The man behind the financial statements and balance sheets
Behind the financial statements and balance sheets lies a lifelong fascination with trees, plants, and the natural world. While colleagues know me for my work in finance, those who know me well understand that some of my greatest enjoyment comes from nature.
I grew up in rural Drenthe, where generations of my family were independent farmers (Dutch: ‘vrije boeren”) for more than six centuries. My parents continued farming until their retirement in 2001, bringing a long family tradition to an end, as neither my siblings nor I chose to take over the farm. This reflected a broader transformation in Dutch society from a predominantly rural way of life to a more urban one.
Growing up in the predominantly agricultural peat districts of Groningen and Drenthe, it has wide horizons, strong winds and hardly a tree in sight. I often wished that I lived in a forest, so I began growing trees from seeds with the ambition of building my own forest.
More than twenty years later, that vision has become a reality. The four-hectare landscape surrounding my parents’ farm now includes woodland with native oaks and maples, and a meadow featuring a Cedar of Lebanon. Milder winters and hotter summers encouraged me to experiment with species that may be better suited to future conditions. The woodland has become a haven for wildlife, attracting woodpeckers, owls, roe deer, foxes, hares, and squirrels.
What fascinates me most is the extraordinary diversity of plants found around the world. I am particularly interested in the history of plant exploration, when nineteenth-century plant hunters introduced plants from the Himalayas, China, and the Americas to Europe. Europe lost much of its botanical diversity during the Ice Age, while regions such as China and North America retained a far greater variety of species. This rich global diversity continues to inspire my interest in horticulture and dendrology.
People may know me for financial statements, structure, and precision. Yet beyond the spreadsheets is someone inspired by a growing forest and the resilience of the natural world. In many ways, both my professional and personal life are guided by the same principle: nurturing growth and creating the conditions for things to flourish. Looking back, I am always struck by how quickly a tree grows and how swiftly life passes by.