as a digital nomad through Singapore, Australia, Bali, New Zealand and Hong Kong. The research I had done was extensive, 8 months. I even had a international company that only excisted to network, Butterfly Effect LTD. I had to give it up, when I came back in april 2014 to Utrecht. (UPDATE: Sept 2024: student debt €0 euro).

Second 'Tussenpensioen'

I love to hike and wanted to hike the *Camino Frances for a long time, but found a better one, Camino Portuguese, the coastal route. The preparation took 2 years. I hiked a total of 40 something days from Lissabon to Santiago the Compostella. It was wonderful, meeting people, being by myself and thinking only about hiking, sleeping and eating. I came back to Utrecht, but there was no home so moved to Arnhem to think out what I decided on the Camino I wanted in life.

Third 'Tussenpensioen'

I love all what I learned from all the projects, but I don't want to have to do all the work for big projects. This is the same that I don't want to work for big companies all the time. I want to have my own products. In 2021 I am dedicating time to my home, my own products with Databeet and some small external projects. I think with COVID it speeded things up. This one I took in Utrecht region, because I have a home here and love my home.

*I hiked the camino to think about what I wanted further from life and Databeet, not to party like some do on the Camino. I talked while hiking with my fellow hikers, but did not party with them or others. I am not a party animal and liked the quietness and calmness of the camino.