Born 1971 in Nijmegen (NL). Undergraduate studies at the University of Amsterdam where he completed his MSc degree in Physical Chemistry with highest honours (1993). Doctorate at the University of Eindhoven and at the FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF) in Amsterdam in 1996 followed by postdoctoral positions with G. Ertl and M. Wolf at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin (1997-1999) as well as with T. F. Heinz at the Columbia University New York (1998-2001). Assistant professor (1999-2002) and then associate professor at Leiden University from 2003 to 2009. Besides, group leader for spectroscopy on surfaces at AMOLF since 2004. Extraordinary professor at the University of Amsterdam since 2005. Director and scientific member at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (since 2011).