- Following 1.3K
- Followers 16.3K
- Engagement 4.69%
- Avg likes 820
- Avg comments 32
About Karlijn Dresscher
Karlijn Dresscher (@once.upon.a.truck) is a Personal blog creator on Instagram, also filed under Travel. The account has 16,259 followers and 243 published posts. Recent posts average 820 likes and 32 comments, an engagement rate of 4.69%.
With 16.3K followers, Karlijn Dresscher is a micro creator by the common 10,000 to 100,000 definition. Karlijn Dresscher follows 1,296 accounts, so the audience is roughly 13 times the size of the list followed. Karlijn Dresscher uses an Instagram professional account. Flinque files Karlijn Dresscher under Personal blog, with Travel as a secondary category.
The Instagram bio for Karlijn Dresscher runs to 18 words across 4 lines. Emoji sit alongside the words. The latest activity Flinque has on record for Karlijn Dresscher dates from February 2026.
Story Highlights
Unlocking shows the title and cover image of every story highlight this creator keeps pinned to the profile.
243 Posts
Of the 10 most recent posts shown for Karlijn Dresscher, 7 are carousels, 2 are videos and 1 is a single image. That mix leans toward carousels. 243 published posts give Karlijn Dresscher a moderate archive on Instagram. Against the audience, that is roughly 67 followers for each post published. Karlijn Dresscher also keeps 24 story highlights on the profile. All 10 carry captions, averaging 290 words each. Words that recur across them include people, still, many, road and different.
The longer we travel, the more we notice how many things we do without thinking. How we greet people. How we communicate. How we dress. What we consider polite, respectful or rude. It reminded us how much of our behaviour is simply habit. Things we absorbed growing up and rarely question. Travel has a way of exposing those habits.
Most of it feels so obvious that we barely notice it exists. Until we enter a place where people do things differently. And since we are guests in their country, we genuinely want to do right by the people who welcome us in their homes. It makes us aware of something important:
The way we do things is not necessarily the normal way. It is simply our way.
Maybe that is why adapting is harder than learning a few local customs. You can learn the rules fairly quickly. The difficult part is noticing the assumptions you brought with you.
What does it actually mean to be respectful to someone? Is it simple using their customs and adapting? What does it actually mean to adapt? Where do you draw the line between being yourself and adapting?
The more we travel, the more we realise that the answer is not as straightforward as it first seems.
That became the starting point for our latest letter from the road. The full letter is available inside Beyond the Pictures.
Weāre curious how much you adapt when travelling? Where do you draw the line?
As I was reading her words, I realised thatās exactly what we struggle with when writing our Letters From The Road for Beyond the Pictures. We focus on one specific topic, but while writing we keep doubting if we know enough to write about it at all. We are afraid of missing something important. What if a different perspective changes the entire story? The more we travel, the more we realise how much we do not yet know. So I get scared of sharing my thoughts. Afraid of getting it wrong.
But then I remember. That was the point when we started this. It was never supposed to be the complete story. We were never supposed to cover all the perspectives. The letters from the road are not conclusions. Theyāre starting points. For conversations within the community we are building. An invitation to become curious together. To ask more and better questions. To explore perspectives we hadnāt considered before.
Not just for fun. But because everything can be viewed differently and daring to explore perspectives together can help us understand more and judge less. Our letters can start those discussions. And that is exactly why it is important that we do write them. Daring to speak while knowing weāll not capture the whole truth, and be honest about it, is more important than not speaking at all. We need to reach more people, keep growing our community and we do not do that by staying silent.
If you want to learn more about āBeyond the Picturesā, link in bio.
By the way: I started working with Hiske Kuilman a few years ago, who introduced herself as a speaking coach. Which is technically true, but not really a complete description. Some of the most valuable things I learned from her had little to do with standing on a stage or telling a compelling story. But still, if you want to get your story straight, is your person! She has the remarkable ability of finding the right words for anything that you still have no clue how to
We are at home in Africa ā¤ļø it really is a very special thing that still doesnāt feel real at times. We have driven our actual home all the way to Africa and now we live on a Kenyan beach in our own house. How did that happen?!
We are very happy that the big move went as smoothly as it went. The preparation was intense and stressful, there was a lot of uncertainty and ātrusting the processā going on. We definitely got a headache from the whole logistic operation. Paperwork for the truck, paperwork for us, paperwork for the cats.
The move became a complex puzzle where every piece had to fall perfectly into place. We had to hand over the truck at exactly the right time, arrange a rental car (twice), book accommodations (6 different ones), coordinate our flights, and make sure our cats could travel with us. If one piece moved, the entire plan had to move with it.
After weeks of planning, everything finally came together. Looking back, itās incredible how many moving parts had to align to make the journey possible. What is even more impressive is how smoothly everything went in the end, moving a truck, four kids and two cats with us. We are definitely not complaining and looking back at the whole thing in a very positive way. The kids and the cats have been absolute champions! But it was by far the most complex challenge we have ever handled together as a family.
So far we are really enjoying Africa. It was better than expected to finally get the truck back and be home again. We definitely missed our own bed and stuff. It still feels like we havenāt really started overlanding this new continent since we are still at our starting spot. But we are really enjoying the lush green nature, the very nice temperatures and the happy and relaxt people. We also really enjoying spotting so many monkeys (weāll probably get annoyed with them before we are done in Africa) and we are doing our best to learn Swahili.
So we can definitely say, we are absolutely ready for and looking forward to this next chapter!
We always had our doubts about the stories being told about the region and imagined learning more about its countries and cultures. What we never expected was how much those stories would unravel once we experienced the region for ourselves. The longer we travelled, the more we realised that our image of this region wasnāt necessarily wrong, but heavily weighted towards one particular side of the story.
The other side of the story was beautiful. We experienced extraordinary hospitality and slowly learned that accepting generosity can be just as meaningful as offering it. We shared meals with strangers who welcomed us as friends. We experienced the rhythm of Ramadan as something naturally woven into everyday life. We crossed endless deserts and learned how it has shaped generations, traditions and identities. We experienced modern cities, remote villages, ancient traditions and rapidly changing societies.
It feels absurd that such a vast, diverse and fascinating part of the world is often reduced to a handful of topics and narratives. As if millions of people, thousands of years of history and countless ways of life can be captured in a few recurring stories.
This journey changed the way we approach stories about places we havenāt experienced ourselves. It makes us slower to judge, slower to generalise, and much more aware of how limited any single narrative can be.
Reality is always more nuanced. More complicated. More human.
Weāve learned that cultures are not competitions. One is not better than another. Each carries its own strengths, blind spots, beauty and challenges.
That is why sharing this journey became important to us. We wanted to show the other side as well. The everyday moments, conversations and humanity that rarely make the news, but do make up most of peopleās lives. And we hope that we have helped you see a little more of the bigger story too.
Thank you for following along on this chapter of our journey! What did you like most about our stories here? Would you go one day?
Where do we even begin? How do you squeeze three months of overlanding in Oman into a few paragraphs without writing a small novel?
For months, Oman was the destination on our horizon. Literally. Ever since we left the Netherlands, our compass seemed to have only one setting: Oman. Reaching it felt like crossing a finish line we had been aiming for for so long. And once we got there, we finally allowed ourselves to slow down a little.
For Karlijn, it was also a bit of a homecoming, 30 years later. Showing us the places where she grew up and sharing those childhood memories with our kids has been incredibly special. Seeing them experience parts of her story firsthand is something weāll never forget.
And then we started making a whole collection of new memories together!
In three months, weāve seen so much. Mountains, wadis, endless coastline, desert landscapes, ancient history and culture around every corner. We got used to having goats, donkeys and camels as neighboursāsometimes closer than expected or wanted. We spotted dozens of turtles in the sea and spent hours snorkeling amongst the most beautiful fish.
Oman also turned out to be the first country that really challenged us. We spent weeks chasing technical issues, enjoyed more garage visits than originally planned. We dealt with extreme heat, wild weather and the uncertainty that came with the war in the region. Not exactly the items on our travel bucket list, but we knew stuff like this would come along at some point - we just didnāt expect it to be all at once!
But through all of that, we met so many kind and generous people. People who helped us out, shared their time, opened doors, and turned difficult moments into some of our favourite memories. We leave with a whole bunch of new friends to miss ā¤ļø
What a ride it has been.
There is still so much we did not see, so much more to explore. Weāve fallen even more in love with Oman than we already were (Karlijn made sure the kids had no choice in the matter), and we know one thing for certain: Weāll be back someday. Preferably when it is a bit cooler š
In this audio feature, Nadia Al Taii and Abdullah Al Maawali meet the Dutch family behind, who traded stability and comfort for a life of freedom and adventure. Having travelled through many different countries and continents in their refurbished truck, they reflect on the lessons that emerge when life slows down. Their journey raised the question for us: what can life on the road teach you that stability cannot?
Listen to the full piece now on Oman FMās SoundCloud.
šø
A wadi is a ādry riverbedā. So what we learned in a week full of rain: almost everything turns in to a wadi after rain. But, some of them are special. They have water all year round and beautiful adventurous hikes and exploring you can do. To the Omani people and villages, these year round water wadis are very important. They use the ancient and genius Aflaj system to transport water to the villages and farms.
For us, they were mainly amazing for exploring. Lush green oasis, swimming and rock climbing and jumping. Of our time in Oman, all of us enjoyed the wadi adventures the most. They are absolutely worth it, all of them. In many we camped in the middle of the wadiās, next to the water, with some goats as only visitors. These days are among our best memories so far during this trip!
We definitely have to come back someday because we still did not manage to explore all of themā¦ there are many more beautiful ones to enjoy!
Here are some of our favourites ā¤ļø
Note: camping in wadis can be very dangerous because of flash floods. If there is rain coming, never stay in a wadi or make sure you are on higher ground. Even if the rain falls an hour away and not on your specific spot.
Travel has a way of showing us that the world isnāt as simple as it sometimes seems. The places we visit, the people we meet, the stories we hear ā they all reveal different sides of the same reality. Perspectives beyond the pictures, beneath the surface.
And the more we see, the more questions we have, the more we want to know.
Beyond The Pictures started from that curiosity. A space to look deeper, ask questions, and share stories that donāt always make it onto our feed ā because they need more room than social media usually allows.
We didnāt want our conversations to stay just between the two of us. We realised these conversations become so much richer when theyāre shared. When different voices, backgrounds and perspectives come together. Thatās where real understanding starts to grow.
Whether youāre traveling or not, thereās so much you can take from it ā and so much you can add to it. Because in the end, itās not just about seeing more of the world. Itās about understanding it together.
If this resonates, weād love for you to be part of it. To think with us, question with us, and build this space together ā step by step, story by story.
You can become a member of our growing community for ā¬8 p/m. We will share two in depth letters from the road each month.
The first letter about safety will be shared on April 26th!
ā Join us via the link in our bio.
Who thought it was done. With work. With flashing lights. With adventure.
Thats where we came in.
We are Douwe & Karlijn, our four kids ā Sophie(14), Tobias(11), Pepijn(9) and Olivier(5) ā and two adventure-loving cats, Izzy and Fox. Since the spring of 2025, weāve been traveling the world in our self-built overlander truck - former fire truck. From The Netherlands through Turkey and the Arabian Peninsula, to Africa ā as a family, as a team, and sometimes (oftentimes) more like a rolling circus.
Once upon a truck is our real-life fairy tale. With dust, mud and detours instead of glitter, and lessons you only learn when youāre on the road.
Some random facts:
- We have written a book about our first trip through Europa in a small, vintage van that kept breaking down. English version on the way! (Link in bio)
- The truck weighs 9 tons
- The cats have lived in the truck since they were kittens, they do not know anything else
- One big reason to completely change our lives? Karlijnās post-Covid recovery. After 5 years, she finally starts to feel good again.
- We love boardgames! A whole cabinet is filled with them. Who needs clothes anyway.
- We take turns driving. The other one navigates and judges.
- We donāt have a 5-year plan. We barely have a 5-day one. But it always works out.
- School happens everywhere and every day. Best classroom update ever.
- We host an online community called Beyond the pictures. We write letters from the road to learn and explore perspectives about all we encounter. You can find the link in bio!
We share our story to show you that you donāt need a perfect plan ā just the courage to start moving. Whatever your dream may be. Dream big and start moving!
In Oktober 2023 kopen we onze brandweerwagen, een Mercedes 1113. Met net genoeg geld om de eerste aanschaf te doen, zonder zekerheid op genoeg geld om meteen te kunnen gaan bouwen. We begonnen met wat kon. En uiteindelijk komen er steeds op precies het goede moment weer mogelijkheden vrij. We doen 90% van het bouwen zelf, bouwen waar kan met tweedehands materialen en hergebruiken ook spullen die we hebben liggen. Langzaamaan krijgt ons huisje vorm. Iedere centimeter kennen we en hebben we aangeraakt.
Als we 1,5 jaar later de bouw afronden (hoewel, ben je ooit echt klaar?) hebben we niet zomaar een huis op wielen gebouwd, maar een plek waar we thuis kunnen komen, waar dan ook op de wereld.
Komen jullie mee binnenkijken?
Karlijn Dresscher's engagement
Karlijn Dresscher's engagement rate on Instagram is 4.69%, between 3% and 6%, or 3 to 6 likes and comments per 100 followers. On a typical post that comes to about 1 like or comment for every 21 followers. An average post collects 820 likes and 32 comments, close to 26 likes for each comment.
Engagement rate
4.69%
- Avg likes
- 820
- Avg comments
- 32
- Interactions : followers
- 1 : 21
Lookalike Creators
A free account lists creators whose audiences behave like this one, ready to shortlist and compare side by side.
Age & Gender
Unlocking shows how this audience splits across age bands and gender, charted from follower data.
Audience Location
Unlocking reveals the countries and cities where the most active followers of this account are concentrated.
Primary Language
Unlocking shows the languages this audience uses most in comments, interactions and the content it consumes.
Audience Interests
Unlocking lists the topics and categories this audience follows and engages with most often across the platform.
Authenticity
Unlocking scores how genuine the audience is, flagging fake, inactive or bot followers found in engagement patterns.
Audience Quality Score
Unlocking gives one overall audience quality score combining authenticity, engagement, follower activity and audience relevance.
Brand Affinity
Unlocking names the brands this audience already follows, mentions or engages with across social platforms.
Content Strategy
Unlocking breaks down the content pillars, tone and visual style this creator uses, and which formats perform best.
Commercial Insights
Unlocking shows collaboration types, an estimated pricing tier and a brand safety risk read for sponsored campaigns.
Industry Fit
Unlocking rates how well this creator and audience align with specific industry verticals and brand categories.
Research Karlijn Dresscher further
Flinque ranks Instagram creators in Travel, categories Karlijn Dresscher is filed under, and its free tools measure the same figures for any public account.
Related rankings
Frequently asked questions
These answers about Karlijn Dresscher are generated from the Instagram profile data Flinque holds for the account.
Who is Karlijn Dresscher?
Karlijn Dresscher (@once.upon.a.truck) is a Personal blog creator on Instagram, also filed under Travel. Karlijn Dresscher uses an Instagram professional account. The Instagram bio for Karlijn Dresscher runs to 18 words across 4 lines.
How many followers does Karlijn Dresscher have?
Karlijn Dresscher has 16,259 followers on Instagram (16.3K). Karlijn Dresscher follows 1,296 accounts, so the audience is roughly 13 times the size of the list followed. 243 published posts give Karlijn Dresscher a moderate archive on Instagram.
What is Karlijn Dresscher's engagement rate?
Karlijn Dresscher's engagement rate on Instagram is 4.69%, between 3% and 6%, or 3 to 6 likes and comments per 100 followers. On a typical post that comes to about 1 like or comment for every 21 followers. An average post collects 820 likes and 32 comments, close to 26 likes for each comment.
What does Karlijn Dresscher post about on Instagram?
Flinque files Karlijn Dresscher under Personal blog, with Travel as a secondary category. Of the 10 most recent posts shown for Karlijn Dresscher, 7 are carousels, 2 are videos and 1 is a single image. The 10 recent Instagram captions Flinque holds for Karlijn Dresscher repeatedly use the words people, still, many, road and different. Karlijn Dresscher keeps 24 story highlights, which open with a free Flinque account.
How do I contact Karlijn Dresscher for a collaboration?
Karlijn Dresscher's contact details are not published on Flinque's public profile. The Instagram bio links to 1 external site, and a free Flinque account opens that link. Brands with a free Flinque account can shortlist Karlijn Dresscher and use Flinque's outreach tools wherever a contact route is on file.
Links
Karlijn Dresscher's own Instagram profile is the one outbound link Flinque publishes for the account, and the bio link opens after signing up.
Public profile data sourced from Instagram. Flinque is not affiliated with Karlijn Dresscher.