Name / age / age of your kid(s)

Joost Hultink, 43, together with Michelle, we have four wonderful kids: To-Josje (1), Anne-Kee (4), Willem (7) and Sjoerd (8). 

What was your wild ride? (A crazy or unforgettable parenting moment)

We love travelling and being out and about with our kids, which is how the idea for Wildride was born. Bringing Wildride to market was, of course, one of my biggest wild rides professionally. But life with four children is the greatest adventure of all. Every single day is a wild ride, from school runs to ferrying them between various sports clubs.

One moment that really stands out was last summer, when I took our two eldest sailing at sea in a small gamba. They had to take control of the boat themselves. As a water sports fanatic, that was a huge moment for me, especially seeing in their eyes that they genuinely loved it too.

What’s in your bag?

My bag looks quite different from most of my colleagues’, but it usually contains:

• Running gear 

• My laptop, always

• Passport and other documents, which I seem to need constantly

• A beautiful Wildride bag filled with an impressive collection of cables (still not sure why I need all of them)

• AirPods — I love music and podcasts

• Toys… not intentionally, but you know how it goes when kids “tidy up”

Tell us something about you: your hobbies, things you do with your kids, or a daily moment you enjoy

I’m a creature of routine. I run, play field hockey or do CrossFit regularly, love a good book or podcast, and most of all enjoy being outdoors with the kids. We live close to the beach, so summers are spent there as much as possible, surfing, supping, swimming, basically living beach life.

Every winter we take all the kids skiing. Besides their lessons, we take them along ourselves for a few days too. Seeing them grow into the same love for the outdoors that we have is incredibly special.

What was the craziest moment of the whole wild ride?

Definitely going viral with my first daughter. We hit 75.4 million views, sales went crazy, and it turns out my oldest son jumping into the frame at the very end is probably what pushed the video over the edge. Reading the comments was the funniest part, people kept asking if I was Mark Zuckerberg. We had a really good laugh about that.

What’s your go-to song for a fun walk or ride with your kid? (We might just add it to our playlist!)

My kids and I don’t always agree on music, but once winter starts we suddenly share a guilty pleasure: après-ski music (strictly one week a year). This year’s favourite is Wackelkontakt by Oimara, guaranteed to work on any playlist. Together with Tribute by Tenacious D, this sums up our mutual music favourites. 

If you had a day off just for yourself, how would you spend it? (A little daydreaming is allowed!)

Funny enough, I could go completely wild with plans here, but every time I travel for work and must leave everyone behind, I end up missing them terribly. It turns out I can only really enjoy time away from them in very small doses.

What’s one thing you always carry with you since becoming a parent? (Besides snacks… or is it snacks?)

I always make sure I carry baby wipes, water and a pacifier. Makes life much easier. 

What’s your favourite place to go on a mini adventure with your kid? (It can be close to home or a hidden gem!)

I love taking them to cities they don’t know yet. We live close to nature and the beach, so cities feel like proper adventures. Just last week we went to Amsterdam and Willem packed binoculars and wildlife-identification books, hoping to spot “urban nature”. Sadly, the highlights were pigeons.

What surprised you most about parenthood? (Something funny, touching, or totally unexpected.)

The certainty of unconditional love that lives within your club, your family. This is my club, my people. 

This is my club, my people. 

What’s your number one trick to get your child to fall asleep? (A bedtime ritual, a special song, or just a bit of magic?)

No tricks — just rituals. Every evening my wife and I read to the kids. It doesn’t have to be long; it’s about winding down. Sitting together, listening, looking at pictures, calming the day. Tuck them in, lights out. That’s all they really need.

What’s your child’s favourite toy or game right now?

Hitster! guilty pleasure edition.

Which kids’ book can you now recite by heart?

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. It’s lovely, and the rhythm is almost poetic, which makes it stick. The older kids are moving on to more adventurous stories — Peter Pan, for example — and I can’t wait to start Narnia, which I still remember from my own childhood.

What does your perfect weekend with your family look like?

We’re not the sit-at-home type, we usually head out to the beach, a museum or some other activity. But occasionally, the perfect weekend is staying in piling onto the sofa, making a proper borrel platter, and watching a film together.

What’s been your biggest “oops” moment as a parent so far?

Too many to count. But I can highly recommend a first aid for babies and children course.

What does your child do that melts your heart every time?

Every morning, our two youngest daughters climb into our bed and just snooze with us. No words needed.

What’s something you wish you could tell your past self as a brand-new parent?

Try to take a few more breaks with your children. They don’t have to be elaborate — a short trip to a nearby city, hiring a boat for the day, camping in a friend’s garden, or visiting the islands can be more than enough. The important thing is to step away from routine.

My parents worked every Saturday, which has made me particularly aware of the value of those two weekend days. I appreciate them deeply now — and I still manage, every so often, to enjoy a quiet beer with friends.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new parent, what would it be?

Enjoy every minute — it goes bloody fast. I have lost my mother at a young age; this has made me realise that becoming old with your kids is not a given. This is why we go out as much as possible. People think we are crazy. Every weekend we go out. We travel, but also small trips, museums, libraries, forest, beach or just a weekend at the sports club. We want to encourage our kids to discover what they like and love, art classes, field hockey, judo, swimming classes, we bring them everywhere they need to be. It’s a hassle, but it also is an opportunity to always be with them and do things together. You don’t need holidays on the other side of the world; the best memories are often just around the corner.

What’s the sweetest compliment you’ve ever gotten from your child?

Not exactly sweet, but it did make me smile. I’m quite sporty and like to think of myself as reasonably fit, until two of my kids recently said, “Dad, you’ve got a belly. You should do something about it.” Brutal honesty, but oddly heart-warming.

What’s the funniest (or weirdest) costume your kid has ever worn?

We have a huge treasure chest full of costumes that somehow keeps growing. Whenever friends come over, it’s immediately raided resulting in some truly questionable outfit combinations. It could be a builder’s suit with an Elsa (Frozen) braid, or knights armour with a scarf of my grandmother. 

Time flies. Enjoy the ride.

Reading these answers, you sense how much meaning lives in the ordinary. In the way days unfold, in shared habits, in moments that don’t try to be special.

Family life is built there. In showing up, in paying attention, and in finding joy where you are.