About
Hi, I’m Sander de Snaijer, a software developer from the Netherlands (Hoeksche Waard) with a love for creating innovative solutions. Whether it’s building websites, developing mobile apps, or crafting real-world arduino-powered projects, I enjoy turning ideas into reality.
With years of experience working across a diverse range of environments; from agile startups and creative agencies to large tech enterprises and government organisations; I bring adaptability, technical expertise, creativity and a collaborative mindset to every project. My strong communication skills in both Dutch and English enable me to effectively guide teams, contribute to decision-making, and foster professional growth among my colleagues.
Currently, I’m contributing as an external front-end developer for the Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI), collaborating with Finland and Norway on an open-source project called OpenGeoweb. You can visit Open GeoWeb here: opengeoweb.com.
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active with workouts, watching movies and TV shows (highly recommend Dark), and diving into the world of 3D printing. This hobby was a gateway to learn soldering, 3D design, and hardware tinkering so it’s perfect for anyone who loves exploring technology.
Experience
Jan 2020 - present
KNMI had previously developed a GeoWeb application—an open-source mapping library—but it faced many issues, including poor scalability and a lack of tests. Scrum/Agile had just been introduced, but the team was still finding its workflow. When I joined, we were restarting GeoWeb in collaboration with Finland and Norway. We had to decide whether to rebuild from scratch or improve the existing version. Drawing from past project experiences, we chose the latter.
TypeScript and unit tests were introduced to ensure safer refactoring. Existing code was reused and refined, allowing the project to progress without delays. This approach delivered quick results to the client while gradually improving the application. Over time, GeoWeb matured significantly—more than 10 modules were developed, it became an essential tool in the weather office, and the team continued to grow.
- HTML
- CSS3
- Javascript
- Typescript
- React
- Redux
- Jest
- NX
- Cypress
May 2019 - Jan 2020
For the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, I worked on building a new search engine. It wasn't a large application, but I found the challenge in optimising its speed and performance.
- HTML
- CSS3
- React
- Javascript
- Redux
- Jest
- Cypress
Feb 2019 - Apr 2019
Cyclomedia drives cars equipped with cameras through various countries to map the environment, capturing both images and data using LiDAR technology. Sometimes, routes are driven by chauffeurs, but certain roads may be missed. While this isn’t a major issue in the Netherlands since it's a small country; in the United States, it can lead to costly delays.
I was tasked with creating a dashboard that allows drivers to check if any roads have been missed. This was a short three-month project, during which I developed the entire front end.
- HTML
- CSS3
- Javascript
- React
- Redux
- Jest
- GeoServer
Feb 2019 - present
Since 2019, I have been working at The NextGen, a consultancy firm that connects IT professionals with a diverse range of clients and projects.
Feb 2017 - Dec 2018
Bynder was founded in the kitchen of Label A; it is a digital asset management system (a system for managing and sharing media). When I started working there, we began developing a new version with a fresh codebase. By using React, we were able to provide a much faster and better user experience.
After a year and a half of development, we reassessed our approach based on customer feedback and adoption rates. Since many customers relied on the existing version, we prioritised a seamless experience by gradually enhancing the platform rather than introducing a completely new system. This decision allowed us to improve performance and functionality without disrupting our users. It was a valuable lesson for me: sometimes, refining and evolving an existing system is better than switch to a new system.
- HTML
- CSS3
- Javascript
- React
- Redux
- Jest
Sept 2012 - Jan 2013
For Label A and HintTech, I worked on a small project for Essent, developing a widget that calculates energy usage and costs.
- HTML
- CSS3
- Javascript
Mar 2012 - Jan 2017
After some years of game development I missed the faster pased webdevelopment, so I returned to Label. When I started it was just a startup with 3 employees but when I returned it grew to more than 20 people over 2 locations. I worked on various applications from big to small, here a few examples:
WoW KNMI
A map displaying user measurement stations. Users can compare different stations on the map and view detailed information.RIVM
A map displaying air quality measurements.Taxi Electric
For a new electric taxi company, we developed an application that allowed users to book a taxi. Administrators could track taxi locations, monitor their remaining range, and schedule rides—all in real time.Veilig Verkeer Nederland (Safe Traffic Netherlands)
For Veilig Verkeer Nederland, we created an application that allowed users to map unsafe traffic situations. We used a geoserver to ensure optimal map performance.- HTML
- CSS3
- Javascript
- React
- Redux
- AngularJS
- EmberJS
- GeoServer
Sept 2010 - Mar 2012
During my studies, together with a group of students I created a serious game in the Games & Simulations minor, where players gained advantages in the game by saving electricity at home. After graduation the company invited me for a job to complete it.
Initially, we used Unity as the game engine, a 3D game engine. However, since the team was much smaller than during my studies, we had to make compromises. We opted for 2D and switched to a different engine (Flash) to save time. In the end, we managed to create a functional game that worked with smart meters.
- Flash
- HTML
- CSS3
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
Feb 2010 - Jul 2010
For my final internship for my study Communication and Multimedia Design I developed a prototype for a serious game in Flash, where competencies could get measured.
- Flash
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
Sept 2008 - Jan 2009
My first internship when I was studying Communication and Multimedia Design in Rotterdam was at a start-up called Label A. There I worked on creating and maintaining websites and newsletters.
- HTML
- CSS3
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
