I'm Steinbach from the Netherlands. My native language is Dutch, my English skills are only so-so. But hey, where else can I find so much information as on the English Wikipedia, Wiktionary, or Wikivoyage? So I hang around here anyway.

I never was much of a traveller, until at age 29 I took the courage to do what I had been dreaming about for ages: cycle to Steenbecque in Northern France, the place where my family hails from. Since then I have done a lot of cycling, usually (also) abroad. One great thing about cycling is that the boundary between travel and destination disappears. Travel becomes an integral part of the experience, and you can visit places along the way that wouldn't be worthwhile as destinations on their own but definitely deserve a stop when you pass by. And at 100 kilometres a day, you do get somewhere (unlike when you go hiking).

The second turning point came ten years after the trip to France. I decided to go to Iceland, cycling all the way from my home town to Northern Denmark, and then by boat to my land of choice. Again, this was something I had been dreaming about for ages. This was the moment I started to consult Wikivoyage more often. This holiday triggered an interest in the parts of Europe that I barely visited before: Northern Europe, Middle Europe beyond Germany, and Eastern Europe. I am positively thrilled by all of these countries, even though they might not get along with each other.

Also, I love learning languages. The desire to put my new language skills into practice only furthers my interest in travel.

If you don't include the portion of Iceland that lies on the American plate, I have never left Europe. I don't plan to do so either, because I abhor flying. Travel is great, but not at the expense of our planet.

• Belarus
• Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon (plus the parts of Syria I'd need to pass through)
• Russia (yes, I already went there, but only to Saint-Petersburg. I would love to see much more of it, if it weren't for... you know. Can a country be the greatest and the most rotten at the same time?)
• Turkey
• Ukraine

• Brazil A country I'll probably never go to (because I gave up flying) but I find very fascinating. I may be seen editing pages related to this country too, even if I can't write from personal experience.