Surfing Nicaragua - Popoyo and around

L. going in for a sunset session.

Where to eat, sleep, surf & repeat in Popoyo, Nicaragua.

Surfing Nicaragua - San Juan del Sur & around

Where to eat, sleep, surf & repeat in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

Surfing by Feeling: teaching blind and nearly blind people how to surf!

© Jurgen Netto / Surfen op Gevoel

Surfing the cold waters of the North Sea started in the small beach town of Zandvoort for me. In 2011 two guys I surfed with started First Wave Surfschool there and they have been growing ever since. A few weeks back I got a text message from Erik, one of the owners. The message was very brief: "Would you like to teach blind people to surf" it said. I texted back, briefly enough: "Sure, why not?".

Recipe: Amazing after surf smoothie

On request, the recipe for my amazing after surf smoothie. This one leaves you satisfied and picks you up for session number two (or three)!

Shopping tip: Krissea shop

© Barnacle Socks & KrisSea shop

Everybody knows I absolutely hate shopping. I don't need a lot of stuff and I'm always looking into ways to get rid of clutter and things I don't need. Before Marie Kondo even wrote her book I was already asking myself if I took a like to a specific product: "Is it a WANT, or a NEED"?. Usually the thing I was looking at fell in the last category and so I managed to keep my load of 'stuff' on the low side.

Travel tip: Organic and natural cosmetics for traveling

I hardly use any cosmetic product, but I have a few favorites that are must haves when traveling. They are all organic, vegan and cruelty free. Some of them are even raw! Read more here...

Recipe: Pre surf brekky - Raw chocolate buckwheat granola

The most important meal of the day is breakfast, everybody knows that! Before I go surfing I like to have a proper brekky full of healthy carbs that will keep me going for a while when I'm in the water. Today was still pretty cold (7 degrees) but the waves were supposed to be good and friend J. invited me to go surfing in Wijk aan Zee, one of the best spots around here. The spot is only accessible by car, something I don't have, so I was happy to go with J.

Project Senegal: Surfers for Clean Drinking Water

© Mourad Ben Addy

My friend Mourad is an extraordinary person. Coming from a humble background he now strives to give others a better life. Last january he started the first surf competition in Taghazout for local children.

Travel tip: Vegan in Morocco!

Eating a whole food, plant based diet is a challenge when traveling. Especially when you travel to countries where meat and fish are considered an important part of a diet. And where eating meat is a sign of wealth and modernity. I was a bit apprehensive when L. and me decided to go and live in Morocco and wondered if we would be able to keep up our diet.

Cold water surf neccesities

As you all know I love surfing and that love does not disappear when temperatures drop. In general, the waves are pretty small in the North Sea during the summer. It is in wintertime when we get proper swell, height and shape in our sea. Unfortunately this is also the time of year when things get a little fresh, to say the least. Especially February and March are very, very cold.

I've put together a little cold water surf necessity list, and throw some tips in the mix too!

Organic Shopping in Amsterdam

Our usual party snacks.

L. and I eat a mainly organic plant based diet, raw where possible. We never eat meat or fish, but incidentally eat a bit of cheese or an egg. The Netherlands used to be bare considering organic stuff but more and more our mega grocer 'Albert Heijn' is losing ground with their traditional supermarket offer and organic shops are popping up everywhere. We are no Berlin or London yet, but we are getting there. 

One week in Taghazout - Back to my winter escape!

You guys may remember L. and I went to work in Morocco's surf capital Taghazout, 20 km above Agadir last winter to teach some surf, photograph and bask in the sunshine for 6 months. We left without being able to take some time off and actually experience the place while being on holiday. Since I was able to take a week off work at the end of January, I decided to go back and spend some time with friends, the sun and the waves. I hadn't travelled alone for a while, not since before I knew L. and so I was a tad bit nervous to be honest. 

Morocco Must Haves

I am going on a little trip to Morocco soon, here is my must have list!

Yay - Raw Food in Amsterdam

Rainbow rolls, pumpkin quiche, pumpkin latte and green juice, yum!

There's a new kid in town, and it's called Yay. Yay! Yay is a new raw food place and organic shop, that offers yoga too. As you know, raw food and yoga are two thing L. and I love very, very much. Safe to say we were in there the minute it opened. So, what's on the menu?

Morocco surf guiding

L. is great surf coach and knows all the best spots inside out. Here he takes a group surfing at Killer Point in Taghazout, Morocco. Although it can be a heavy wave it's not called 'Killers' because it kills you. (Still I do think there is some truth in this, my first session there included hugging of some rocks and a very personal encounter with a weaver fish!) The real story is that during their trek north, killer whales can be seen passing by, how amazing! I never saw them unfortunately...

Eat Sleep Surf Repeat

My favorite pastime: small lefties on a foamie.

Last September L. and I made a decision. After being together for only 3 months we decided to take up an offer to go to work and live in Taghazout, a small surfing village in Morocco. L. was to teach at a local surfcamp and I was hired to become a photographer at the same place. We loved every moment of it and stayed for 6 months. Here are a few snippets from our adventures!

You can't stop the waves but you can learn how to surf

Once upon a time, I was invited by my good friend J., to join him for a little surf trip to one of the most beautiful spots in the Netherlands: Domburg. We took L. and S. and were warmly welcomed by the locals. This is a little photo impression.