How a Piece of Cardboard Sent Me Around the World - Mark van der Heijden

Mark van der Heijden originates from the south of Holland, a quaint country known for tulips, cheese, clogs and coffee shops. For the past seven years, Mark has been submerged in the Amsterdam ad scene -- a place he has always felt at home.

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Mark van der Heijden

Mark originates from the south of Holland, a quaint country known for tulips, cheese, clogs and coffee shops. For the past seven years, Mark has been submerged in the Amsterdam ad scene – a place he has always felt at home. From his day job as a creative copywriter, to his night job as an advertising instructor at the JUNIOR* Academy, to his hobbies as board member of Dutch Young Creatives and co-founder of Creatives, Cocktails & Dreams, there is not a corner of the ad world Mark has left unexplored.

In order to break down the borders of his comfort zone, Mark began a project that would test not only his boundaries, but also the boundaries of convention in the field of communication. In January 2014, Mark waved goodbye to his job(s), tossed his home into a backpack, and hit the world as a wandering intern. In exchange for food and lodgings, Mark helps agencies, brands and charities by providing new perspectives and creative solutions for communication challenges big and small. He kicked off his work/life tour in Thailand, with Amnesty International and the McCann Worldgroup, and is currently continuing through Asia. Though his adventure has only just begun, media attention from Adweek and other international blogs has landed him with hundreds of offers from organizations spanning the globe.