| I was born in 1970, January the 6th in De Weteringstraat in Amsterdam. When my sister was born, we moved to Amsterdam South/East. When i was 9 or 10 years old we moved to a new town called: Lelystad, the house was bigger and the city was more friendly to upgrowing kids. I guess from a very early age i felt i was different, i didn't like playing foodball or do boyish things, i liked to play with barbies, well not only barbies, but also with boyish toys as well. In Lelystad i finished highschool, but i failed two years, so i have to quit school. I started to work in factories, because of the way i looked i couldn't get any better job. At that time i was 18 or 19 years old, i knew i was attrackted to boys (although i did have some girlfriends), but i felt really alone, unattracktive and too skinny. I had lot's of good friends then, there wasn't much to do for the alternative/punk-creature i had become, so there were lot's of parties at friend's places and there i would meet very nice new people. I was experimenting with bounderies: music, make-up, hair, clothes, alcohol and smoking grass. That was a time, when i didn't care much about myself and i felt lost. Around 1981 i saw a videoclip from the band Culture Club and together with the lovely Boy George i was SOLD. I became a big, big fan and for the first time i didn't feel alone anymore. Then i really felt like i wasn't the only 'strange' or gay guy in the world. I can remember that i wanted to be like him and i started to create my own Culture Club look! Then a good friend of my parents had the idea that i would be good at working with people, mentally retarded people. So i applied for a job in a smal town nearby Utrecht. It was a job at a small institution for mentally retarded people. I got the job and that was a really big turning point for me, because i was no longer living with my parents anymore, i started a life of my own. My father was very helpful, i remember that he used to pick me up from work at the weekends to take me home (and it was a long road to ride back home) and then after the weekend he would drive me back. By that time i was experimenting with my sexuality in every possible way. From dressing up in weird outfits to having sex with strangers in really strange places. At the end of 1991 i wrote a contactadvert (it was not the first one) and a very nice boy replied. We first met in Utrecht, where we had dinner at Amon's place (my very best girlfriend stil) and went out to the PANN party and that is where we clicked! |
We began a relationship and it lasted for four years, where from the last three were filled with heartache and making bad choices. I knew after a year and a half that this relationship wasn't any good for me, but i just couldn't leave. I think we have tried everything to make it work, we even bought a lovely Dalmatian dog called: Flo, but the relationship ended. It was 1995 and i was glad that i found a place for my own, a really warm attic at a very old house nearby a city park called: Sonsbeek. I went out to party a lot in Arnhem and Utrecht, i even started my first DJ-job at the PANN Party in Utrecht. I met lot's of new and interesting people and some of them became boyfriends and others stayed close friends. In between relationships i went to meet strangers in dark places for sex, a journey to find myself and the prince on the white horse... the man of my dreams. Then one evening, after work, i went to the park again and promised myself to just walk around for a short time to see if someone was there for uncomplicated sex. I kept myself to that promise and when i saw no one attractive there i walked back home. I was just two steps out of the park when i noticed a silver/grey car with someone with dark eyes and hair in it... I walked around a bit, hoping the stranger in the car would see me and the stranger did. Just when i was about to give up, i heard to door of the car open up and getting closed again. My heart was in my throat and i walked into the park and the stranger followed me. It was cold en when our eyes met for the first time i was SOLD. I couldn't believe that such a beautiful guy would follow me... We talked shortly and we walked back to his car. I thought we would drive to his house, but he said: well, just tell me where to go! I was a little bit confused, but we ended up at my house. We talked and talked and i lighted a thousand candles, until it was in the middle of the night. I was so tired, i wanted to go to bed. At first he thought that he had to leave or sleep on the couch, but i made him very clear that i wanted him to spend the night with me, not on the couch, but in my bed. We had a wonderfull, exciting night and when it became morning and he had to leave, i just couldn't let him go without exchanging phonenumbers. We kissed and said goodbye.... I told myself that i shouldn't phone him until next week, but my heart was sold and i am an impulsive guy, so i called him the same evening and we met that same week... Now 6 years later we are living together and all is going well! He takes me as i am and we give eachother enough space to be ourselves and to do our own things. | For me a relationship or a friendship is about balance. We are there for eachother, but sometimes i am there more for the other and sometimes the other is there more for me, but it has to be in balance or else it won't work for me. I am still working with mentally handicapted people, in a kind of small hotel and i like it. I still have my dreams and i experienced myself that dreams can come true. Like that dream that came true in March 2005. With the help of Stuart (from the 100%BOY page) and because i was invited by Boy George himself to come to his booklaunchparty in London, the dream came true. After being a fan from Boy George for 23 years i finally got the chance to meet George and go on a photo with him. I went to London for a week and it all happened, i had a great time! Like i said, i have many dreams: i would love to DJ more often to get that thing going, i would love to get married ( i still have that empty spot on my ringfinger),and i would love to do something with my 'art' (clothes/writing/drawings) and i would love to be able to start my own party. Sometimes i really get frustrated, because i find it hard to find the right people or to find the energy to organize or to work hard for what i want to achieve. People like Boy George, Marilyn Manson, Pete Burns and Leigh Bowery inspire me in my creativity, they really do! People like my parents, my sister, my best friends and my boyfriend inspire me to live my life. When i was 18 years old i had so many friends. I am 36 years old now and i have lost many friends for many reasons, but i am still surrounded by very important people, people who i can count on. They are the most important people in my life. At the moment i am busy with this webpage, moderating the 100%BOY forum, enjoying my relationship, enjoying being an uncle for the first time, being there for my parents, i am enjoying frienships (finding new friends, rebuilding old friendships and taking care of current friendships). I think about taking a break from the theatresport. I have been doing this for almost four years now and although i enjoy the imporvisation, i also believe that leaving something 'old' behind, creates space for something new to do. I am looking forward to go to London again and that will happen in June, when Boy George is going to give two concerts.. |
I wanted to try to thank some people for making my life more fun and interesting: *First of all my parents for raising me up and thanx for being there for me, my sister for being my sister and thanx to her and her husband for making me an uncle for the first time (hello Steve)! Thanx to my ex-boyfriends for helping me finding out what i really want in a relationship! Thank u to Wilfried, my boyfriend, the love of my life, for seeing me, for believing in me and for giving me enough space to be myself and for letting me do my thang! I love you , i love you, i love you xxx *Old friends: believe it or not, but i never forgot about all of you (esp. Erik, Ruben, Marjolein, Wendy, Maruska etc). *Close friends: Amon, my best girlfriend FOR LIFE!!! Thanx for being the spiritual, lovely person you are... Frank, my best friend. Thank u for being the crazy, caring person and great cook that you are, i hope we will end our lives living next to eachother in a home for old 'QUEENS' with some gorgious male nurses to look after us... That would be so much fun! Hans for coming back into my life, i wish you well and i will support you in the path you have chosen. Anja, for being the first girlfriend i kissed and for letting me stay at your house despite of the little contact we have, our friendship will always stay good. Peter-Das for being the arty, creative person that he is, it's a shame that we don't live in the same city, i think we could do great business together and a big thank u for you and your boyfriend for letting me stay in your lovely house in Rotterdam when we went out to party at the Ponyclub. Thanx to Rudy and Frank for their friendship anf for inviting me and my boyfriend to their wedding, it was so beautifull! Thanx to my new friend Clara, for making me smile and i am ready for our give-the-old-oak-a-hug to give my energy back to the earth-date. Thanx to Stuart and Kristine and all the Boy George gang for being crazy and for making my stay in London a one that i will never forget! *Thanx to: ZSWEET, PANN, COC and the PONYCLUB for letting me DJ! (PONYCLUB, DON'T FORGET ME!) *And finally a big thank u to George O' Dowd for the lyrics, the looks, the voice, the music, the musical TABOO and also for seeing me and responding to my gaydar-messages! Thanx for being there! Remember life is all about balance, i wish you well and all the best in the world, you deserve it...xxx 20-05-2006 xxx sven.strange LOVE.... |