Since the beginning of his career, Hans has combined technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship in the world of visitor attractions. With a background in mechanical engineering and an MBA specializing in marketing, product management, and business development, he focuses on projects where entertainment and information transfer come together to create high-quality infotainment, with storytelling as the guiding principle.
After ten years of entrepreneurship in the amusement park and attractions sector, during which he realized projects worldwide for Legoland, Paramount Parks, Universal, Efteling, and Plopsaland, among others, Hans sold his company in 2000. His ambition shifted from developing for others to leading and further developing a visitor attraction in which knowledge transfer is central. In 2004, driven by this vision and his passion for science and technology, he took up the position of general director at the Industrion industrial museum.
Under his leadership, Industrion grew into the leading Discovery Museum, attracting 30,000 to 170,000 visitors from home and abroad each year. One of his best-known achievements is the Earth Theater, which he designed and patented and which has been a favorite with the public for ten years now.
During his museum career, Hans advised in the Netherlands and abroad on the development and further development of attractions, such as the Ostrava Science Center (CZ), a new museum about natural gas extraction in Groningen (NL), and an aquarium project in St. Malo (F). His broad knowledge of the sector has been strengthened by his role as chairman of the European Association of Science Centers and Museums and as a member of the international think tank York Forum. Hans is a sought-after speaker at conferences such as Ecsite, ASTC, IAAPA, the VsC, and the NMV, and regularly contributes to publications and media interviews.
Now that Hans is retiring soon, he has joined TDAC as a consultant.