My fascination with interest groups and regulation started when I watched Thank You for Smoking during a bachelor’s course at Utrecht University. How is it possible that groups with interests clearly different from those of the general public become so powerful? And how can we ensure that their valid concerns are heard in a way that does not jeopardise our safety and democratic values?

Since that bachelor’s course, I have put this fascination to work. I had the privilege of doing so at several research organizations. I obtained my PhD at Erasmus University Rotterdam, was a researcher at the Rathenau Institute, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Antwerp, and am currently an assistant professor at Leiden University.

When not at work, I try to enjoy the outdoors as much as I can. If possible, with my fantastic wife, our two beautiful children (as of mid 2026), and our energetic dog.