What is Amsterdam to you?
For me, Amsterdam is a home, a playground, a place where it is easy to develop and explore new interests. For me as a child, that was very nice: if something new seemed fun to me then again, there was always someone to do it. There are many people here and therefore a great diversity. That makes it easier to find like-minded people. Especially when I went into art three years ago. Then I discovered a whole new world full of artists, incubators and art institutions. Amsterdam is also a destination that people come to for this reason.

I do think people should play more in the city, public space feels rigid. If you look at a concept like terraces for example; it claims public space, you are served, it feels very aristocratic. Just sitting on a bench and having a drink, playing soccer or any other activity in public space that is not related to a business, you can't do that then. Playing is in our human nature and the city should be more of a place for it. I see few children or elderly people playing on benches. Why do we put them away? Playing children are soon a nuisance, fully accessible to the elderly is seen as too expensive and unnecessary. The city becomes segregated as a result.

What does open mean to you?
I am always concerned with public space. This often brings me to the question of to what extent it is literally open and accessible. Openness among people is also crucial, of course, the ability to be completely open to the other person's perspective. We are little confronted with other opinions, views and ideologies, or forced to take them seriously. We are not often 'for' something, but quickly 'against' it. Sometimes even 'against' someone being able to be themselves in peace unfortunately.

Something else I find very interesting is the openness of language. People are very narrow-minded about adapting their language, when in fact it is an enrichment: adapting the language for the other, respecting dialects and accents, mixing words from other languages or street slang. In Europe this plays out anyway I think; old is good, new is bad. We are very nostalgic, which prevents us from moving forward and getting stuck.

Why is it important to keep connecting and which person/collective/organization (and why) is connecting for you?
Humans are social creatures by nature. The city in its anonymity is a great source of loneliness, more people are very lonely there than anywhere else. It is important to actively seek that human connection in the city. For example, when you wear headphones, you quickly miss such a nice little human interaction in public spaces. Even research has shown that a lot of serotonin is released during such a positive encounter on the street or in the supermarket. So that's what makes people equally happy. By constantly immersing yourself in technology, you already rule that out. Elderly people have a lot of trouble with that. It's like a fence that people put up around themselves.

What stories are most valuable to you?
I think the stories that exude a certain power, that are necessary to be told. I myself am a big fan of Anne Frank's diary. I think it's a misunderstood book these days. She is actually not even considered a writer anymore, more like a figure from the time of the Holocaust. It's one of the most beautiful stories in the Dutch language and I think it's weird that it's not seen that way. This is unfortunately also because she was a young girl. As a result, her work is not always taken seriously. Her story is brought as if it could have been anyone from that time, but it is not at all. There is a reason why her story is so great; because it is really very good. In the 1950s, all the literature reviewers also said it was wonderfully well written. Anne Frank, in another scenario, would have become one of the greatest Dutch writers ever. I really like the necessity of a story, working in crisis, the most. It also inspires you to find in yourself that strength.

How do you stay relevant in this day and age?
That is purely in yourself; fully accepting that you, your story, your voice, your creations and your narrative have value. Then you will always remain relevant. The only one who determines whether you are truly relevant is yourself. If you truly believe that, it doesn't matter whether you are drawing for yourself or doing so for a million people.