June 2025

I finished my PhD in computer science more than three years ago. Now that I have a little bit of mental distance from my PhD time, I'm going through my research diary to see if there's stuff in there that can be useful for other people.

Apparently I'm incapable of writing short-form texts, so here is part 1. ;)

This blogpost applies (as all my PhD related writings) to a PhD in computer science in the Netherlands. It will be different for other research fields and other countries.

In The Netherlands, most PhD students get a contract as university employees for 4 years. After the first 12-18 months there is an evaluation moment. By then, you are expected to have either your first conference paper under your belt (co-written with your supervisor), or at least have a paper manuscript ready for publication.

This blogpost is a write-up of some internet research I did on Niels van Spaendonck after buying her etching "Ampullen". The original write-up is in Dutch, but if you're curious and can't understand Dutch, just use your browser-native translation functionality or throw this post in GoogleTranslate. Machine translation is pretty decent nowadays. :)

This is an English translation of my Dutch post Eerste kennismaking met een kunstveiling.

After reading Onschatbare waarde ("Priceless Value") (2004) by Bert Bakker and Johan Bosch van Rosenthal, I wanted to experience an art and antiques auction in real life. The nearest major auction house is Veilinghuis Derksen in Arnhem, so last May I marked the viewing days of their next auction in my calendar.

There is also an English translation of this post here: My first experience with an art auction.

Na het lezen van Onschatbare waarde (2004) van Bert Bakker en Johan Bosch van Rosenthal was ik wel benieuwd naar hoe zo'n veiling in het echt verloopt. Het dichtstbijzijnde grote veilinghuis is Veilinghuis Derksen in Arnhem, dus ik had in mei 2025 de kijkdagen van hun eerstvolgende veiling in mijn agenda gezet.