the motley crew

Here I will tell about the wonderful people I meet at university. I'm studying Japanese at Leiden University in Holland, and as you could expect, people who are studying Japanese are not the sanest of people around. We always seem to have fun though, so that's very good. Take a look around here, and be amazed at how chanceless some of our lives are.

The Schoolmates - Housemates

My faculty is called 'The Arsenal', and it's a beautiful building dating back to 1818. It used to serve as a military post, but now it's used by the Japanese, Chinese and Korean departments of Leiden University. Everybody who's studying either one of these languages likes the Arsenal. These are some people you will be able to find there on a regular basis. Of course, in a very random order.

Ad Timmering
Nicks: AdoNama, Akaash
Age: 27
Origin: Den Helder
You saw Ad before on the Housemates page, and here he is again. Yes. Ad is not only my neighbour, he's also studying Japanese. He's almost finished actually, and every day he's working hard now on graduating. At the Arsenal, Ad knows everybody and everybody knows Ad. It's a general rule of life. We are going to have a hard time not having Ad around anymore, but something tells me he will be spending a lot of time at the Arsenal even after graduating.

Wouter Luijendijk
Nicks: MC
Age:
Origin: Hilversum
Wouter. Info will follow.

Ronald Hilhorst
Nick: Ron-chan
Age: 26
Origin: Wijk bij Duurstede
Technically speaking, Ronald shouldn't be on this page, seeing he graduated already, last year. Still, the memory of him being at the Arsenal is still too fresh, so I included him anyway. Ronald is living in leiden with his charming girlfriend Jessica, and together they're being happy and stuff. For more information about Ronald, go to his homepage to find out much more about him.

Dominique Milet de St. Aubin
Nick: Domi
Age: 28
Origin: Amsterdam
Gee, how long can a name be eh? Still, the whole french atmosphere gives it an exotic feel. But don't be fooled. Domi is living in leiden too, in a new room. While it's a nice room, it doesn't have a balcony anymore, and that's a shame, seeing he can't barbecue outside anymore. Still, we will think of something. Domi is working just about full time now, so we don't see him too often anymore, which is a pity. But we still meet up for beer every now and then.

Niels Bierman
Nicks: Bierman, Bier, Wuppieplukker
Age: 24
Origin: Nieuw Vennep
Niels' last name is Bierman. And yes, bier is the word for beer in dutch. Most of the time, he will be true to his name at parties, meaning he will be consuming large quantities of the good stuff, and the thing with Niels is, he won't get cranky or anything. He will just create one hilarious quote after another, and he is very much known for that within our little group of losers. All in all I think it's safe to say that we all like Bierman. Even if it were only for that last name.

Sumit Sen
Nick: Micky
Age: !!
Origin: Samoa
Micky is our local eternal student and a superb guy at that. Known for his skills concerning getting the girls to like him very much within a couple of minutes, there can be said a lot of things about Mick. For one thing, he's almost graduated. His final thesis is all done, and now he's working on some translations, and after that he will be a student no more. At parties Mick is great. Throw some girls in there with him, and you can have a very entertaining time indeed.

Robert van Dalsum
Nicks: Rob, Schipper
Age: ??
Origin: ???
Robert is our resident cool guy. Always up for a beer or two, he loves to gamble a couple of euro's at the slot machines which are all over Leiden, especially in the bars we visit. Robert lives in a great appartment in Amsterdam and he's having a wonderful time there. He's not too often in Leiden, but he was in the same year as me when we were in Huis ten Bosch in Japan, and that's where I got to know him. Robert's pretty short, but his grand personality more than makes up for that.

Tim van Ingen
Nicks: Ingen, INGEN, 'Oooh, Ingen'
Age: 23
Origin: Haarlem
There is something about Tim that not too many people know of, and I think it's better that way. This guy holds a secret that, if it would become public, would shock the world... and beyond! Apart from this terrible secret, Tim is a great guy, and an even greater computer-nerd. Yes, he is a born gamer. When he's not playing video games he's listening to video game soundtracks and vice versa. As he put it himself, "I will be playing games until my death, and probably some time after that.

Jasper Bulk
Nicks: Bullekie, Kutbulk, Jazzper
Age: 24
Origin: ???
Jasper is a man of many talents. We always have a lot of fun with 'Bulk' as he's called. His family is the ol' standard dutch family with a mom, dad and two kids, the older sister and the younger brother, our friend Jasper. He likes Japan, and currently he's there, in Kumamoto-city, probably not studying and just having a good time. That's what he's doing in holland all the time. Bulk loves beer and gambling, and I bet you he wishes he were in holland to do that with his friends again.

Eelco Hoenselaar
Nicks: Eelcot, Hoenselare (met saus)
Age: 29
Origin: Malden
Eelco is a great guy and more. He's the local software guy. Everyone knows one in their surroundings. You need the latest version of a Japanese car navigation software program? He will have it. And, he is our film-expert. Eelco owns a lot of movies and even more soundtracks. His collection really is impressive, and they're all originals, some of them really limited. Boy what fun did we have watching movies at his place while eating all kinds of food that was not good for your health.

Jet Meijer
Nick: Jetje
Age: ??
Origin: Amsterdam
About time some girls showed up on this page! Jet lives in Amsterdam in her own house, and she started in the same year as I did, so she also went to Huis ten Bosch with me. She's been dating Rogier now for quite some time, and it looks like the two of them are doing very well. Jet is always in for a party. She'll stay later than most guys, and she'll be more coherent than any of them, even after drinking as much. And just look at the face she makes when she's discussing me! Just kidding though.

Martine Manshande
Nick: Kiai
Age: 22
Origin: Heiloo
Saying something about Martine is difficult. She's very handsome and nice, but bring up 'Japan' as the topic and she'll go a bit weird on you. Her fascination with that country is amazing, and the way things look now, she's going to marry her Japanese boyfriend. That's probably going to happen somewhere next year. Martine likes her parties, but she learned that Tequilla can be dangerous... Martine is a very smart girl, and an all around great person. Her Japanese is perfect, too.

Marije Jansen
Nick: ??
Age: 25
Origin: Hazerswoude
Marije and I go back quite some time too. She was with me in Huis ten Bosch, Japan, and while we didn't talk overly often there, we became good friends. The biggest news of late concerning her is that she started dating Wouter recently. They're both very happy about that, and it's really cute to see the two together. Marije is almost finished at Leiden University, the only thing that she still has to do is write her final thesis. And that could take quite a while...

Qian Jun
Nick: Kwannie
Age: 20
Origin: Venlo
Kwannie might not be the tallest person on this planet, she is definitely one of the scariest. That is, if you tick her off. You see, she looks very cute and all, but if you say something wrong she will go haywire on you and probably kick you. And she is always wearing pointy shoes. I haven't know Kwannie for long, just a couple of months. We're in the same class now for the first time, and she told me she didn't want to be on this homepage. So I'm going to get hurt.

Daan Kok
Nick: Dean Cooke
Age: 25
Origin: Amsterdam
Daan, or Dean for the english speaking people out there, has been studying Japanese in Leiden for as long as I have. Before that though, he also studied the language in Maastricht, so his proficiency is something he should be proud of. He recently started his own website and he is working pretty hard on that. Go there to read all about Japanese stuff. Daan has been dating his girlfriend for quite the time now, and everyone likes her. Because Dean's quite the slave to fashion, it's great to see him at parties. He always has fantastic outfits.

Stefan Rombouts
Nick: JC
Age: 17
Origin: Zoetermeer
A very new member of the Arsenal community, Stefan is quickly working his way up. Not only is he a member of the Board of Education, he's also studying hard to master the Japanese language quickly. The new version of his website looks stunning, an example for me how to do things right. Not the content though. If you can read dutch, let me warn you that we're dealing here with someone who thinks in a peculiar way to say the least. Very entertaining stuff, I'll admit that, but strange nonetheless! Go there and be amazed I'd say.

Rene Lourens
Nick: Jesus!?
Age: 21
Origin: Twijzel
Okay, just click at the thumbnail next to Rene's name. Just do that. Yes. Rene looks like Jesus Christ. This picture was taken during the Tanuki Heaven and Hell party, and Rene thought it might be fun to go as our Lord. I was in Tokyo that day, so I don't know too much about the party, but it was really cold that day and Rene walked around in Leiden in only a robe, some sandals and the huge cross he built. The weirdest thing is that the cross was stolen that night!

Sachi Claringould
Nicks: Clachi, Sacchan
Age: 21
Origin: Rotterdam
Sachi is half-Japanese, half-Dutch, and totally cool. She achieved second place in this year's Japanese Speaking Contest, so good going Sachi! I was more impressed by her singing though. At her house here in leiden, she has a piano, and while I was over there, I played on the piano and she sang along. We did a couple of jazz-standards, and her voice was absolutely stunning! I can't wait to play some more music with her again. Let's hope it'll happen soon.

Dennis Bakker
Nicks: Phil Geroux, Spijkerdennis
Age: 24
Origin: Beverwijk
Resident Arsenal-hang-out-er Dennis is a laid-back guy. He will sit there, just listening to all kinds of conversations for hours without saying a word. When he does say something, everyone will be astounded by the fact that Dennis spoke. That's why I gave him the nickname Phil Geroux from the Tom Green Show. Dennis likes a shot of whiskey or two, but he discovered that you can have too much of the stuff too.

Rachelle Eerhart
Nick: Cheruchan
Age: 21
Origin: Lage Zwaluwe
Rachelle won this year's Japanese Public Speaking Contest! The same thing I won last year and Ad the year before me, so she received a free return-ticket to Japan. Lucky lucky her! Not that she won by luck though. She was just very good, I think she won fair and square. We went there all together, it was a great day. Apart from all this, Rachelle is a very kind and energetic person, she loves to take care of stuff.

Sachiko Olrichs
Nick: Sach
Age: 19
Origin: IJsselstein
Sachiko is a very relaxed and laid-back girl. Always in for a drink on a dutch terrace, she takes it easy. Her sister graduated already, and now it's her turn to go through the whole tedious process that is called the student's life. Very popular with the boys, and still she's single. Not that she cares I think. Much more than that I think she just enjoys hanging out with people. And that is a very good thing.

IJsbrandt 't Mannetje
Nicks: Da Iceman, Koori-kun
Age: 20
Origin: Amsterdam
This guy's name is cool. IJsbrandt 'the little guy'. When I first saw it I thought it was a nickname or something, but it's not. Anyhow, IJsbrandt is pretty mad about Japan, and he's studying really hard, constantly speaking Japanese to me, which is impressive for a first-year student. He wants to go to Japan very much, so let's hope for him that it's going to happen soon. He'll enjoy his time there, methinks.

Aike Rots
Nicks: Aperots, Aikedo, Iwa-chan
Age: 19
Origin: Drachten
Mr. Rots is a hard-working member of the Board of Education for Japanese, and a student too of course. This guy has quite a few different looks to him. For instance, we have the wild-colors Aike, the casual chique Aike, the formal Aike, the jeans Aike and the overall Aike. Very enthusiastic in everything he does, he's at the Arsenal a lot.

John Stroobach
Nicks: Pannekoek, Appelkanjer
Age: ??
Origin: Uithoorn
John is John. Nothing more to say. He'll stand outside of the Arsenal, keeping it cool, smoking some Luckies. He's actually studying Law and Japanese. John doesn't like to be called 'Sjon', so try not to say that too often around him. His last name became the basis for the two nicknames you see there. Stroopbach - Appelstroop - Pannekoek met Appelstroop etc...