Personal

Hi, I’m Wout. Born in 1983 in Leidschendam, the Netherlands, I grew up in Voorburg before settling in Zoetermeer for many years of my childhood. After completing my MSc in 2009, I moved to Utrecht to be with my girlfriend and dive into my PhD research, focusing on the fascinating dynamics of meandering rivers.

In 2013, after earning my PhD, I headed to Durham University in the UK for a postdoctoral position, where I spent 2.5 enriching years before returning to Utrecht for another postdoc. Eventually, I transitioned from academia into consultancy, working for Arcadis for 2.5 years. Since then, I’ve found my current role at Rijkswaterstaat, where I combine my passion for geomorphology with practical environmental management.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about exploring landscapes—whether hiking, running, or cycling. I especially love hiking in mountainous areas during holidays, with favorite spots including Norway’s Hardangervidda and Corsica. My girlfriend and I have traveled widely together, visiting stunning places like Scotland, Canada, France, New Zealand, Italy, USA, and Iceland and Japan (both where we also traveled with our daughter).

Family adventures have taken on new meaning since the birth of our daughter Minke in early 2020, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our son Hylke, born in December 2023. We’re now dreaming of new journeys, perhaps to Patagonia, this time sharing the experience with our little ones.

I’m passionate about both running and cycling, and I’ve taken on some memorable challenges in both sports. On the bike, I’ve completed the tourist version of the iconic Amstel Gold Race circuit five times—once the 100 km route, but mostly the tougher 150 km tour with its demanding hills. I also tackled the 130 km Liège-Bastogne-Liège course and, in 2012, completed the legendary Elfstedentocht—a grueling 240 km ride in a single day—alongside my girlfriend.

These days, running is my main focus. I aim to run 5 to 6 times per week and have been a proud member of several running clubs over the years. I joined AthleticPoint in Utrecht back in 2012, then ran with Durham City Harriers during my time in the UK. After returning to the Netherlands, I rejoined AthleticPoint before moving to Hellas Utrecht, where I improved my personal bests in distances from 10 km up to the marathon. In 2024, I became secretary of LintRunners, a new local running club founded by a group of dedicated runners.

So far, I’ve knocked out 21 marathons, including classics like Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Boston, Chicago, and even the wild Slachtemarathon. Last year, I checked off New York, and this year I already ran Tokyo and Rotterdam. Crossing the finish line in Tokyo made me a proud Six Star Finisher—which basically means I’ve earned my marathon passport by completing all six World Marathon Majors! My personal best is a slick 2 hours and 51 minutes, so I’m definitely in the sub-3-hour club (still chasing that elusive PR!). Later this year, I’m gearing up for Amsterdam and Assen—because why stop when there are great races to run and new goals to chase?