My name is Bart, from The Netherlands, and I travel to some of the world’s most fascinating places. From troubled regions to countries that don’t officially exist, my trips are low-budget and often improvised.
Liberia, Iran, Albania, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Bangladesh and Swaziland. My trips take me to countries often not seen on bucket lists. But once out there I stumble upon incredible stories…
The discovery of an abandoned tank graveyard, meeting an African king and accidentally getting locked up inside an ancient Egyptian tomb. On my website you will find travel experiences that will give a whole new meaning to adventure travel. Exciting, right?
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My fascination of travel is specifically directed at the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and post-Soviet states. Away from the tourist crowds I find my way around the world mostly overland, occasionally by hitchhiking and often while staying with the locals.
This low-budget style of travelling challenges me and puts me into situations that I think are unique. I often travel in the wake of major (news) events or attend them as they happen. Always with a camera or smartphone by my side I capture some amazing moments and publish them not only here but also in other media.
Where I’ve been
Homepage map
My first backpacking adventure took place in 2009, at the age of 21. Since then I travelled on and off, reaching 92 out of 193 UN states, 11 additional territories and 108 places as defined by the Travellers Century Club (Sep ’19). In pretty much all those places I stayed anywhere between a full day and 4 months. On NomadMania.com I am in the global top 1.000 for having visited 241 places on the NM1281 map (Jul. ’19).
Confused? Counting countries is indeed a bit complicated given there are different definitions to use. That is why I am particularly fascinated by unrecognised states and weird little enclaves. I have been to places like Christiania, Western Sahara and Transnistria and crossed overland borders in numerous troubled regions like Korea, Pakistan, Kosovo and Mozambique. I plan to visit many more of these kind of places, like Somaliland and Iraqi Kurdistan.
My goal
My current goal is to have travelled to all UN states in the geographical continent of Europe (42/47), and then move on to do the same in Asia.
That might sound like a walk in the park, but unfortunately I’m not a full-time traveller. I have an intensive job in the corporate world and I also still want to visit regions outside of Europe and Asia while aiming for quality visits. Stepping foot just outside an airport won’t do it for me.
Apart from my Europe goal my approach is to focus first on the more difficult and ‘dangerous’ countries and keep the easier ones for later. This is why you would not see me write about the best places to visit in Paris or New York. It does not mean I don’t visit these places, but I prefer to keep a specific focus here on this website.
Publications & Media Appearances
If there’s one thing that gets me excited, it would be inspiring others about adventure travel. For this reason I have worked together with some great people who all share that same passion. A still expanding list of work can be found below.
One Week Adventures // Albania Travel Guide
One Week Adventures // Jordan Travel Guide
Gamin Traveler // Interview: travelling with Bart from Offbeat Travelling
Tales Maze // 10 Places I Wish I Had Stayed At Much Longer!
My photographs and stories were published around the world, listed below.
Gazeta do Provo // The largest (and almost impossible) land route in the world (BRA)
Komsomolskaya Pravda // 14 things to do in Belarus (BLR)
Cool Material // This Is the Longest Straight Line Hike in the World (USA)
Vice Sports NL // World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan (NLD)
Nu.nl in beeld // Photo of the day (NLD)
The Guardian // Albania vs. Serbia EURO2016 qualifier (GBR)
Telesport Newspaper // Tirana Derby Report -Torture for the Toilet (ALB)
Dutch Journalism Fund // Balkan refugee crisis (NLD)
Pelle Mortensen // A World of Football (DNK)
NGO Shipbreaking Platform // Shipbreaking in Bangladesh (BEL)
Archeological Diggings Magazine // Behistun inscriptions Iran (AUS)
SKIWO // Balkan refugee crisis (NOR)
De Correspondent // Shipbreaking in Bangladesh (NLD)
ELF Voetbal Magazine // FIFA game Kosovo vs. Haiti (NLD)
SCOPE Magazine // Around the world in 7 months (NLD)
Let’s Talk
If you like my stories, photographs and crazy adventures, why not get in touch? There are several ways to do so, pick one you like. I hope to hear from you!
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