Author: Jouke Gaastra
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Packing for Surtningssue: What I Bring on a Norwegian Mountain Hike
This week I’ve been planning our upcoming trip to Surtningssue, peak number two in our Seven Summits of Norway project. Getting into packing mode got me thinking about what I actually bring on a hike here in Norway, and it seemed like a good moment to write it down. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this.…
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More Personal Websites Worth Stealing Ideas From
I already shared six personal websites that make you want to build your own. But since then, I have come across many more good examples. So let’s look at some more. Pratul Venkatesh: pratulv.com This is a good place to start if you are wondering what a first personal website can look like. Pratul calls…
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About this page Msc. Risk Analysis Governance Track 2023 – 2025 at UIS
On this page I will share my essays, notes, and summaries on Risk Management during my studies in Stavanger from 2023 to 2025. Join the conversation and let me know your thoughts, if the material was helpful, what’s missing, or if you’d like to add your perspective. #Sharing Is Caring!
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RIS660 Research Methods in Risk, Safety, and Security Studies (Updated 2026)
I’m retaking this course, so I’m writing a new blog post for it. Maybe you have seen the ‘memory castle’ I built first. But it was actually more cumbersome to use than practical. So I decided to replace it with an Exam trainer using ClaudeAI on the backend. Good luck 🙂 RIS660 Exam Trainer Msc.…
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How to build an Authentic Personal Website
A month ago, I wrote about why everybody needs a personal website. Shortly after, I published a roundup of six personal websites that make you want to build your own. Both posts did well, so the natural follow-up is: how do you actually build one? What Is a Personal Website? A personal website is a…
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ALARP Check: How to Determine Whether a Safety Measure Should Be Implemented
ALARP is often used in HSE management. But how to actually implement it? This post covers what ALARP means, where it comes from, and how to work through it systematically. What Does ALARP Mean? ALARP stands for As Low As Reasonably Practicable. It is a principle used in safety management that states a risk-reducing measure…
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Review: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
What Is This Book About Never Split the Difference was written by Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator. The book draws on his experience negotiating in some of the highest-stakes situations imaginable, kidnappings, bank robberies, and international crises, to argue that the same techniques work everywhere: job negotiations, business deals, and even buying a…
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Seven Summits of Norway, Peak 1: Glittertind on Ski’s
Glittertind is the second-highest peak of Norway, and therefore part of our plan to climb the seven highest peaks of Norway. The initial plan was to organise the trip ourselves, heading up in late spring or summer. But then we came across a guided DNT ski touring (randonée) trip over Easter. It would mean an…
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Norwegian Skiing Terminology Explained
They say Norwegians are born on skis. And honestly, after living here for a few years, I believe it. Even Norwegians who say ”oh no, I don’t really ski” will outrun any foreigner who dares to consider themselves an intermediate cross-country skier. What Does “Going Skiing” Actually Mean? In the Netherlands (and much of Western…
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‘The Effective Executive’ by Peter Drucker: How Relevant Is It Today?
Initially, I did not expect too much from this book. Published in 1966, and filled with examples from companies and governments that no longer exist in the same form. I have read of newer books on productivity and effectiveness, and I assumed this one would feel dated. I was wrong. The Effective Executive turned out…
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Ferry Review Oslo – Kiel with Color Line
Last year, I took the Oslo-Kiel ferry for the first time. With my blog post on the ferry between the Netherlands and Norway being one of my more popular blog posts, it only makes sense to write about the only ferry that currently sails between the European mainland and Norway. I am a bit of…
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6 Personal Websites That Make You Want to Build Your Own
A month ago, I wrote about why everybody needs a personal website. In short, it’s a serendipity vehicle, a credibility tool, a learning accelerator, and a piece of digital real estate you own yourself. This post is the natural follow-up. Because the next question is: what should it look like? I like browsing other personal…
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The Trumf Bonus: A Way to Save on Norwegian Groceries
Groceries in Norway are expensive. So it is worthwhile to take a moment and look into the loyalty programs of different supermarkets. With Trumpf, you can save 1% on all you buy at the supermarkets owned by NorgesGruppen.
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Book Review: This is Strategy by Seth Godin
It was on the Tim Ferriss Show that I first heard about Seth Godin. I was interested right away because Seth has had one of the earliest blogs and has been posting consistently since the internet began. He is a great storyteller and marketing expert, so when I saw his audiobook on Spotify, it was a no-brainer…
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Building a Home Server: Taking Back Digital Autonomy
Everything I know about computers comes from YouTube tutorials, forums, and whatever LLMs tell me. What I lack in formal training, though, I make up for in curiosity. I’m intrigued by how technology works and how it shapes our society. I’ve written about our digital footprint, and the more I think about it, the more…
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Why Everybody Needs a Personal Website
Most content about personal websites and blogs focuses on which platform to use or how to optimise for SEO. That’s where the affiliate money is. But the more interesting question, and the one that gets asked a lot less, is why you should have a personal website in the first place. I’ve been running my…
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Climbing the 7 Highest Peaks on Norway in 2026: Costs, Planning and Preparations
For many, January is the month when summer holiday planning begins. The same applies to us. We started looking into when and how we can best climb the seven highest peaks of Norway in 2026, and what equipment we need to do so.
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Blogpost På Norsk; De Rare Nederlandere
I am currently enrolled in a B2 Norwegian course. And now I have to put what I’m learning into practice. So here it goes, a blogpost in Norwegian explaining some of the stranger Dutch habits, at least, from a Norwegian perspective that is.
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9 Things I Didn’t Regret Buying in 2025
With 2026 now upon us, it’s time to look back at the purchases that made a difference. Some are practical, others are a bit indulgent, but all of them passed the ultimate test: I’d buy them again. 1. MacBook Air – Coolblue (Netherlands) – €1729.- The most expensive thing I bought last year. But my…
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My Duolingo 2025 Rewind: Three Years, 16 Hours, and Some More Strange Sentences
My Duolingo streak just passed 1102 days. That’s three years of daily Norwegian practice without breaking the chain (with some help from streak freezes though). As with every app nowadays, Duolingo provided me with a 2025 review. The Numbers According to Duolingo, I’m now a “top 9% learner.” That surprised me. I do exactly one…