When he was growing up in the small-town world of Hillegom, Rob van Zelst (b. 1957) longed for the freedom of the big city. After finishing secondary school he backpacked across Europe, working in the catering industry. In 1988, Rob found himself in the Turkish coastal resort of Kuşadası, working as a travel guide. There he opened a bar and restaurant. In Turkey it is possible to live outside the system. Freedom for Rob means being able to act and think without constraints.