Meet Koen, Umbraco architect and developer at Orange Juice

Home
Insights
News
From Harmonica to Umbraco Architect: Meet Koen

Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, both as a professional and as a person?

I often call myself the man of a thousand hobbies, Koen laughs. When I commit to something, I really go all in, sometimes to the point of mildly exhausting my wife.

That curiosity defines him, both personally and professionally. Koen is a true maker: in his spare time, he programs just as easily as he tinkers with electronics. And as the proud father of two children, that creativity comes in handy at home as well. Sitting still is definitely not his thing.

Music has played a major role in his life from a young age. I started with a harmonica. I always had it in my pocket. After that, I knew for sure: I wanted to play the trumpet. On his seventh birthday, he received a real trumpet, and things became so serious that a near-professional musical career was even a possibility.

But things took a different turn. I tried the conservatory, but theory turned out not to be my strongest suit. His love for technology ultimately won out: Koen studied electrical engineering and ICT, started building websites early on, and interned at an agency. I was literally told: if the conservatory doesn’t work out, you’re welcome here as a developer. That’s how programming became my other great passion.

What made you decide to join Orange Juice?

Umbraco was definitely one of the deciding factors, Koen explains. But the atmosphere was just as important.

He deliberately looked for an organization where professionalism and personality go hand in hand. Work hard, play hard. A place where you can be yourself, where everyone is valued and truly knows each other. Not too big, more of that family feeling.

After a stint as an IT specialist in the public sector, his Umbraco heart kept beating. That passion never went away. And at Orange Juice, I immediately felt: this is where I can fully rediscover that.

What will your role be within Orange Juice, and how do you see your contribution?

My focus is on DevOps and, of course, my work as a developer. I come from a full-stack background, with a bit more emphasis on the back end these days.

For Koen, full stack means more than just writing code. It’s also about infrastructure, testing, and understanding the bigger picture. That broad perspective is something he wants to bring into the team. I enjoy sharing my knowledge, so we can grow stronger together.

What do you think makes a good developer?

Analysis is incredibly important, Koen explains. Being able to visualize how a solution works technically, discussing that with your team, and together arriving at something everyone stands behind, including the client.

He also believes stepping out of your comfort zone is essential. If you keep playing the same song, you’ll never learn a new one. The market changes fast, so you have to move with it. Dare to try, show courage. Standing still means falling behind.

What gives you energy in your work?

Results, Koen says without hesitation. That’s also why Umbraco suits me so well. You can quickly build something you can actually show, something tangible.

He also gets a lot of satisfaction from mentoring others. I enjoy transferring knowledge. Explaining how things work, getting people excited, and seeing them take it from there, that really gives me energy.

What kind of development do you want to pursue in the coming years?

Koen clearly looks ahead. Eventually, I’d like to grow into a lead or architect-type role. Designing technically strong solutions that truly make sense. Collaboration remains central in that ambition. I’m open to opinions and input from others. You arrive at the best architecture together. And, of course, team development is part of that journey as well. Taking the lead, but above all bringing others along and helping them grow, that’s a consistent thread for me.

Will you be our new colleague?

Would you like to become part of our team like Koen and contribute to our growth? Then take a look at our vacatures, you might just be the perfect match!