Jolien Follens

Hi! My name is Jolien Follens, and I am the Dutch Content Localization Manager at Tourscanner. I have been passionate about writing from a young age and, therefore, decided to pursue a career in writing. After completing my master's degrees in Languages and Literature and Journalism, I started working as a translator and later moved on to content editing and management. In June 2023, my paths crossed with TourScanner, which enabled me to combine my two biggest passions: writing and traveling. My other interests include hiking, skiing, tennis, reading, music, and languages. I speak Dutch and English fluently, have a decent comprehension of Italian and French, and I am currently trying my hand at Norwegian.

My passion for travel goes back to my childhood, when I spent many weeks and months exploring France and Italy. Wanting to broaden my horizons, I made my first intercontinental trip to the West Coast of the US in 2014. This trip fueled my love for traveling even more, and not long after, I hopped on a plane to Nepal to explore Kathmandu and take on the Poon Hill Trek. In 2018, I departed on a yearlong trip around the world during which I marveled at the sights of Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Viñales Valley in Cuba, Cotopaxi in Ecuador, Machu Picchu in Peru, Patagonia in Chile and Argentina, Punta del Diablo in Uruguay, Lake Pukaki in New Zealand, the Tegalalang rice terraces in Bali, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Vang Vieng in Laos, the Batu Caves in Malaysia and Ko Lipe in Thailand. Originally from Belgium, I also called Malta and Italy my home for three and four years, and I currently live in Norway.

The travel experience I look most fondly back on, is my visit to Easter Island. The mysterious Moai statues have always fascinated me, and I wanted to see them with my own eyes. During my yearlong trip, I spent a week exploring the beautiful island, hopping from one Moai site to the other. The island oozes mystique and mystery, and I loved exploring every corner of it and learning more about the history and culture of its inhabitants. The main highlight of my trip to Easter Island was watching the sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, but I was surprised to learn that Easter Island had so much more to offer than just the statues: gorgeous beaches like Anakena Beach, the Orongo crater, which was the center of the fascinating Birdman cult, and beautiful scenery. Visiting Easter Island was truly an unforgettable experience, and I hope to return to this little paradise on Earth one day.