In many childhood photos I am mesmerized by a flower, cooking with chestnuts, photographing insects or I can’t be dragged away from the fish stall at the (foreign) market. I was a member of the IVN, got nature books from the library and went to study marine biology. As a hobby diver I searched for unknown species in Zeeland every weekend, I was a volunteer at the ANEMOON Foundation and went on North Sea expeditions of the foundation Duik de Noordzee Schoon.
It was therefore not difficult to break off my trip through Southeast Asia when Waardenburg Ecology asked me in 2016 if I was interested in a job: three weeks later I was allowed to start working as a marine ecologist.

I mainly work on measurements and studies in the field of marine biodiversity. Think of collecting underwater (image) material and determining the species that are in it; in the lab or behind a screen. I like to be in the field for diving work. In 2017 I followed the training for professional diving. As a professional diver at an ecological consultancy firm, I have now achieved my dream job.

I am constantly connected to nature. Even during video analyses I am concerned with life under water. I come to places where I would otherwise never (be able or allowed to) go. I am more aware of the ‘real’ nature to be appreciated.

Being at (in) sea is always special to me. What I really liked was diving on the foundation of an old oil/gas platform to take scraping samples. On board, the grey mass of water is mainly to be braved, rough terrain as far as the horizon stretches. As soon as I am below that horizon, I can entertain myself for hours on a few square meters, fascinated by the biodiversity.
Also being at sea for weeks on end to make video recordings on the Klaverbank was a hit: even though I was in a dark sea container, on the screen I saw the sea life crawling over the bottom directly below me...
However, catching a catfish, in (fresh) water, is also very high on my list.

The pleasant environment in terms of people and atmosphere. It feels familiar. There is a lot of room for initiative and flexibility. With the ever-new projects, new tools for sampling or analysis are designed, which are perfected over time. Creative input is appreciated and brings us together. My job also feels adventurous, every day brings something new.

At Waardenburg Ecology you can learn and develop yourself in your own direction. You grow, and the company grows as a result. You get to visit beautiful places, with nice people. Work here is definitely not “just work”, besides all this you also mean something to nature.