"

Picture this.. there he is.. at a prestigious concours in Russia with a huge cake in the shape of formula 1 car plus racing track.. The temperature is way too high so the whole thing collapses. It’s tattered and there’s only a half hour left to fix his masterpiece. But he nailed it. Countertop squeaky clean and everything hunky-dory. Cool as Fonzie our Bas. K.

"

"Next to being an expert bean counter, Paul is also a fully certified first-aid responder. Everyone can feel safe with Paul nearby, for example on a camping site, where he loves to hang out on the weekends. Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to camping he goes!"

""

"It’s a good thing we have a desk disco every six months at Tony’s, because Ruben is an expert in cracking word jokes all day long. Bad jokes, some people call them, but they just can’t appreciate the art of it. Don’t let them put you down, Ruben!"

""

""

"With some people you see it straight away.. But not in Eske’s case. With a serene smile she offers you a cup of coffee. Just when your head registers Eske as ‘a pleasant person’.. She strikes. The coffee is salty, the whoopee cushion on your desk chair is now glued to your butt, and your favorite stapler is suspended in 6 kilos of jelly pudding.. Eske!!!"

"Dawdling, you gotta love that expression. Ben hates it, though. Not the expression, the act. Combination of long legs and impatience, probably. So walking up ahead on holiday, his son jogging behind on the way to school and 'flat tiring people' on the underground. Also a great expression."

"A person’s ‘happy place’ can tell you a lot about how fun they’d be to go on an adventure with. Nap time? Curled up by the fireplace? Romantic.. sure. Adventurous? Not so much. I guess it’s a good thing Laura left her heart in a cocktail bar, and her spirit on the open road – she’s a go-getter who’s all about spontaneity and making memories along the way. You up for the ride? "

"Eva is the baby in the family but she certainly doesn’t act like it! She got her degree in Food Science & Technology and now she’s an accomplished connoisseur and knows everything about flavour charts, natural ingredients and nutrition. And to top it off, she dressed as Katy Perry for New Year’s Eve!"

"Where’s Katie, you ask? Well, if she’s not repping Tony’s partner co-ops, there’s a 99.999999% chance she’s out on a hiking trail, making a massive trek and being totally at one with nature. 
 "

"Since January 2013 Ivan has been fidgeting in his chair, two-stepping to lunch and answering the telephone with, “Alaaf” (??). Ivan is a genuine Brabander – he flips for carnival! But don’t worry – he’s in just as merry a mood when he’s got his costume on as when he’s got his everyday shirt on."

"If you’re ever lost and in need of a guiding light, someone to help you find your way.. we’d recommend reaching out to Emma. No, not because she’s an honest person and wonderful friend (she is), or because she’s incredibly insightful and just an all-round awesome person (she is, too). But in the most practical sense, she’s a great person to light the way because she also happens to moonlight as a candlemaker in her spare time! "

"Powertools, a man can’t do without them, really. Not that you actually have to do anything with them. Just hold them, once in a while. Bzz bzzz. Paul does use them: bike shed here, shelves against the wall there.. Scullery, dining table. And then praying it breaks down again. Bzz bzz!"

"When Elin’s not blazing a spirited trail for Tony’s everywhere, she’s secretly plotting the bed and breakfast she’ll one day own and operate. Scrolling through real estate options, planning the inside, the outside, the rooms and the gardens.. she’s as creative as she is savvy. And when she finds the perfect spot, she’ll know it – because her sense of direction can’t be beat, either. Just when this will happen, however, is still a little unclear. Because Elin’s sense of time? Well, that’s another story. "

"Vergeetachtigheid is het niet, maar Marloes’ spullen liggen vaak niet op de plek waar ze horen te liggen. ID-kaarten, pinpassen, OV-kaarten (ooit 2 keer in 1 week aangevraagd), sleutels.. Gelukkig geen belangrijke zaken – verjaardagen en namen gaan prima."

"Daan likes a joke or two. Didn’t always turn out right in the past, with uncomfortable silences as a result. These awkward moments can still keep him awake at night. When this happens he puts on his favourite slippers and sneaks to the kitchen for a calming piece of fresh mango. Yep.. that’s the life of a comedian."

"Some people remember everything—obscure nursery rhymes, a striking little number you wore eight years ago.. Ingeborg is like that. Which comes in handy if you’re stuck in the urban jungle (she used to be a girlscout), but annoying when she has to make you a poem with Sinterklaas."

"Maybritt works hard and plays hard.. and it’s her fiery drive that really takes her places. She’s passionate and dedicated. So dedicated, in fact, that she’s determined to go bungee jumping one day – even though she’s terrified of heights. For now, that is.. 
"

""

"Pascal’s a go-with-the-flow kinda guy. He likes to see where the road takes him. In fact, he’d like nothing more than to hop on his motorcycle right now, and ride all away around the Mediterranean and down through the whole continent of Africa, just to meet the ocean on the other side. Don’t forget to pack your swimming trunks, Pascal."

""

"Aileen’s an out-of-the-box thinker, but she can be a little forgetful. But come on: the little things are sure to slip through the cracks when you’ve got lots of big ideas bouncing around! It may also explain her love for elephants – those big, wise and long-nosed giants famous for their memories. If only they could help Aileen remember to pick up the dry cleaning! "

"If Tony’s ever puts out a dictionary (because hey, why not!), a picture of Maxime will be the only definition needed under ‘party.’ She knows how to let the good times roll, and she’s super organized about it. She might even bring one of her world-famous cheesecakes along. "

"Jolanka lives life by the big 3 E’s: energy, electricity and enthusiasm. She brightens up a room with her megawatt smile, and she brings the spirit needed to hype up even the dreariest of days."

"Ask Diara about her plans for the future and they all involve cake. What are you going to do this weekend? Cake. What do you want to be when you grow up? Cake. Of course she means she wants to become a cakeshop-lady. In Ghana, if possible. Formidable!"

"Here’s the thing about Feike: he always puts his best foot forward. In life, at work and even on his surfboard. It’s just too bad his kids constantly beat him when it comes to nailing the big swells. But he’s not discouraged.. next up: kitesurfing!"

"What's for dinner tonight? Something Joost likes to think about 'Cause choices, choices, people! He has a hard time in restaurants, because after a lot of consideration before ordering, he's still regrets his choice in hindsight a lot of the time. By the way, did you know no one rivals his potato peeling skills? True story."

"Our man in America might look like a stiff Dutch guy at first glance, but as soon as the music starts, his hips begin to sway and he fills the dance (or office) floor with the finest Latin moves. Mambo Americano!"

"Life is a cabaret – just ask Esther! There’s a good chance you’ll find her laughing and grooving to a live performance any night of the week, and there’s an even bigger chance she’ll have some sushi in hand while doing it."

"So annoying when keys do that: you know you put them in your coat pocket, but they’re not there. Not again, Laura sighs. In the messy drawer? No. In your purse? No? Still in the door? Thankfully not. No, they’re in your coat pocket, exactly where you looked before."

"Rijk likes to crochet stuffed animals. ‘No need to mention this on the website’ he said. But hey,.,. talents like this deserve a spotlight. Crochet is pretty masculine, right? And there’s nothing wrong with Rijk’s masculinity in the first place. He jumps out off a helicopter on top of a mountain, skis his way down and he has a beard. What a man!"

"

An old soul in a young body.. That’s how he’s often been described. But Umut lives in the now and is very successful doing so. Having inner discussions about social issues from different perspectives or writing short stories and even books. A peux sérieux? Not at all.. Umut’s word plays are the best!

"

"There are 2 kinds of people in the world: the ones who know how to party halfway.. and the ones who push it to the limit each year at carnival! As soon as the festivities kick off in Oeteldonk (a city in the south of the Netherlands), expect to see Lea living it up in full regalia. Biertjes in hand, confetti flying through the air – it doesn’t get much more carnival than that! But the thing is, Lea’s super-dooper hardcore: there’s a good chance she’ll have come all the way from Amsterdam by bike! "

"Joost is the Pavarotti of bad piano playing. He’s the Yo-Yo Ma of singing out of key. So why is it there’s a really good chance he’s off somewhere doing both these things with a goofy grin on his face? Well that’s just how Joost rolls. "

"When you’ve got a craving for something really yummy, Sanne’s your go-to girl. She’s famous for her amazing cakes. And when she’s not standing in the kitchen, she goes running or traveling to some far-away place, such as to Zanzibar. When she’s not hard at work, she’s training for a race. Hup, two, three, four"

"Loes may be clumsy, but she’s not trippin’ – she’s smart as a whip, and loves a good pun as much as the next Tony. She also loves a good nap, but if you don’t beat her to the punch(line) first.. you’ll be the one to snooze and lose!"

"It’s pretty impressive when Wasken lifts a football out of the Haarlemmervaart with his feet. But secretly, he is a sore loser: pretends to forget the score, pulling shirts, says “hats off” if the sun’s shining.. Good thing he’s such a sweetie otherwise!"

""

"

When Vasil’s not keeping tabs on Tony’s orders, you’ll probably find him brushing up on his shadow boxing game. But don’t think his lack of an opponent now means he’d lose in the ring. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee is true whether you’re facing Muhammed Ali or an imaginary opponent.. or tearing into a fresh box of Tiny Tony’s, of course. 

\r\n

 

"

"Abhinav is solid. Like, emotional-rock solid. He’s been there to listen and comfort so many Tonys we’ve lost count. Of course, he’s good for a laugh too. He’s the one you want by your side during all the ups, the downs and – well, basically it’d be great if he could just be around, like, all the time? 
 "

"Even though Chloé is the youngest of four and therefore, and we quote, a bit of a princess, she’s not one to sit back and relax. Roll up those sleeves, boy-o! And then we’re not just talking about her brown-green detox drinks or her cauliflower risotto. Whappa!"

"

There are optimists.. and then there’s Steven. Let’s say there’s thunder and lightning on the day of an outdoor wedding. You can count on Steven to sell you on the idea that an indoor soirée is actually what everyone wanted all along. If there’s only 1 bar of chocolate left but you’ve got 3 friends over for dinner, Steven will convince the group that sharing makes everything taste sweeter. Steven 4 president! 

\r\n

 

"

"Caitlin’s known for rocking totally original t-shirts that her boyfriend makes for her. And whenever he gives her a new one, she expresses her delight and surprise with one of the most Australian expressions out there: ‘Hooly-dooly!’ "

"\r\n"

"Melissa’s Italian American background is something she wears with pride. And something she’s not shy to tell you about; loud, straight forward and with a strong NY accent. Favorite subjects are family and good cooking. Italian, of course, cosa ne pensi?"

"\r\n"

null

"Lisette really, really can’t stand waiting in line at a holiday car rental. You know the ones.. where the vacation’s already over by the time you’ve got your keys? The reason she can’t stand it, though, is because she just can’t wait to drop everything at the chalet and hit the slopes! 
 "

"You can call Suzanne whatever you want but just don’t call her Suzan. Name her Suus, Suzu, Suzelientje or honey bun if you like and she’ll respond. But don’t take a shortcut by leaving the ‘ne’ out of her name. Rather, use that tongue motion to pronounce her name in full. Come on.. Let’s try it together. 1, 2, 3.. Su-zan-ne. Easy, right? 
"

"When you come over to Twerrel’s parties you won’t find the standard things you’d find on a Surinam party. Sushi, a Thai buffet, a gigantic pan of paëlla for 80 people.. no prob for Twerrel. We’ll be there next time aswell, ok?"

"Are you familiar with the term 'Bleeker-noise'? No? W're not surprised, because it's the name Arno's friends gave his musical tastes. It started out with some very upper class punk, but became more and more extreme - and annoying. The height of Bleeker noise was a self-recorded cd with organ music, where the organ caught fire during the last song...not too bad for someone who listened to ABBA as a kid."

"Need to nail a first meeting with new in-laws? Or have a long lunch date with your partner.. and their grandparents? Then Lily is the one to talk to: she’s secretly brilliant at masterminding small-talk. She can spot a shared interest (and a comma splice) a mile away! 
"

"One thing you gotta know about Bibianne is.. she doesn’t do ‘bucket lists.’ She finds the destination without Google Maps. She’s all heart and totally excited about where she’s going and what she’s doing. That’s our Bibi."

"If you’re looking for a true Tony through-and-through, one who gets out of bed for cheesecake and cocktails and has larger-than-life ballet-dancer dreams.. well, chances are Ester’s the one you want. She’s all heart and all ears – one of the best listeners and chocolate lovers the low countries have ever seen. Possibly even the world. 
 "

"As a little boy, Ywe was read the riot act on a regular basis on account of him always getting punctured tyres on his bicycle. Caught a little too much air, bumped the sidewalk, racing to complete his paper route the fastest...and it's still going on now, with his daughters in the carrier cycle. 'Faster dad, faster!'"

"Rody’s not like other financial controllers. Sure, he’s meticulous, fastidious, and all the other ‘-ousinesses’ that make someone brilliant at crunching the numbers. But the secret about Rody is.. he’s also a dreamer. He thinks big and doesn’t sweat the small stuff. He goes for that extra piece of cake and loves looking up at a beautiful night sky. "

"\r\n"

"Always a laugh with Naomi. Especially because her laugh is so joyfully loud and contagious. You can find her easily in any bar because of it. It's always quite a distraction whilst freefalling in a rollercoaster, as is her shiny hair, blowing in the wind."

"You know those people that are always soft spoken, kind and inconspicuous, who get REALLY fanatical with games? Jolien is like that. Preferably with fast, not to complicated games like Qwixx or rainworms or old skool stuff like RUmmikub or Yahtzee. Or Party & Co, or 30 Seconds! Just make sure you're on her team."

"No Tony without a nickname and Annabel has the most of all: Bel, Bellie, Bells, Belleboos… just Annabel is fine as well. Having that many nicknames comes in handy when you need her because she likes to daydream when no one’s watching. Bella! Phone!"

"\r\n"

"Put Hilary Clinton, a blond beach babe, a debate champion and a pole dancer in a blender. Mix it up around 15 minutes and what do you get?.. An Abby Noel! A logical combination in Abby’s universe. Pretty arguable of course. But try to tell that to a top debater like Abby Noel."

"Maybe it’s because she lives on a houseboat, but there are few things that make Melassi (nickname, not a spelling mistake) happier than baby animals. Piglets on Insta or cygnets in the wild, she can’t get enough. Uhm, sorry.. cygnets? Let’s look that one up."

""

"Shais is a word-wizard, too – but in reverse, by making up her own slang and sayings, and repurposing ones that already exist. Don’t be surprised if she raises a hand to prompt a ‘high 4’, or says ‘bottom o’ the morning to ya’ with a big smile. She’s the ‘guinea pig’s’ pajamas, and definitely one-of-a-kind. "

"Who says that guys in finance can’t be creative too? Meet Jan! He sits down in lotus pose, makes contact with his inner artist and then runs off to the drawing board to design houses. He even built them himself.. with some help from professionals. But moving from place to place all the time takes its toll. So, you might consider another hobby, Jan. 
"

"There’s one in every group of friends.. The reliable guy who’s always the cashkeeper during nights out, has to take care of holiday bookings and is always the designated driver.. That’s Jerome for you. But he doesn’t mind. He likes to be in charge of things. And then afterwards a well deserved IPA in his old rocking chair. Cheers!Money Box-er"

"

Young Shannon was quite something. She carved her first spelling lessons into the neighbor’s car, which they didn’t appreciate. Spoilsports. Things like this are all in the past. Nowadays, she’s way too busy with her cat hobby. She owns a cat teapot, a cat sweater, and even a cat tissue box holder! Together with her cat she dances to golden oldies like Otis Redding and The Beatles. That’s some serious cat love for ya. Miaow!

"

""

"Souhaila’s a rock. She’s resilient, and can make peace with even the most difficult situations. I know.. we’re impressed too. What’s her secret? Well, you didn’t hear this from us, but – she has a diary. Not just any diary, though. She uploads all her thoughts about friends, family and even her love life as hundreds of little videos! Who she shares these with and where they can be seen are a big part of the mystery. We haven’t found them yet.. have you? "

"Picture this: it’s pubquiz time, and the team’s almost complete. The only one missing is.. the master of all semi-useless facts, collector of info and general knowledge maven. Who is it, you ask? Well Jean Michel, of course! But where is he? Possibly in Japan. Or mourning the recent Ajax loss? Most likely, though, he’s on a canal somewhere singing old-school Amsterdam songs! 
"

"Sonia likes to paint the town red.. literally. She loves the color and all it stands for: passion, feeling, big plans and following your heart. Red balloons and red sneakers, red apples and big red fire trucks.. Sonia loves ‘em all."

"Look.. here’s an action hero for you. Always ready to go with no fumbling around! Erik cuts the crap and wooden planks if necessary. He moves fast, reacts rapidly, and jumps out of a plane for fun. Quick.. give this man a red spandex suit with blue underpants on the outside. Heeere’s Super Tony! 
"

"Arjen is our resident DJ. He plays just about everything, from ska to pan flute music. When we don’t really dig his selection, we do let him know, but very, very carefully. Arjan has a black belt in karate and can (so he claims) break a pile of wooden planks in half with one hand. At the office, he keeps himself pretty happy."

"Hidden under layers of sweetness lies Juliette’s inner hooligan waiting for the moment of awakening. She would love to hang on the stadium gates.. screaming her lungs out. But she doesn’t get any further than “123.. PSV!”. Let your inner hooligan sleep Juul.. We like you this way."

"Lisa dreams of getting away from it all.. just for a little while. At the moment she’s got her sights set on Hawaii or Australia, but who knows? Sometimes these things change like the weather, and Lisa likes dreaming up plans just as much as she likes following through on them. 
"

"Willem’s an all-star dinner party planner. His friends know his table-settings, his culinary skills and the good times at his place simply can’t be beat. But what’s his secret weapon, you ask? Well that’s a simple one (but don’t tell!) – it’s burrata! 
 "

"\r\n"

"Maya’s the star of any breakfast table – she likes to rise, shine and scarf down some breakfast sausage biscuits or a big ol’ breakfast burrito. Just ask her what she thinks about bacon. And if you’ve got a cafetière full of good coffee? Fuhgeddaboudit!"

"Even though Bas regularly has a new gadget (at this moment a super cool retro PDA), you can’t make him happier than playing an old fashioned game of Portal 2 on the PS3. Single player, ‘cause those 12 year old kids put up too much of a fight. It has to be fun, right?"

"\r\n"

"An orderly spirit lives in a orderly...home! Nothing to worry about, but Chiel just likes everything cleaned and in its place. Objects have their own spot in which to be before bed. And you can only work at your desk when your bed is made. Like we said: nothing to worry about."

"If you find yourself next to our coffee machine on a Monday morning, you’ll find that Arie always has the best stories from his weekend. Maybe they’ll be about a trip through Amsterdam by boot; maybe they’ll be about karaoke singing in the local pub or the “rijsttafel” dinner he got himself invited to. Double espresso with a bit of milk, please!!"

"If you wanna piss Loes off, just keep cycling in front of her on the bike path. But eh, better not face Loes one-on-one, because she learned Thai boxing in Koh Phangan.. That’s pretty hardcore. Ground exercises on a sweat-soaked mat and jumping rope at 40 degrees Celsius. She’ll never put her skills into practice, but still.. Keep that bike path clear!"

"A muilpeer.. can you eat that? No! But that’s what you get when you serve Camille a loveless plate of food. What did you expect..? The lady is French! She even dreams about rillettes and ripe Époisses. Back to the kitchen you.. and give it all you got. Go!"

"Don’t underestimate Julie’s ability to solve a problem – especially when it comes to DIY around the house. She’s handy with any tool and can fix a leaky faucet just as fast as she can patch a hole, or repair an appliance. If something needs fixin’.. it’s Julie to the rescue! "

"The more tired Inchela gets, the sillier her sense of humour becomes. So if she’s cackling in the corner during a ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ karaoke performance (and it wouldn’t be the first time..) know that she’s definitely exhausted, and also having the time of her life."

"Ohmmmmmmm. (Deep breath.) OHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. You feeling at one yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got energy to spare too (maybe it’s all the dark milk pretzel toffee we’ve been munching). But if you’re looking to unwind, be at one and discover a whole new level of consciousness, you should sign up for one of Lisanne’s yoga retreats! Well, technically they’re not happening quite yet – she’s still got too much content to manage. But one day.. OHM-my-gosh it’s gonna be peaceful. "

"

One time, in the Tuscany hills Tim prepared a Michelin Star worthy meal on just a camping stove. He lit candles, pulled a cold bottle of pinot grigio out of his backpack and looked deep into his girlfriend’s eyes. This situation was far too good to be true.. so, with a quick blow from his elbow, he knocked over the pan. Romantics.. they can be clumsy now and then.

"

"There’s people that don’t want to be disturbed in their sleep, but they’re peanuts compared to Sylvia. Her baby boy gets away with it, the rest have to fear for their lives. She doesn’t even have to wake up to swat mosquitos, yikes!"

""

"

If you like really want to make Belinda happy just invite her for a swim around Prinseneiland. Preferably during summer, because cold water isn’t really her thing. Make it quite a few laps too, because when Belinda gets bored she starts building dangerous structures with random stuff. Due to this hobby she successfully cracked an iPad and lost multiple keys on her keyboard. Well.. as long as nobody gets hurt.

"

"Jan is a biker. Nooo, not a Hell’s Angel. He’s way too sweet for that. One time Jan woke up at the crack of dawn to bake a birthday cake for his bestie. He even jumped on his bike to deliver it himself.. Threw in a wheelie, a barspin, a 360 with no damage to the cake.. Now that’s a real biker!"

"Sometimes you see Mike in front of the door throwing his leg in the air. Are these yoga routines? Is he kicking an invisible football? Is it a compulsive neurosis? None of that. Mike always loses his stuff. That’s why he taped his electronic key to his ankle. Very handy Mike! Big problems need big solutions."

""

""

"

Niels is known for his ability to spin a yarn.. one that makes you want to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trail, wherever it may take you. He’s a true ‘citizen of the world’ and nothing makes him happier than telling stories to other curious travelers struck by wanderlust. Whether his next stop will be a trek across Canada or some other faraway trail, it’s sure to be adventurous. Why don’t you ask him yourself? 

\r\n

 

"

"Don't get us wrong, Marleen is not lazy. But, when a vase is in front of the tv, you can see through the flowers just fine you know. It's very efficient to always have a notepad at hand to update your to-do list. \"Moving vase\" for example. Check."

"Pavi is always good for a laugh. 1. She likes to joke around. 2. She starts laughing when she’s nervous. During a security training they gave her the following tips.. 1. Control your laughing! Or 2. Calmly explain to the gunman that you are a nervous laugher. Pretty laughable these kinds of training."

"New Year’s Eve 2019 in Sabrina’s house started out spectacular. Stuffed mushrooms, and a pile of profiteroles with fireworks on top on the table. Then all of a sudden her boyfriend got ill. So, a week later Sabrina organized an even bigger New Year’s Eve party with oliebollen as big as soccer balls. Happy new new year!"

"Traveling on a tight budget, or maneuver a 3 seater through a narrow stairwell? Micah is your guy! He doesn’t get lost in impracticalities. Hard to believe that this mellow fellow once played guitar in an extreme metalband! That’s the kind of music they play in Hell’s waiting room. Rock on Micah!"