‘Action is better than words’

Henk (1954) is an impressive, decisive man who manages to get things done by his enthusiasm and talent for organisation. The tall guy from The Netherlands met Bunny on his trip around the world, and has shared his life with her ever since. Together they boarded the Fri, a peace ship that worked on social justice and environmental issues with local groups all over the world

With their friends Martini and Rien they later joined Greenpeace. Henk became 3rd engineer on the Rainbow Warrior and helped transform the ship into a sailing vessel in 1984. The first trip brings them to the Pacific and they sail faster than they ever did by motor. Henk is a crew member during the Nuclear Free Pacific Tour and helps evacuate the people of Rongelap.

After the tour ended unexpectedly by the attack on the Rainbow Warrior Henk stays in New Zealand. He plays an important role in the Greenpeace campaign to turn Antarctica into a world nature reserve. With the help of his friends he builds his own sailing boat that he charters out for scientific expeditions. His work involves a lot of Albatross, fish and penguin research in New Zealand’s sub Antarctic islands, which often means months at sea. “The only difference with my work for Greenpeace is that I don’t get arrested when I come back ashore”.

Whilst travelling up and down to the sub Antarctic islands and from his home in Awaawaroa he runs a sailing school. The house he and Bunny built there, mainly from sustainable and recyclable material, is beautifully set between green hills. In front of the house is a little lake, with a floating peace pigeon, the symbol of the Rainbow Warrior, as a memory of that part of their life. Henk and Bunny have a daughter Ruby, who recently became an activist for Greenpeace too.