Bert studied Applied Physics in Delft, but did not complete this course because his company Netherlabs was running too fast. In addition, he enabled the growth of one of the first cable internet providers in the Netherlands, from 50 to 50,000 customers. This resulted in a company (PowerDNS) which now powers 75% of the internet in the Netherlands. PowerDNS was not immediately successful, which is why Bert spent about 10 years in the intelligence and security world, as an employee and as a supplier. He was also co-founder of a joint venture with Fox-IT (computer and network security). In that world he learned a lot about secret services, but also about doing business through trial and error. Bert then did DNA research for a year and a half at TU Delft (Bionanoscience), which eventually resulted in two scientific publications, both in Nature journals. After the reboot of PowerDNS and the sale of both PowerDNS and the Fox-IT joint venture, Bert returned to the intelligence world. Here he became a supervisor of the AIVD and MIVD. Until September 2022, he was a member of the Assessment Committee for the Use of Powers of the Intelligence and Security Services, where he determined whether the AIVD and MIVD were allowed to use cybersecurity and wiretapping powers. Nowadays, Bert writes and speaks a lot about cybersecurity, high-tech, innovation and technology. In 2022 he made the news with his app Googerteller (Google clicker).