Hello to everybody reading this weblog.Since 57 years, my name is Willem Barent Wijsmuller, a name given by my parents based on the historical Dutch Explorer - Seafarer "Willem Barentszn", who spend a full Nordic Winter on the small Island of Nova Zembla in a cottage they constructed from the wooden remains of their crippled Schooner. Regretfully Willem Barentszn passed away on their return to The Netherlands after a real Nordic Winter of 5 months. I am one of the 4 childern, all boys, born in our family my brothers as well are named after wellknown Dutch Admirals and Sailors.
After spending my happy youth in Baarn, regretfully my father passed away when I was hardly 7 years old. I joined the Military Service, which at that time was still obligatory in The Netherlands. Afterwards I studied at the Poly Technical University, Mechanical Engineering with a finallisation on Business Administration.
In the meantime I got married with Inger, my Highschool Love, with whom I am still married happily. We have 3 childern in the range of 30 Y, 27 Y and 25 Y of age (B, G, G). During my study, Inger and myself, spent half a year working in the Dominican Republic, where we were infected with the enjoyment of living abroad, which we continued after graduation.
We spend about 8 years abroad in various countries:
- Dominican Republic
- Indonesia
- Dubai
After our time abroad we returned to The Netherlands in 1985 and are now living again in the little town where I spent all of my youth. Living next to the woods enabling us to walk our dogs, 3 English Setters, easilly.
My main activities were in the Shipping Industry, working for the Royal Nedlloyd Group. Abroad I always was second or first in command. After getting back to The Netherlands, Amsterdam, I left the Nedlloyd, as I was not used working in a company of 25.000 people, where I could not get things done within a reasonable stretch of time. In 1986 I stepped over to the IT industry where I had fun, it was good to see how a fast moving indusry was getting on. After a small Dutch firm (2 years) I joined Tandem Computers (presently owned/intergrated by HP) a real US Company with all the things Dutch people don't do. It was a great time !!
But as life goes, the Maritime Industry was still in my vanes. So after 6 years in the IT it was time for me to get back into the Maritime activities, started my own company with which I am still keeping myself busy. Nowadays with a Business Partner who is keeping controle of all Operational matters. He is allowing me to be in Brazil, with the GSE Team, for a month.
Hobby's:
First of all I like to enjoy life to the utmost, having fun is where life is all about. Whether it is fun in your freetime of fun in your Job. In my scarce free time I like, next to spending time with my wife, kids and friends (when they are around): doing Sports like:- Sailing Flying Dutchman for the competition and Ocean Going Yachts for leisure. Caribbean !, Greece !
- Running, nowadays 10K, I however did the Half-Marathon of Anchorage
- Biking
- Pilates
- Golf
- Swimming
- Field Hockey
- Horse riding
- Etc.
Next to that I like Piloting, which I had to stop a few years back but planning to get it going again when I can find the time. I keep myself rather busy as you can see, but still enjoying everything I do!
So aswell being the team Leader of the Dutch GSE Team 1570 - 4670. The Team members are all very bright youngsters, with whom I will have a great time in the region of Rio Grande Do Sul.
Regards,
Willem Barent
Willem Barent
