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My world has revolved around stories from an early age. Stories in all shapes and sizes.
I could barely put a few sentences together before I was already the publisher and writer of a newspaper with the latest neighborhood news. 'Cat stuck in a tree', that kind of work. As a young adult, I later told my stories as an actor and presenter on stage and in front of the camera.
It was only logical that I continued telling stories in my adult life. After my journalism training, I have captured and put on paper stories for hundreds of companies, media and government organizations over the past fifteen years.
But as I told these stories, a frustration also grew within me. Many good and beautiful stories are not seen or read. Nowadays, algorithms and search engines often determine what we see and read. The best stories no longer emerge automatically. And that is a shame.
That's why I started delving into these algorithms and search engines to discover what determines which content performs best, and why. It provided valuable insights. Now I could, in addition to telling stories, as a freelance seo specialist also ensure that they are found via Google, YouTube and social media.
And then there is my personal story. I added a special chapter to this in 2020 as a result of a love story. In Amsterdam I met a Swedish woman, decided to pick up my laptop, move to the far north and open my laptop again there.
I now work from Stockholm as a freelance content specialist for companies and government organizations from all over the world. And as a freelance journalist I bring news stories, feature articles and columns from the far north to the Netherlands. I also do this for my own blog and website nordicdutchman.nl.
My love for stories does not end at the end of a working day. Free time is also filled with stories from books, series, films and documentaries. At the bottom of this page you will find some of my favorites.
My own story would be complete if I could ever publish another novel or thriller. That's why I continue to work on that in my spare hours.
Now you have an idea of who I am and what I do. I would of course be happy to tell you much more and would also like to hear who you are and how I can help you.
So please leave a message and tell me your story.
– Bas van Brecht
Send me a message and tell me what you are looking for. I will then contact you quickly.
You can get to know someone well through his or her favorite stories. Just try it. To give you an insight into my preferences, here are my favorite stories of all time. As a bonus, I also give my tips from Scandinavia.
The count of Monte-Cristo is my favorite fiction book of all time. Alexander Dumas has written a timeless story about how the quest for revenge and justice consumes a life. A story about love, courage and justice.
My Scandinavian book tip is the books by the Swedish writer Fredrik Backman. He sketches the matters of the heart with feeling and an admirable simplicity.
Factfulness by the Swedish scientist Hans Rosling, everyone should read it. In this book, Rosling shows that we all have a completely distorted worldview. We all think the world is in a much worse position than what hard data shows. This book is an eye-opener and will make you look at the news and the world around you differently for the rest of your life.
Human kind - A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman is also a book that challenges our perception of the world. He makes a plea for the goodness of man. A message that in itself can bring out the best in people.
La Vita è Bella is the most beautiful movie I have seen in my life. This Oscar-winning film by director and leading actor Roberto Benigni tells the story of a father who is taken to a concentration camp with his son during World War II. He turns it into one big adventure for his son to help him escape the horrific truth. Benigni knows how to make you laugh while crying.
My Scandinavian tip is the film As It is in Heaven (Så som I Himlen) about a world-famous conductor who returns to his village to take early retirement. Here he inspires an amateur choir to great deeds and puts the village under high tension. A beautiful and intimate story that takes advantage of the space and nature of the Scandinavian landscape.
Lost by director J.J. Abrams is an unforgettable series. This series is now quite a few years old, but when it was released it was a worldwide mega hit. Rightly so. Abrams works according to the 'mystery box' principle. He describes this as a box full of secrets, one of which is revealed each time and then immediately sheds light on secrets that have remained hidden until then. Abrams is a master storyteller, although there are some who question his ability to complete a story.
The Bridge is a Scandinavian series you won't soon forget. In this Nordic Noir, the Danish and Swedish police work together to solve a complex murder case. This series continues the long tradition of the Scandinavian thriller. A genre that grew into a worldwide concept.