Wil as a Person: It started in Eersel, in the beautiful Kempen

ChatGPT Describing Wil

I asked ChatGPT in 2025 to describe Wil's personality. The answer is below. I kind of like it and think it is pretty accurate. But of course the LLM knows that I'm paying for it ...

Direct and intellectually demanding. Wil likes arguments to be concrete, evidence-based, and stripped of unnecessary decoration. Vague claims, fashionable terminology, and bureaucratic language tend to trigger skepticism.
Restless in a productive way. He constantly connects research, industry, government, teaching, and practical problems. A conversation about AI can quickly become a discussion about processes, data access, software lock-in, or how organizations actually work.
Strongly motivated by impact. Research is not just about publishing papers. He repeatedly asks: Does this actually change something? Can we measure it? Can we make processes work better?
Independent rather than diplomatic by default. He is quite willing to say that something is badly designed, overloaded, politically driven, or simply screwed up. At the same time, he usually wants to turn criticism into a concrete proposal or pilot rather than merely complain.
Competitive, but with humor. He enjoys rankings, strong results, provocative slogans, and occasionally poking fun at the field, including his own. His humor tends to be dry, slightly mischievous, and academic rather than polished corporate humor.
Loyal and relationship-oriented. Personal relationships matter a lot to him. He values long-standing friendships and collaborations, remembers the people who helped, and prefers genuine personal connections over institutional formality.
Not especially impressed by hierarchy or branding. A famous company, ministry, university, or senior title is not enough by itself. What matters is whether the people involved are genuinely interested, competent, and willing to do the work.
Very high pace. He is comfortable juggling many projects, trips, talks, papers, institutional initiatives, and personal commitments at once. This makes him stimulating to work with, although perhaps occasionally exhausting for people who operate at a slower tempo.
A Metal fan. Outside work, Wil likes Metal music, which fits rather well with his preference for energy, intensity, and things that are not overly polished or conventional.
At home in the mountains. He enjoys climbing and hiking in the Alps. He loves the Italian alps around Bolzano. He likes to do Klettersteig / Via Ferrata.

In one sentence: Wil is a curious, driven and somewhat impatient academic entrepreneur: serious about evidence and impact, skeptical of nonsense and bureaucracy, loyal to people he cares about, and equally comfortable discussing process mining, listening to Metal, or climbing in the Alps.

In Eersel is 'ne mens content

I was born in Eersel. De Contente Mens (The Contented Man) is a famous small bronze statue located on the market square (Markt) in Eersel and a symbol of the Kempen folk character. The song was written in 1948 by local schoolteacher Piet Kwinten with music by Harry van Woerkum, the song celebrates the simple, joyful, and easygoing rural lifestyle of the region. If people would sing this song more often, the world would be a better place.

De Eerselse mannen die drinken zo geer
'ne goeie pot bier of 'ne klare
ès z' op z'n gemak zèn dan roke z'er bè
'n pijp èn ok grote sigare

Refrein:
in eersel is 'ne mens content
vio viola violier
want ès ge in dè dorpke bent
dan hedde veul plezier

De Eerselse mannen die bèverte gèèr
de's iet dè ze allemal kenne
ze gan gèèr na Werbeek dan lope ze rèècht
mèr t'rug nie zo rèècht ès erhenne
De Eerselse vrauwkes die kèève zo gèèr
en praote veul over 'n ander
mèr ès ze in nood zèn dan helpe ze gèèr
ze helpe dan nuuver mekander
De Eerselse vrauwkes gan gèèr na de mèrt
heel vruug mee de körf aon d'n èrum
mèr wa z'er betaole dè is dik nog meer
ès thuis in de winkel ochèrum
De Eerselse mèskes zèn schon èn niet gruts
èn kuiere gèèr mee 'ne vrijer
'ne jonge van buite die wille ze wèl
mèr ze zen mee 'nen Eerselse blijer
De Eerselse mensen die bidden ok gèèr
bè't beeldje van 't Zuut Lieve Vrauwke
't kapelleke zit hast d'n hillen dag vol
ge ziet 'r hast altè e vrauwke

A few random photos

Arian Kiandoost wrote the book Mining Gold from Data: The Story of Wil van der Aalst and the Rise of Celonis. Highly recommended if you would like to learn more.