After practice studies in a therapeutic community for adult delinquents in the Netherlands, in a therapeutic children's village in Sweden and therapeutic family homes in Canada, he obtained his PhD at the University of Groningen. After working for several institutions, Niek started his own psychological consultancy bureau more than 25 years ago. This bureau was specialized in the business end of psychology such as executive search and also management and organizational consulting, www.franspartners.com. Niek is author of the book 'Manieren van kijken / Ways of looking'.