I’m a Principal Learner Architect at Nerdio, where I design and produce technical training content for Nerdio University and beyond. With more than 26 years in IT and 60+ certifications under my belt, I’ve spent my career at the intersection of end user computing, cloud workspaces, and the people who run them.
Within L&D I’m responsible for the backbone of how we create and deliver content, where I’m building AI-powered systems and tooling that push our content creation, review, and delivery pipeline forward.
I try to lead by example: trying new things, experimenting with new formats and concepts, and bringing my colleagues along on the journey. Staying creative, staying curious, and finding smarter ways to help learners grow is what drives me every day. It is a personal goal to make the training and learning business “sexy” again.
I’m a Microsoft MVP Alumni and the author of four books. I’ve also written and edited over 500 blog posts and cheat sheets across my own site basvankaam.com and platforms such as Intense School, TechTarget, Dutch IT Channel, Computable, and Nerdio.
Community building has been a constant thread throughout my career: I initiated and founded the Nerdio NVP and the Nerdio Tech Insider program (and various others), introduced the global WVD User Group concept, sat on the board of the global AVD Community, and founded the Dutch AVD User Group.
I have spoken regularly at local and international events on AVD, Windows 365, Intune, and the broader Microsoft cloud workspace.
I live in the Netherlands and am a proud father of Julia, Sophie, and Mex. I’m a lifelong sports enthusiast: a regular runner, a three time finisher of the notorious Burpee Mile, and a former semi professional snooker player with multiple Dutch Team Championship titles, a top ten national ranking, and a personal best break of 137. On the bike I’ve climbed Alpe d’Huez more than forty times, including a sub hour timed effort and three Alpe d’HuZes editions.
I’m happiest when I’m learning something new, helping someone else level up, or heading out the door for a run.
Community involvement, recognition, awards, plus various:
- Author and initiator of the website: www.eucnewsnuggets.com
- Author of the book: Clou Mastery: A Practical Guide to Cloud Strategy, Leadership & Execution
- Author of the book: Van de Basis tot aan Meester in de Cloud
- Written and redacted over 500 blog posts
- Platforms include: basvankaam.com, TechTarget (brianmadden.com), MyCUGC, Intense School, Salomon, Liquidware, Detron, Computable, Come Get IT, Nerdio
- Including 10 highly valued cheat sheets/e-books – go here
- Author of the book: Inside Citrix – The FlexCast Management Architecture
- Initiator and Co-author of the book: Byte-Sized – Cloud design principles and architectural recommendations.
- Frequent Podcast guest
- Founder of the Byte-Sized community platform (book)
- Founder and board member of the EUCdigest community platform
- Initiator of the WVD User Group concept globally
- Board member of the global AVD Community
- Founder and Board member of the Dutch AVD User Group
- Contributor to the WhatMatrix (App Layering / DaaS)
- Featured author on DABCC (Community Professional)
- Microsoft MVP – Enterprise Mobility (MVP)
- Citrix Technology Professional (CTP)
- IGEL Tech Community Insider (ITCI)
- Citrix Subject Matter Expert (SME)
- Nutanix Technology Champion (NTC)
- Atlantis Community Experts (ACE)
- Nerdio Tech Insider (NTI)
- Program founder
- Nerdio Valued Professional (NVP)
- Program Founder
- Liquidware Tech Insider NL (LTI)
- Program founder
- Citrix Technology Advocate (CTA)
- Founding and 2016 pilot member
- Dutch Citrix User Group Participant (DuCUG)
- Presented multiple times
- Citrix User Group Community Participant (CUGC)
- Winner CUGC award – Top forum poster throughout 2016
- A former member of the MyCUGC content working group
- June 2015 – member of the month
- Published multiple blog posts
- Inside Track for EUC/VDI VIP’s
- Presented dozens of sessions on national as well as international events like Citrix Synergy, multiple CUG’s, E2EVC, VCNRW, Virtual Expo, and more.
Sports nut and personal bests…
As mentioned previously, I’m sort of a sports nut, or used to be anyway. These days I considerably go out less than let’s say 5+ years ago when I used to ride my road bike around 10 hours a week next to various runs and swimming sessions. Due to medication, which I have to take (I have Crohn), unfortunately, my condition (Vo2max and such) has decreased considerably throughout the last year and a half. Anyway, I still enjoy going out and give it my best from time to time. Below are some of my past achievements….
- I’ve climbed the Alpe D’Huez approximately 40 times. I completed an organized time trial up the Alp within the hour – 59 minutes and change.
- I participated in Alpe d’HuZes three times. All editions I climbed the Alp three times in a row, each climb taking around 1:10 to 1:15.
- My longest non-stop solo ride was 205 KM with almost 2 KM’s of elevation, at an average pace of 27,8 km per hour.
- In my most active year, I spend almost 13000 km in the saddle and ran about 1000 km.
- I completed the famous Burpee-Mile (death by Burpees – broad jump) three times. Fastest in 1:48.
Below are some of my personal running PB’s taken from Strava. No world class times but not bad either for someone with my genes and physical abilities.
Snooker and Pool results
Snooker:
- Highest break: 137
- Highest break in tournament: 123
- Number of century breaks: 68
- Highest line-up: 147 (X2)
- House tournaments won: 60+ (various location throughout NL)
- Summer Cup Snooker league (over a course of three months) 1st
- Various tournaments (C/B/A Ranking, X-mas, Easter, Open IJmuiden, Invitation etc.) 10+
- Dozens of semi and quarter finals, highest break prizes etc.
- Dutch Team Competition Second Division: 1st
- Dutch Team Competition First Division: 1st (X2)
- Dutch Team Competition Super league: 1st (X3)
- Team Competition Second Division Dutch Championships : 1st
- Team Competition First Division Dutch Championships : 1st
- Team Competition Super league Dutch Championships : 1st (X3)
- The Hague Open: 3rd
- Dutch Championships A ranking: 2nd
- Dutch Championships Juniors: 5th (X2)
- Dutch Championships Scotch Doubles: 3rd
- Dutch Championships Scotch Doubles: 8th
- Dutch Championships Highest Break Winner: 115
- 2 century break during Dutch Championships
- Top 10 Dutch Snooker Ranking (X4)
Pool:
- B-Ranking Tournament: 1st (X2)
- Qualification Tournament for Dutch Open 9-Ball: 1st
- House tournaments won (various locations throughout NL) X15
- Dutch Team Competition First Division: 1st (won all my matches throughout the year).
- Dutch Team Competition Third Division: 1st (won all my matches throughout the year).
- Team Competition First Division Dutch Championships: 5th
