Interview with Aqua Addict Julia van Rooij

January 29, 2018

Can you give us a quick intro about yourselves?

Whehooo! So my name is Julia but most of my friends call me guli. I was born in Groningen, which is a little farmer province located in the north of the Netherlands. I exchanged cows for waves when I was 17 so currently I am happily living in The Hague. I am still trying to finish my studies for becoming a primary school teacher, but I find it very hard because there are loads of interesting things happening around me, haha. So instead I’m mostly keeping myself busy with environment stuff… oops.

Uluwatu - Bali, Indonesia

When did you hear about The Bamboo Brush Society?

I was actually just scrolling around Instagram on a boring - typical Dutch - rainy day. I am always curious about new sustainable concepts or organizations. When I saw TBBS, it caught my attention. Not only because it’s from Holland, but also because i’ve seen loads of plastic brushes around beaches. Since fishies don’t brush their teeth it’s a pretty weird place to find them.

What do you think of the Bamboo toothbrush?

I find it really cool that a Dutch guy decided to start making a change in the plastic toothbrush waste. I am trying to do some projects myself as well, and found out that it’s hard to pay your bills with these kind of sustainable concepts. You really do it for the green part of your heart, and that’s what I admire about TBBS. I do hope that the next version will have biodegradable hairs, then the product would be even more amazing! :)

Devils Tears - Nusa Ceningang (Indonesia)
#keepourplaygroundclean

You are travelling around the world a lot, what is the best spot you have brushed your teeth so far?

That must be last summer in Indonesia! We had the most terrible hostel and woke up with a backpackers nightmare; bed bugs! Because of this, Puck and I decided to treat ourselves and book the most amazing hostel with the best tropical Windows Explorer background views. I won’t forget this toothbrushing-place anytime soon, it was amazing!

Secret beach - Bali, Indonesia
#bewareandtakecare

What upcoming projects are you most excited about?

I am currently collaborating with several organizations such as By The Ocean We Unite, Stichting Clear Water Initiative, Precious Plastic Den Haag and my sponsors. I hope to make some magic with them because I think collaborating is the key to spreading awareness.

If you would be in charge of taking care of our beloved planet tomorrow? Which 4 persons would you pick to help you lead? (can be anyone in the world)
Oef that’s a tough one. There are loads of inspirational peeps in the world but I guess the magic 4 for now would be;

A mix of Dave Hakkens and Boyan Slat because they are Plastic Magicians and it would be a great couple for cleaning the ocean & making new precious plastic materials which are reusable.
I’d need Kelly Slater to give everyone who loves to surf some waves in their backyard
Ido Portal to get the current laptop-desk-working-human society moving, and let them discover that moving gives you positive energy and some good vibes.
My dog for becoming the king

Uluwatu beach

Tell us your best travel story?

In 2016 I went traveling by myself for the first time to a country of which a lot of people told me not to go to. That was all because of the bad news that was spread by several news-stations in the month I planned to leave. Eventually I had the best time over there; met the sweetest kiddies, made the best pupusas and had all the lefties by myself, whiieuw!
Curious? Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9pxOyGhEDk&t=3s

Any books, documentaries, films or series you lately watched and like to recommend?

I loved watching the movie Okja. It’s on Netflix and about a little girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend: Okja.

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