Kjeld is a youth leader and community builder from the Netherlands. While he is currently graduating from the BSc Biology at Utrecht University by studying deep sea mining, he will start the MSc Marine Biology and Marine Governance at Wageningen University and Research this fall. Summerlong snorkeling trips with his dad sparked Kjeld’s interest in the Big Blue. After his grandfather passed away at the same Southern French coast, he realized that it would be his lifelong goal to protect this mesmerizing ecosystem.

As there was no Dutch ocean youth movement in the Netherlands yet, Kjeld decided to establish an inclusive and progressive community by himself. He is founder of the Dutch node of the Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme and part of its European Steering Committee. Besides that, he works at the Sustainable Ocean Community, the national network for ocean professionals based in or from the Netherlands. In the past, he has gained experience at organisations like WWF, Surfrider’s Eurocean’s Youth and the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council.

Kjeld aims to combine his background in the natural sciences and youth mobilization to influence Dutch, European and international politics for the better. Building on his broad network of Dutch ministries, academic institutions and NGO’s, Kjeld cannot wait to bring some Dutch pragmatism to Brussels! "As long as the ocean makes waves, I’ll make mine!"