About me

As a full-stack developer with 12+ years of experience, I help startups and organizations transform ambitious ideas into robust, user-friendly digital products. My unique blend of creative background and deep technical expertise means I don't just build stable applications – I craft solutions that users actually enjoy using.

Since 2016, I've been working as a freelancer in technical lead and consultant roles, collaborating with teams ranging from government agencies to fintech startups. What drives me is working alongside people who, like me, aren't afraid to tackle complex challenges, value attention to detail, and understand the reality of deadlines.

Recently, I've been focused on event-driven architectures and GraphQL implementations, helping teams scale applications that handle thousands of daily transactions. Whether it's architecting a React frontend that improves user experience or building APIs that process high-volume requests, I bring both the technical depth and practical mindset needed to deliver results.

My foundation in development came through studying Digital Media Design at Fontys, where I learned to think about the relationship between technology and how people actually use it. The program taught me that building something technically sound is only half the job – you also need to consider whether it makes sense for the people who'll be using it.

The early internships were quite formative, particularly working on data visualization problems that taught me the most technically elegant solution isn't always what users need. This became especially relevant when I started working on government projects, where accessibility wasn't just good practice – it was a requirement.

Working on platforms used by hundreds of thousands of Dutch citizens was both humbling and educational. You quickly learn that robust architecture matters, but so does making sure your application works for everyone, regardless of their technical abilities or accessibility needs. Those strict government accessibility guidelines became second nature and still influence how I approach every project.

As JavaScript frameworks evolved, I found myself drawn to React and the challenges around state management. This led to work with media companies and startups, where I could apply these technologies to more interactive applications. One project that stood out was helping convert a mobile app into a progressive web application – quite a puzzle in terms of making it feel native while running in a browser.

Going freelance in 2016 opened up some interesting opportunities. I had the chance to be the first developer at a fintech startup, where we built a platform that processed thousands of cancellations daily across European markets. Leading a small team there was as much about helping other developers grow as it was about the technical challenges of distributed systems.

These days, I often work with established companies looking to modernize their technology. There's something quite satisfying about gradually transforming legacy systems into more maintainable architectures without disrupting the business. Whether it's introducing GraphQL to simplify data handling or setting up deployment pipelines that give teams more confidence, I try to be practical about bridging the gap between current state and future possibilities.

If you have a project where this kind of experience might be useful, I'd be happy to discuss how we might approach it together.

I specialize in

Strategic technical guidance – helping validate ideas and chart realistic development paths
Modern web applications – React, Vue, and vanilla JavaScript frontends with robust backend APIs
Scalable backend systems – Laravel, Rails, Node.js, and Elixir for demanding applications
Production-ready deployment – Docker, CI/CD, and Kubernetes for reliable scaling
Team collaboration – Agile methodologies and mentoring developers on modern technologies
Performance optimization – from GraphQL schemas to frontend tooling (Webpack, PostCSS)
Accessibility-first development – ensuring applications work for all users

I also contribute to open-source projects and enjoy sharing knowledge through training and mentorship.

You can also find an overview of my knowledge and experience on LinkedIn. I am always open to new connections.