the team
Christiaan Maats: Founder, design and development
Originally from the northern Dutch frontier town of Delfzijl, Christiaan journeyed West through the vast flatlands of Holland after highschool to study Industrial Design in Delft. An avid traveller, he’s spent time in Spain and Italy learning the languages and breathing in local culture, eventually immersing himself in the idea of storytelling through product design in Sydney, Australia. After graduating on shoe design, he decided to move to Amsterdam, learn how to surf (workin on that) and make some shoes.
Originally from the northern Dutch frontier town of Delfzijl, Christiaan journeyed West through the vast flatlands of Holland after highschool to study Industrial Design in Delft. An avid traveller, he’s spent time in Spain and Italy learning the languages and breathing in local culture, eventually immersing himself in the idea of storytelling through product design in Sydney, Australia. After graduating on shoe design, he decided to move to Amsterdam, learn how to surf (workin on that) and make some shoes.
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Dirk-Jan Oudshoorn: Finance, supply chain management
Pulled right out from the colorful flowerfields of Western Holland, DJ is no stranger to the boons of nature. He topped off his years studying in Delft with a pop-up nightclub made from recycled materials called Lab14 and spent 2 months in Indonesia working with Uran Utangs in 2009. After all these adventures he joined the team at OAT. DJ’s unbound energy keeps him going through endless excel sheets, logistics schedules and weekend afterburners.
Pulled right out from the colorful flowerfields of Western Holland, DJ is no stranger to the boons of nature. He topped off his years studying in Delft with a pop-up nightclub made from recycled materials called Lab14 and spent 2 months in Indonesia working with Uran Utangs in 2009. After all these adventures he joined the team at OAT. DJ’s unbound energy keeps him going through endless excel sheets, logistics schedules and weekend afterburners.
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Marielle van Leewen: Brand & Communication
Also a wandering Delfzijl native -and old classmate of Chris’-, Mariel has roamed the earth in her time with stints in Australia, Asia and the US, picking up some decent kitesurfing skills along the way. She joined OAT in January 2011, having been an invaluable advisor to us from early on in the development. After years of busting her booty as a communications manager in corporate banking she was aching for a change. Being a talented photographer, expert improvisor, organizer and communications wizard she was looking for a more dynamic environment with diverse challenges to make life a little more interesting. Since that’s pretty much our daily bread at OAT, the choice was easy to make.
Also a wandering Delfzijl native -and old classmate of Chris’-, Mariel has roamed the earth in her time with stints in Australia, Asia and the US, picking up some decent kitesurfing skills along the way. She joined OAT in January 2011, having been an invaluable advisor to us from early on in the development. After years of busting her booty as a communications manager in corporate banking she was aching for a change. Being a talented photographer, expert improvisor, organizer and communications wizard she was looking for a more dynamic environment with diverse challenges to make life a little more interesting. Since that’s pretty much our daily bread at OAT, the choice was easy to make.