My climate ambassador role

In may 2023 I enthusiastically became a member of IVN department of Hoogeveen, The Netherlands. A well-respected Dutch organisation committed to nature education and sustainability, with various departments throughout the country. In may 2024, I joined the board of the department of Hoogeveen and just six months later, I embraced the incredible honor of becoming the Climate Ambassador of Hoogeveen. This role is as diverse as it is inspiring, driven by a deep passion for our planet and its future. From organizing vibrant nature events and lively plant swap markets to leading engaging guided toursand nature walks for all ages, I dedicate myself to fostering a genuine connection between people and the natural world. Beyond that, I support and guide individuals with their questions on climate action and sustainable living, empowering our community to embrace change and create a greener, healthier future together.

The Hedgehog Program: From a single pet to a global platform

It all started in 2011, when I adopted my first African pygmy hedgehog Bella. A small rescue I found on a Dutch marketplace website. At the time, reliable information about keeping these animals as pets was nearly impossible to find in Dutch. So I turned to English, German and eventually even Spanish sources to piece together what I needed to know.

As I learned more, I realized I wasn’t the only one struggling. To help others in the same situation, I launched a small online forum: Witbuikegel Forum. It took off almost overnight. Within just a few months, over 200 Dutch hedgehog owners had joined, sharing knowledge, experiences en questions. The community grew rapidly and so did the damend for clear, accessible information.

In 2014, I welcomed my first litterof baby hedgehogs, including one unforgettable little male named Archie. That was the beginning of my time as a breeder. A chapter that ran parallel to the ever-expanding need for structure and transparency in the hedgehog worild. I began developing a pedigree program and launched a comprehensive care website: De Witbuikegel Wiki. A website with reliable, science-based information on hedgehog health and welfare.

Over the years, the formula proved successful. My breeding efforts gained recognition and so did the website. Soon, I was receiving messages from hedgehog enthusiasts across Europe and even further afield. All looking for trustworthy, multilingual resources. From that international interest, The Hedgehog Program was born.

On October 14, 2019, exactly five years after the death of my brother, I oficcially registered The Hedgehog Program as a business. What began as a personal project had become something far greater: a mission.

When the Dutch government introduced the Positieflijst, banning hedgehogs as pets, I made the difficult decision to stop breeding. But for The Hedgehog Program, that was not the end. It was a new beginning.

Today, The Hedgehog Program is a thriving international platform for education and research on hedgehogs, tenrecs and gymnures. With integrated translation technology, our content is nowavailable in nearly every language across the globe. Connecting people, sharing knowledge and advancing the welfare of these extraordinary animals, one story at a time.