Good day! My name is Rino, and I’m 29 years old. I currently live in a self-made tiny house on a big yard in the Netherlands—a space that reflects my love for creativity and independence. I’m passionate about exercising and learning new skills, which means my biggest hobby is... having a lot of hobbies! Whether it’s dancing, music, or technical challenges, I love diving into new things and sharing what I’ve learned with others.

Introducing myself is never easy, but here’s my best shot: I’m open-minded and curious, always eager to hear the stories and perspectives of others—especially about their way of life and thinking. I’d describe myself as child-like (because being an adult isn’t always fun!) but also focused and technical. I’m good at fixing things, spotting the logic in situations, and offering honest, direct feedback. Above all, I’m always open to new ideas, different worldviews, and ways to grow.

A bit of my journey: My salsa journey began 8 years ago as well I started picking up my mom’s guitar, and setting challenges for myself to improve my confidence and raise my self-esteem. That decision turned my mindset—and my world—upside down.

Now, I’m gearing up for my biggest adventure yet: moving to Madrid to immerse myself in Spanish culture, prove I can learn a new language rapidly, and dive into the city’s incredible dancing scene. I’ve always told myself I’m not great at languages, but now I’m determined to prove myself wrong and embrace this new chapter of my life.

For fun, I enjoy playing improv piano, jamming on the guitar, or even hosting mini music sessions with my portable speaker. I also love a good challenge to get the adrenaline pumping, exploring hidden gems, and making new friends along the way.

My life goal is to be as happy as I can at any given moment. I don’t expect happiness to be constant, but I hope the sum of my experiences over a lifetime will be overwhelmingly positive. I’ve met people who radiate happiness, and their energy is infectious. That’s the kind of person I strive to be!

If you’d like to know me better (digitally), feel free to follow me on Instagram for a glimpse into my life: IG: rienbertus

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The main reason I joined Couchsurfing is to improve my social skills and connect more deeply with people. I love the idea of building meaningful connections and sharing experiences with others.

Beyond that, Couchsurfing gives me the opportunity to see, hear, and feel more of the world—whether through the incredible stories of others or by exploring places myself. It’s about creating memories, learning from different perspectives, and making the most of every journey.

Interests

• guitar
• piano
• salsa

Music, Movies, and Books

I like all sorts of musics as long the musicality and rythm is on point! Besides listening to music almost all day long, the times I don't there is a big chance I'm trying to create music my own. Last year I picked up a (/my mom's ancient) guitar and since then I'm practising almost everyday. I also have a huge crush on John Mayer('s music).

Horror! That's my favorite genre, especially if you count gaming too! Besides the spooky scares I also like to watch action, drama, animation and so on. Wall-E I've watched at least 20 times already, never gets old.

The only things I read are memes.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

"It's a bit personal, but 1 year ago I took a big step to join the salsa community, picked up my (mom's) guitar and started to do challenges to improve my confidence and raise my self-esteem. This turned my mindset and my world upside-down. At this point I'm happier than ever and I'll like to improve this more the next years.

My next big amazing thing I'm planning to do is hitchhiking around different places and teach myself to be more social and meet more (interesting) people."

It’s incredible to look back at this and see how much I’ve grown over the years. My latest—and definitely wildest—challenge is moving to Madrid to learn Spanish as quickly as possible. I’ve always told myself I wasn’t good at languages, but now I want to prove myself wrong. My goal is to immerse myself completely in the culture, not only to master the language but also to be part of a bigger and more vibrant dancing scene. It’s a journey I’m so excited for, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

Teach, Learn, Share

As I noted before, I really like to learn new things and teach my new skills to other people. I can introduce you to latin dances (salsa, bachata and kizomba) and if you're up to it (and it's available nearby) we can go to a real salsa party! Besides moving my hips around the dancefloor, I also like to do calisthenics (bodyweight workouts) and powerlifting (lifting very heavy). I know quite a lot about fitness and food, so feel free to ask for advice or tips.

The main reason I'm on this platform is to increase my social skills and meet new people. So just talking about life or any random stuff is always fun to do. Social comfort challenges are my way to improve my confidence and overall skills, I really like to do these challenges with a partner. If you're up for it and brave enough we could give it a try :)

The last thing what I want to note is... COOKING! I really want to improve my cooking skills, so please teach me your secret granny's recipes so I can show them off to my friends and family. Right now I'm happy I don't burn my rice or cut my fingers.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I’d love to share my passion for music—I play a bit of improv piano and know some cowboy chords on the guitar (thanks to my mom’s old guitar!). If you’re into dancing, I can teach you some salsa, kizomba, or even bachata. I’ve done workshops for groups, so whether you’re a beginner or just looking to sharpen your moves, we can have some fun on the dance floor!

I also studied development and am pretty handy with computers. I can help troubleshoot small tech problems or offer advice in the tech area. But don’t think I’m only good behind a screen—building my own tiny house and growing up with the handiest dad ever has taught me plenty of practical skills. Whether it’s small repairs, brainstorming solutions, or tackling creative projects, I’m always ready to lend a hand.

Beyond music, dancing, and tech, I’m always up for exploring, meeting new people, and creating fun memories. I enjoy diving into activities, sharing laughs, and building connections that make every experience unique.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands