Many of our clients receive daily weather forecasts from us to plan their offshore operations on.
However, most of you have never seen our weather forecasters in person. This blog elaborates on
the weather forecaster behind the forecast, to give you a feeling of who guides you to the decision
point with accurate weather forecasts.
My name is Alice, and I started working as a forecaster for the Dutch national weather service KNMI in 1995. Currently, I am a part of an enthusiastic team at Infoplaza, where we are responsible for forecasts for offshore and near-shore locations all around the world. When I'm at home, I prefer to spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy walking and cycling in the beautiful area where I live, as well as playing badminton at the club. During my free time, I like to go on vacation, skiing in the winter, and camping in the summer. Among the places in Europe, Corsica holds a special place in my heart as my favorite destination.
I am Bram van Kester, 54 years old and as a Maritime Meteorologist I am responsible for providing weather forecasts for all our clients around the world. My passion for the weather started when I was young, wanting to ice skate whenever I could. I live 5 km away from the North Sea. After a day's work, I like to go bicycling, ice skating or running.
Hi, I’m Rob Koenders, 44 years old and one of the maritime meteorologists at Infoplaza, but during the winter months I’m working as an Ice Analyst for a project in Kazakhstan. My interest in the weather probably started as a little boy watching snowflakes turning the world into a beautiful and magical place...or was it my grandfather’s weather calendar showing the most beautiful photos of weather phenomena? My big passion is being out in the snow during one of my ski trips in the Alps. Besides that, I’m pretty active outdoors with road- and mountain biking, hiking and playing tennis and squash. I also love to visit concerts, discover other countries and support my hometown football club PSV Eindhoven!
Hello! My name is Marsel Blok, 34 years old, born and raised in the beautiful city of Rotterdam. As an all-round meteorologist, currently mainly focused on the Maritime sector, I've been responsible for providing highly detailed forecasts to a wide variety of clients for many years. My passion for meteorology started when I was about 10 years old, during a severe thunderstorm. Even till this day the love for the old rumble of thunder has never left my side. I occasionally even do some local storm chasing in case of severe weather. When I am finished working I like to go out on skates, go for
a run, or go fishing in one of the many beautiful rivers and lakes here in the Netherlands.
Hi all! My name is Daan Koop and I am 32 years old. I currently live in the city Apeldoorn with my boyfriend and my dog Frenkie. I've been working as a maritime meteorologist for about 5 years, from which the last 1,5 years at Infoplaza. Before that, I've also gained some experience at the Dutch national weather service KNMI and the Finnish national weather service FMI. I live near the largest national park in The Netherlands, the Veluwe. In my spare time, I like to go into the forests with my dog. I also like to cook, play board games with friends and family, travel, and visit theme parks.
I am Arjan Willemse, 26 years young and as a Maritime Meteorologist responsible for providing precise and accurate weather forecasts for all our clients around the world. My passion for the weather started already when I was a little kid, staring at snowflakes and thunderstorms from behind the window. I have the honor to live literally 50 meters away from the beach, so when I'm working from home I can simply walk into the sea to verify if the forecast is correct. When I am finished
working, I really like to go to the gym, do some running or surfing or play some golf on the local golf
course.
Hello! I'm Sofia Rudenko, 25 years old. I was born and raised in a small Siberian town with cold winters and warm summers. Thanks to my lifelong passion for geography and nature, I pursued studies in Hydrometeorology at the Hydrometeorological University of Saint-Petersburg. In October 2021, I relocated to the Netherlands, and since then, my life has changed significantly. I really enjoy living here and since I've got a chance to be a Maritime Meteorologist at Infoplaza, I enjoy it even more! Currently residing near Utrecht, I find pleasure in activities such as hiking and camping. In my free time, I engage in sports and meeting with my friends.
Hi there! I'm Mark van der Putte, 47 years old and currently working as a Meteorologist, ice analyst and product owner Business for Infoplaza. I have a wide range of interests, both professionally and personally. Professionally that means that I am involved in multiple aspects of our company, from maritime weather in the tropics, to analyzing sea ice in the Caspian Sea, to determining the most valuable product developments for our clients. But they all revolve around the most interesting thing: the weather! My personal hobbies include trips to the mountains, skiing, mountain biking and unearthing the past with my metal detector. And yes, you are correct: all these hobbies are weather dependent!