Koen

About Koen
My name is Koen, I am 22 years old and born and raised in Amstelveen. In 2023, I completed the Sport and Exercise course, after which I started studying Physiotherapy at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. I am currently in my third year. I describe myself as a driven and inquisitive person with strong perseverance and a great passion for working with people within the sports, exercise and health sector. In everything I do, I strive to keep developing myself, reflect critically on my own actions and get the best out of myself and others.

My background as a top fencing athlete has had a major impact on my personal and professional development. For instance, I was part of the Dutch Team and experienced my absolute peak with my participation in the European Under 23 Championships in 2024. Shortly afterwards, I decided to end my top sports career and continue my experience in the role of trainer coach. I currently enjoy training twice a week at an annex of the club where I grew up. Here, I coach athletes from recreational to international competition level and transfer my knowledge, experience and passion to the next generation.

Coaching athletes, both individually and in teams, gives me a lot of energy and fits perfectly with my interest in sports physiotherapy. The discipline, mental resilience and performance-oriented work I developed in top-level sport is something I take with me daily within my training and work in physiotherapy.

Since the 2025 to 2026 season, I have been a trainee at AFC Ajax two days a week. Here, I am active with the Saturday Amateurs and on a substitute basis with the junior section of the youth academy O8 to O12. Within this top-level sports environment, I gain valuable experience in injury prevention, guiding rehabilitation processes and optimising sports performance in both youth and adult players. In addition to the regular education at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, I am taking additional training at AFC Ajax. Last academic year, I completed Module 1 Physiotherapy Deepening in Top Sports and I am currently following Module 2 Physiotherapy Integration in Top Sports.

My goal as a beginning physiotherapist is to help people recover, reduce complaints and prevent injuries. In doing so, I find it important to look not only at the physical aspect, but also at the person behind the complaint. With my sports background, experience in top-level sport and education within sport, exercise and physiotherapy, I am motivated to further develop into a physiotherapist who not only treats, but also guides, coaches and looks ahead.

Expertise
Physiotherapy, Hogeschool van Amsterdam
International Minor of Sports Physical Therapy, Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Sport and Exercise, ROC van Amsterdam, level 2, 3 and 4

Training and academic development
NL Active Fitness Trainer, Sports massage and Movement pedagogy
Fitness and group exercise instructor and sports masseur at BuentingSport, 2021 to 2024
Trainer coach Fencing, 2024 to present

Experience
Physiotherapist at AFC Ajax, 2025 to present
Physiotherapist at Physiotherapy Movement, 2024 to 2025