Nils was once captivated by birds and exploring the natural areas around his Belgian hometown. But it was during a local bat survey near the town of Chimay, known more for its beer than its bats, that he encountered his first Grey Long-eared bat and fell head over heels in love with these fascinating creatures.

He couldn't get enough of bats and became increasingly involved in bat surveys across Belgium with Plecotus and the Vleermuizenwerkgroep, taking part in mist-netting, roost visits, acoustic surveys, and public outreach walks. Nils discovered that his true passion was ecology, a fascination that only grew stronger throughout his education at Université Libre de Bruxelles and Imperial College London.

Nils's love for bats inspired him to embark on a thrilling journey - the Big Bat Year. He travelled to every continent and over 30 countries, marvelling at 400 different species of bats and capturing sound recordings of an astonishing 250 species, many in remote and rarely recorded areas.

Eager to share his adventures with others, Nils started giving talks at the British National Bat Conference and various bat groups, and has since hosted successful livestreams for International Bat Night, inviting over 60 bat enthusiasts from around the world to share their passions. As a respected expert in bat conservation, Nils has also contributed to the IUCN Red List and joined the IUCN SSC Bat Specialist Group as the Red List Authority Coordinator for European bats.

At Barbastella Ecology, Nils combines his love of acoustics, technology, training, and outreach to make a real impact in bat conservation. Join Nils on his exciting journey as he delves deeper into the captivating world of bats!