My journey: From Commando to Health Coach
Health, sports, and coaching have always been central to my life, both professionally and personally. I spent 18 years with the Commando Corps, the special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army, specializing in mountain operations and extreme climates. As a commando, maintaining fitness and stability while continually developing myself was crucial, even during my missions. I was responsible for training and instruction, which aligned with my interest in methodology, didactics, and coaching. After my military career, I provided security for Dutch diplomats in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, where managing stress and valuing others was equally important. Everyone has their journey, but we don't get far alone.
Over the years, I realized how exercise, nutrition, and mental awareness are deeply interconnected. Many people struggle to live a healthy life, even with all the knowledge and a genuine desire to feel fit and wake up refreshed. This led me to become a health coach, specializing as a mental coach, nutritional consultant, functional movement specialist, vitality coach, and personal trainer. I also focus on spinal health, stress management, hormones, injury prevention, and mindfulness. I developed a holistic method for integrating all health dimensions, helping people achieve sustainable, healthier lifestyles.
Balance, Focus, and Lifelong Learning
In addition to the fun and rewarding work as a coach, I enjoy sports – currently ultra-running (finisher comrades up-run 2024), yoga and strength training, plus anything outdoors with my family. I like to cook and read a lot: about coaching, mind, nutrition and exercise, but also the books by my favourite writer Murakami. I connect to specialists and follow training and courses to continue to broaden and deepen my expertise. Most recently I completed training as yoga instructor: yoga to me is a great combination of balance, focus and movement which is also applicable in my health coaching practice.
Based in South Africa since 2021, with coaching practice in Pretoria.
2017-2021 in the Netherlands, with coaching studio at Landgoed Marlot in The Hague for personal guidance and clinics. Additionally, workshops for public and private sector and mental coaching for sports professionals. Previously based in Austria and Spain.
Specialized and practicing as Life and Health Coach since 2012.
Five years body guard/personal security detail for diplomats and high-level missions at the Dutch Embassies in Baghdad, Kabul and Tripoli.
Eighteen years Commando, Corps of Commando Troops (KCT) - including missions in Afghanistan and Bosnia, development of instruction and trainings, alpine, ski and survival instructor.
​Commando, Sniper, specializations including mountain rescuer, paratrooper and extreme survival (Royal Dutch Military)
‘Heeresbergführer’: internationally sworn military mountain guide
Professional coaching and leadership (Coachcenter The Hague)
Advanced Orthomolecular Adviser (Ortho Health Foundation),
Weight consultant (Laudius campus)
Professional Personal Trainer, Vitality and Health Coach (Sports Academy Vienna)
Yoga Teacher - 200hr RYS Yoga Alliance
Relaxation Trainer, Spinal Trainer and Nutritional Consultant (Sports Academy Vienna)
Functional Movement Screen (FMS) 1 and 2
Sports and exercise leader (CIOS)
Chi Running technique and blood sample tests
Higher instructional competence (military), Medical emergency trainings
​Further professional courses: Intermittent fasting, Low Carb and Paleo nutrition, Plant-based power kitchen – energy through food. Nutrition and hormones, Treatment protocols for hormonal complaints, Neurotransmitters in daily practice and the Braverman test.