About me

“My mission is to touch the soul, and I won’t settle for less.”

My name is Julian.

I’m sporty, curious, determined, and ambitious – an entrepreneur and ex-pilot.

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As a commercial pilot for Transavia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, I transported people around the globe for over a decade.

A true childhood dream.

Being a pilot gave me a unique perspective on the world.

What a privilege it was to see the world from above!

The Bahamas enroute to Havana, Cuba

From the endless tundras of Canada to the gigantic lakes of the United States, 

From the vast Sahara in Africa…

Always a surreal sight: gigantic green spray fields in the middle of the desolate, bone-dry Sahara Desert of Libya

…to the surreal, immense ice world of Greenland 

Mighty icebergs from Greenland enroute to Vancouver

with its rugged snow peaks and pristine ice lakes.

Mighty icebergs from Greenland enroute to Vancouver

Looking down from above at impressive thunderstorms, at a safe distance. 

Giant Cumulonimbus cloud, typical of Africa's weather

Creating a spectacular light show in the dark, with flashes of lightning every few seconds.

Hours upon hours of no-man’s land.

Oceans, paradise islands…

Tropical islands on the way to Havana

…national parks and world cities, 

Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco
Atlanta

I’ve been blessed to witness the most breathtaking sunsets, sunrises, and planetary rises, sometimes even all in one single long flight.

Taxiing across Aruba airport for departure to Bonaire, as the sun slowly sinks into the Caribbean Sea

The sight of the Milky Way against a crystal-clear starry sky.

The magnificent spectacle of the Northern Lights, performed in grandeur as a vibrant green light dance against the backdrop of the dark night near the North Pole.

These views added color to my life and filled me with wonder.

It has always been my experience that as soon as you physically distance yourself from your familiar surroundings, you can gain a refreshing and clear perspective on life.

To the left of the cockpit window separation: the high-rise buildings of The Hague. Immediately to the right of the cockpit window separation: the Pier of Scheveningen, further to the right the entrance to the harbor of Scheveningen and visible in the far right: Hoek van Holland and the Rotterdam Maasvlakte

Additionally, by zooming out and taking a step back, you paradoxically can experience a deep sense of connection.

Festive first flight of the summer season from Dallas, Texas: Waved goodbye by the entire airport handling staff plus a special delegation

The view from the cockpit¹, high in the sky, never gets boring. 

You look down at the earth. 

It puts things into perspective.

Another day at the office: sunrise over Greenland during the
flight Calgary-Amsterdam.

Let alone when you consider that this same ‘big’ Earth is hurtling at an unimaginable speed through an infinitely vast, expanding, and for us largely unknown universe.

It makes you humble. It brings gratitude. You feel part of something greater and it evokes a sense of wonder.

My entire life, I have worked towards my dream of becoming an airline transport pilot.

Julian - student pilot

A young pup feeling brave after three months of learning to fly by sight in Portugal

Countless selections, exams, and applications I have navigated, and it was hard work, but my childhood dream came true.

Julian - student pilot

Flying twin-engine on the Piper Seneca; the last 20 hours of practical experience 

After ten years in the cockpit, I unexpectedly faced a medical situation that prevented me from continuing my work as a pilot.

While this was a difficult decision, it also provided me with the opportunity to fully pursue my passion for entrepreneurship.

Becoming a pilot requires a tremendous investment of time, capital, and dedication to get through the rigorous selection process.

The market for commercial pilots in the Netherlands is small, and opportunities are limited. Yet, I managed to realize that dream.

Just 20, freshly graduated, and thought I was the man – ready for my dream job

But life is so often what happens to you while you are making other plans.

Not everything can be planned.

Sometimes it’s about going with the flow and adapting. Holding onto trust. Something beautiful will come your way.

On a warm summer evening, I read an interview with a Dutch philosopher and writer. One of the questions was, “What event has made the most impression on you?”

Her answer struck me: she spoke about how she lay in a coffin for thirty minutes in South Korea, as part of an intense confrontation with oneself and what one lives for.

I was fascinated and immediately watched the relevant broadcast that evening. What I saw stayed with me. 

If such an experience impacted me as a viewer, it must be even more intense as a participant.

In the past, I had thought about a direct confrontation with oneself and mortality to appreciate life more. But that idea seemed so absurd that I let it go. 

Until I saw that documentary². 

It really existed.

Following this aircraft in front while on our way to home base Amsterdam Schiphol, during a sunrise above the Atlantic Ocean

I knew right away that I wanted to experience this for myself. My last flight – this time as a passenger – in the final days of my pilot career, took me to South Korea.

Close flying Boeing 747 ('Jumbo'). The vertical separation is always at least 1,000 feet (= more than 300 meters)

It was an experience that redirected my life’s course.

But I also know that a six-hour seminar, culminating in thirty minutes in a coffin, can be a bridge too far for many.³

Understandably.

That’s why, after years of experimenting and perfecting (believe me, even with 6 real coffins), I’ve made the experience as accessible as possible, so you can experience it digitally.

Whenever you want and wherever you are.

Simply from behind your computer or tablet.

But still with the same impact.

Here, my passion for personal growth merges with my role as your temporary co-pilot. 

Julian - Transavia pilot

You are the captain.

I’m just flying alongside you for a while, offering the aircraft.

Perhaps for a life’s course change that you determine yourself.

As a pilot, I took hundreds of thousands of people on a journey.

Julian - KLM pilot

Now, I want to take you on a special journey: one through your own life.

Zooming out, as if you’re looking down on your life from a plane.

And I’ll talk you through it.

Just as I communicated with you as a passenger via the intercom from the flightdeck.

But…I have now hung up my pilot’s hats on the willows:

Grateful for all those wonderful years and inspiration.

So now you’ll hear me only through your earbuds or headset.

Let’s discover together if you are living for what is truly important to you.

“How?”

I have a unique experience for you. Unique, and also very effective.

You don’t have to go all the way to South Korea for this. 

Passing below us on a flight to Toronto: a United Airlines Boeing 757

No 6-hour seminar in Korean, culminating in a real coffin.

Simply being comfortably at home will suffice, with the luxury of a guided journey.

Face your earthly shadow.

 

Behind it, something priceless 

may be hidden.

And if you conclude that everything is perfectly fine in your life, that’s wonderful. 

But perhaps you want to change something.

While you still can.

Dare to truly look at how you live?

To discover what is important to you?

I invite you.

And I challenge you:

Give yourself the gift of clarity and direction.

PS: Want to know what your last hour could mean?

Start your journey here. 👇✨

¹ If you want to see more of my flight photos; click here.

² If you want to see the documentary yourself click here.

³ If you do want to experience a meditation in a real coffin, I’d love to hear from you. Because then you’re quite unique;)

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