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Léon began his career as a reporter at Radio Rijnmond. He stood on the sidelines with a microphone at Feyenoord matches, presented the news, and later worked as a communications officer for a professional cycling team. These days, he keeps a firm grip on the run sheet for the master’s programme in Tax Law. His career has taken a surprising turn, from the hectic pace of the media world to the relative calm of higher education. 

From the sports desk to the law faculty

“As a kid, I always wanted to work in radio,” Léon begins. And he did. In the 1980s, he started as an editor at Radio Rijnmond, back when radio was the primary news medium. “If people wanted to know something, they listened to the radio. Even Teletext was still in its infancy.” His first major assignment was to present a news programme during the Yugoslav Wars. “I was in my early twenties, asking correspondents questions without really grasping the complexity of the conflict. It felt awkward at times, but I asked the questions I thought the listeners would ask too.”

He later specialised in sports reporting. As a freelancer on the sports desk, he learned the trade: “Back then, you had to know a bit about everything – from Feyenoord to local clubs like Zwart-Wit ’28.” Often, he stood at the edge of the pitch with a mobile transmitter on his back during the players’ warm-up, ready to catch reactions. It was a high-energy, dynamic time where he developed as a journalist. “I look back on it fondly. It was a formative period.”

But after years in the spotlight, including a move to television, the constant pressure began to take its toll. “I felt like I was always being watched. If I went to the supermarket in sweatpants, I’d think: people see me like this, while on TV I’m in a sharp suit.” Anonymity started to look more appealing.

A new environment

In 2012, Léon left the media world and spent several years working in sports communications, including with a Dutch professional cycling team. Eventually, he joined Erasmus School of Law via Randstad. “It was a culture shock,” he says with a laugh. “From the chaos of a newsroom to a quiet office in the middle of summer where I didn’t see a single person.” Still, the calm suited him. “A few years later, I briefly returned to Rijnmond and realised: this no longer fits. The pressure, the deadlines. I had changed.”

The importance of the run sheet

Léon now supports the master’s programme in Tax Law. “I compare it to my old job: it’s a run sheet. Just not for a live broadcast, but for a course.” He manages everything that comes with organising a course: collecting syllabi, setting up Canvas pages, planning exams, processing grades. “I make sure all the steps are followed so lecturers can focus on the content and students know what to expect.”

He also works closely with student assistants and colleagues, serving as a point of contact for students with practical questions. “The goal is to keep things running smoothly. If I don’t hear anything, that’s usually a good sign,” he says with a smile.

A lasting love for sport

Although Léon has found his place in higher education, the love for sport never fully disappears. When he heard about the new elective Sport: Law and Enterprise, he immediately offered to help. “It was outside my usual focus (Tax Law and Criminology) but this matched my background so well, I couldn’t resist.”

He supported new lecturer Roberto Branco Martins in setting up the course within the faculty. “It was incredibly fulfilling.” A highlight? The final seminar, where well-known sports figures like Willem van Hanegem and Joris van Benthem were in attendance. People Léon had encountered in his days as a sports reporter. “It felt like a brief return to a world that still feels like home,” he says.

"We keep things running – together”

Today, Léon works three days a week. “That leaves room for other things. I’ve fulfilled many of my ambitions; I no longer feel the need to chase.” The peace suits him, even if he occasionally misses the hustle and bustle of his earlier career. “But I now know what suits me best. Back then, I went with the flow; now I choose with intention.”

His role may seem modest, but it’s vital. “If you reduce it to the basics, it’s an administrative job. But I see how I help people, and that makes it meaningful.” As a central figure in the process, he ensures everything runs smoothly, together with a team of dedicated support staff. “We often work behind the scenes, but we keep the wheels turning.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, this became clearer than ever. “In just a few days, my colleagues completely adapted the teaching formats so everything could continue – exams, lectures, everything kept going. Students may not have seen what happened behind the scenes, but I found it impressive. It showed the value of our team.”

For Léon, it was a moment where everything came together: the experience, the run sheet, the awareness that you don’t need the spotlight to make an impact. In his earlier work, he was the face of major events. Now, he’s the one who keeps everything running in the background, just the way he likes it. “If things run smoothly and no one’s worried about anything, that’s when I know it’s working.”