About

Hi! Welcome to Existential Reflections. My name is Menno van der Land and I am an existentialist philosopher, writer and world traveler. Based in the beautiful city of Leiden, the Netherlands, I am exploring the world and existence. On this website, I share my philosophical insights about the big existential questions.

After studying political science at the University of Leiden I started working in the public sector, while writing my first book and getting my PhD at the University of Amsterdam. Growing older though, my interests shifted. Away from politics (although I am still an avid follower of the political debate), towards the realms of philosophy and psychology. Away from what matters in politics towards what matters in life and the wisdom of thinkers from past and present. As Jimmy McGill would say: “Clarity. Not midlife crisis, midlife clarity.”

Over the years I have read a lot of books and articles, attended workshops and classes, and thought deeply about the big existential questions of life. Life, death, happiness, meaning, hope, truth, loneliness, values, and so on. And that’s where the foundation for this website was laid. Some of my existential reflections have resulted in essays which you can read here. Maybe they will inspire you and help you navigate through life. There is more to come, so please check again later!

Central to my writings is existentalism, the philosophy that deals with the question how to live in a meaningless world. You can read more about existentialism here. My ideas and insights keep evolving (they probably will untill I die), so my writings won’t give you definitive answers.; they only reflect what I think I know about life so far. Drawing on the wisdom of the philosophers and other thinkers that inspire me and other people from whom I have learned, they provide practical insights that may change the way you look at things and deal with the absurdity and meaninglessness of human existence.

Scroll all the way down for more about my books and my travels (neither of which have much to do with philosophy). And otherwise I invite you to browse through my essays and musings. Do you have a question? Or a comment? Or do you just want to say ‘hi’? Please feel free to contact me.

Existential Reflections is an independent, not-for-profit website. No advertisements, no affiliate links and no cookies.