PHP Senior Architect
Zoetermeer, Netherlands
I'm a PHP developer and application architect. Since 2011 I've been designing and building software professionally — from the first line of code to a running, scalable application in production. My approach leans heavily on Domain-Driven Design and hexagonal architecture: modeling the real problem first, then keeping that model isolated from frameworks and infrastructure, so systems stay maintainable and scalable as they grow. I enforce those boundaries with tools like Deptrac, and back it up with a full testing pyramid.
Background
I got into programming, building a small website for my parents and tinkering on little learning projects as a hobbyist.
Started as an intern, grew into a senior developer and architect — along the way I also mentored other developers. Worked on internal products, including a fitness platform for FitForFree/Sportcity and a staffing marketplace, plus consulting embedded in other teams. One project I'm proud of: modernizing a legacy third-party API — covering it in functional tests first, then rewriting the internals safely, and running a new Symfony app alongside the old one so routes could migrate gradually instead of a big-bang rewrite. Started on Zend Framework, later adopted Symfony — though I prefer code that stays framework-agnostic, with hexagonal architecture keeping that boundary clean. I worked there with a great team until November 2025 — I look back on that time very fondly.
A unique change of pace: software that talks to hardware, building medication dispensers — something you can actually hold in your hands. It serves a meaningful purpose too: helping people take the right medication so they can live independently for longer.
I make good use of AI tools like Claude in my day-to-day work — it's great for moving faster and exploring ideas — but I like to stay firmly in the driver's seat: understanding, reviewing, and owning every decision that ends up in the codebase.
Side projects
Pathé schema generator
I used to have a Pathé Unlimited pass — unlimited films for a flat fee — and going to three or four in a day meant puzzling out which showtimes actually fit together. So I built a small web app for it: pick your films, get back the combinations that work. Written in Symfony, with the scheduling logic unit-tested and decoupled from the framework. I don't use the pass anymore, so it's no longer online, but it's a nice example of applying the same principles even to a throwaway side project.
Open source
When a library I needed didn't exist yet, I open-sourced bundles for TransIP's and bunq's APIs instead.
Community
I show up most years at DDD Europe and SymfonyCon.
Skills
Education
MBO ICT, levels 2 and 4 (ICT Administrator, level 4) — though even during my studies, programming was what I really enjoyed. Teachers would ask me to help review other students' programming work.
Get in touch
Let's connect on LinkedIn