Read more about Martijn below the video
Shoutout to @ContrastMedia_be for some of the footage in this video 🙌
“We're sitting in a Volkswagen California camper van, perhaps the most iconic camper van of all time. That's actually how it all started.”
Martijn often went camping himself, initially in a van he had converted himself. Inspired by his love of camping, he and a few friends took the plunge: four years ago, they launched Natural Nomads. Their hope was to share with others what they themselves enjoy so much about camping in a van.
The vans are bright yellow. That's no coincidence: they radiate cheerfulness.
The vans are bright yellow. That's no coincidence: they radiate cheerfulness. For Martijn, traveling is about setting off on a spontaneous journey, keeping an open mind, and meeting new people. You encounter all kinds of things along the way: a chat here, someone from a completely different world there... The vans bring that feeling of freedom and openness to the road.
And they often bring back wonderful stories. "A former student of mine proposed to his girlfriend during a trip in one of our vans. When we saw them again eleven months later, there was a little bundle of joy with them ;-). That's the kind of thing that makes this work so enjoyable."
Win a long weekend with a van
Want to enjoy the Indian summer yourself?
Win a free long weekend away with a camper van from Natural Nomads.
Order by 30/09/25 at Ray & Jules and you could win a road trip with a maximum value of €480 (= 4 days of traveling in the low season).
For Martijn, coffee is an essential part of his morning ritual, both at home, where he enjoys drinking Powerful Peter from Ray & Jules, and when traveling.
"What I love about camping in a van is waking up in a place where no one else is, where you've never been before. Taking in the horizon, enjoying the view, but also just drinking a good cup of coffee. Waking up peacefully.
I always drink from the same mug, which already has a few battle scars. When I pick it up in the morning (much too hot, but hey...), I feel like I'm on vacation."
Martijn is very happy to have met Ray & Jules. Ray & Jules fits in with the feeling he wants to convey. That's why all “nomads” receive a bag of coffee. To get that sunshine into their system first thing in the morning.
“You don't just get coffee, but also a French press and filters so you can make your own coffee on the go. Without it, your sunny day can't really begin!”
This is why Martijn is a sunny person
“For me, being a Sunny Person means conveying that feeling of openness and carefree travel. Letting people take in a horizon they've never seen before. Letting them experience a little bit of that camping fun: a van, a chat along the way, a cup of coffee in the morning.”
Are you also a Sunny person?
Are you a fan of our coffee? Are you positive, hopeful and would you like to make a (small) difference? Then you are also a Sunny Person! Come join us, tell us why you are a fan and help us get our message out into the world!
