After building a training sailboat to teach young trainees to work together and develop their skills on the water, Josette spent more than 12 years sailing around Europe. Prior to her years as a sailing instructor, Josette studied Cultural History in the Netherlands, and now works in the field of cultural education.

She is an active lecturer on art and culture, and gives specialized lectures on the history of the tulip, and bulb growing in the Netherlands. She lives north of Amsterdam and is passionate about introducing visitors to the hidden towns and landscapes of the 'real' Netherlands.