Steven Straatemans
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straatemans.bsky.social
Steven Straatemans
@straatemans.bsky.social
21 followers 24 following 38 posts
Freelance frontend developer, aspiring comic artist, history fan, guitar beginner, podcast addict, reluctant runner and dad. https://straatemans.nl
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straatemans.bsky.social
Me and colleague ran a front-end workshop, #HTML, #CSS, #Typescript, #react, the works.
This time we spiced it up: started with AI-in-the-workplace chat, then ended with fun “vibe coding” experiments (hilarious results guaranteed)
#Frontend #WebDev #CodingLife #DeveloperHumor #comics #cartoons #AI
panel 1: Splash screen: “Frontend with Albert and Steven”
 panel 2: Steven is teaching and writing on a board. “In today’s class, we are going to create a fully functional traffic light in typescript, but remember do not use AI!”
 panel 3: before Steven can finish his sentence everybody in the classroom is done with the assignment, because of course they used AI
February 18, 2026 at 10:30 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
Just back from an epic ski trip: bluebird days, perfect snow, endless laughs, and stories staying off the record. ☀️❄️🏂
Disclaimer for managers/spouses/parents: The comic was made before the trip. Any resemblance to real events is 100% coincidental 😏
#FreelanceLife #DigitalNomad #RemoteWork
Panel 1 Steven and his buddies on a ski trip: "Being freelance means having time for a ski trip with your mates." A ping from his phone shows a high-prio bug. Panel 2 Steven in the ski lift with his laptop on his lap. His friend is calling him an idiot. Another bug is coming in. Panel 3 His friends are partying in the background while Steven is on his phone, talking about the server being down. Panel 4 Steven has crashed on his skis while being on the phone: "All pipelines are green!" Steven has his thumb up. But another ping is coming in, and his friend is not impressed—he calls Steven an idiot again.
February 11, 2026 at 10:30 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
Freelance freedom: work anywhere, more family time… but bugs tag along. That 500 error? Followed me all weekend, nearly hijacked game night.
Devs/parents: how do you actually log off? 🎲🛡️ #WorkLifeBalance #DnD #devlife
panel 1: a 500 error screen in the dark. someone says: "We want to fix the error". Someone else says: "Lets just destroy it!" panel 2: Someone says: "Roll a D20 for an intelligence check" panel 3: we now see a dwarf and an elf before a laptop. Elf says: "What the hell?" and looks around. The dwarf repeats: "Let's just destroy it!" panel 4: we see Steven and his daughters playing a Dungeon and Dragons session. One of the girls roles a dice. The other comlains: "Daahad! This is the lamest Dungeon and Dragons session ever"
February 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
straatemans.bsky.social
Today is #LEGODay

If everybody says that frontend development is the same as legos,
Can I just drop the work and play with lego today?
Who's snapping bricks (digital or plastic)? 
#WebDev #Frontend #FreelanceLife
panel 1: Steven is a lego minifig. Is sitting behind his lego laptop.
and says: “Yes! Last bug fixed. Lego Build party, here I come”

panel 2: Nicole walks in (also a minifig). With a lego coffee.
and says: “Snacks and Dinks! How is that work-life balance going?”

panel 3: Steven minifig jumps up. And screams the lego movie slogan “Everything is awesome”
than a ping: a new bug just came into the mailbox

panel 4: Steven minifig is again behind his laptop and says: “Just one more bug..”
Another ping and a new bug comes in.
Steven says: “...Two more bugs”
January 28, 2026 at 11:17 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
Freelancers: Recruiter calls about an enthusiastic client → Instant high.
Then… days of radio silence. Brain goes: "Never getting another gig. Ever." Curl-up-in-a-ball despair.
But those waits hit HARD.
Sound familiar or am I just an idiot? 😅
#FreelanceLife #Recruiters #Comic #FreelanceDeveloper
panel 1: Steven talks to the viewer: "When working with a recruiter, there are 2 types of feelings"
panel 2: Steven jumping through a meadow. being happy. text "When the recruiter just called" Panel 3: Steven crying in the corner. "When they do not call for 2 days"
January 21, 2026 at 1:09 PM
straatemans.bsky.social
Love #freelance & #WFH: deep focus, flexible schedule, quick workouts, more family time.
But solo home office gets lonely
So 2–3×/week I escape to de Koffiemolen for killer coffee & great vibes.
They're renovating now… already missing that morning ☕ fix!
#FreelanceLife #RemoteWork #cartoon #comic
Panel 1:
Steven overslept. Still sleeping at 09:30 AM
text: “When I forget to start my day…” Panel 2: Steven is in the kitchen trying to make coffee. Text: “…and I’m out of coffee…” Panel 3: Steven walks down the street
Steven says: “I’ll go and work at my favorite coffeebar” Panel 4:
Arriving at the coffeebar, he sees that it is closed for renovation.
Steven screams: “NOOOooooo!”
January 14, 2026 at 10:36 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
Monday was the first day I went to my new client.
For the first time in ages, I commuted by train and worked in an office.
The weather decided to make the day memorable by throwing snow and ice at us! ❄️


#cartoon #comics #freelancelife #frontend #developer #commute #snow #dutchweather #sneeuw
Steven sitting behind his desk. says: "For years I worked from home, but with this new project..."Next panel: The alarm goes at 6AM. the alarms screams and steven wakes upNext panel: The train commute in an overcrowded trainNext panel: Steven standing for the actual office where he was travelling toLast panel:Old Steven saying "It's been 84 years"refferencing the titanic meme.
January 7, 2026 at 10:42 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
I created a small comic for HalloBabysitter.de
They are celebrating that Robert is joining the company.
And what better way to celebrate a new step like that with a comic.

Good luck Robert on your new adventure.
#WelcomeAboard #NewTeamMember #TeamHallo
#webcomics #cartoonart
January 5, 2026 at 11:40 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions,
but something about 2026 genuinely feels like a clean slate.
Now that I stepped into full-time freelance development.


Here’s to hoping #2026 brings
more code that ships
more comics of random developer stories.

#Illustration #Comics #NewBeginnings
Steven sitting behind his desk. writing down his new years resolutions. The clock is ticking down to the new year. When the clock strikes 12, steven rips up the new years resolutions. "Done with those" I dont do new year resolutions
December 31, 2025 at 10:01 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
Happy holidays, everyone!

Every year my daughters and I design it together — they demand to be on it, but veto anything too sugary.

So we spend all Summer scheming ways they can get every single present from Santa themselves. Classic.


#cartoon #comic #familytime #christmas #christmascard
December 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
All by myself... 🎶 [Celine Dion vibes]
As a freelancer, I'm my own team most days.
But last week? Epic dinner with former #colleagues
Solo gig, but blessed with amazing work #friends who still make time to catch up. ❤️

#freelancer #freelancelife #frontenddeveloper#dinnerwithfriends #comic
December 17, 2025 at 7:39 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
I’m going full freelance! First project kicks off next Monday, how cool is that?! 🎉
Huge thanks to everyone who helped me the past weeks. You’re amazing ❤️

Need a frontend/TypeScript dev? DMs are open, let’s talk!
#cartoon #comic #freelancer #frontend #typescript #freelancelife
December 10, 2025 at 9:40 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
Loosing your job is one thing.
But having to tell your family is next level.
Let’s just say, reactions vary from person to person.

#cartoon #jobhunting #comic #layoff #family
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
My employer went out of business last month. 😢
Using the time for side projects, studying… and a new path: drawing gag comics!

Turning the job-hunt misery into 3-4 panel stories. #cartoon #jobhunt #comic #layoff
Found myself with a lot of spare time after my employer stopped their activities last month.
Trying to stay in the working rhythm, I study and do some techie side projects I never made time for, which I enjoy a lot.

But it also gave me extra time to explore one of my other passions.
And that is drawing cartoons. Normally I draw one panel cartoons, but
I always wanted to try out creating gag comics. Like 3 or 4 panels. 
So what better way to get over the layoff pain than to write/draw about it with gags?
The job-hunt is a great subject to experiment with.

Not saying this will be a weekly comic, but let’s see what happens.

#cartoon #jobhunt #layoff
November 26, 2025 at 9:44 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
A new @historyofnl.bsky.social art.

In the 15th century, while most of Europe was tightening the grip of feudal lords, the Frisians were out here living their best “no lord but the Emperor” life. ✊ …and how it ended.
A follow-up to Episode 15 👀
#cartoon #history #characterillustration #15thcentury
November 25, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Steven Straatemans
historyofnl.bsky.social
www.republicofamsterdamradio.com/episodes/his...

New episode! We delve into Frisian Law and Frisian Freedom and how they developed in the 15th century. We then look at how conditions changed until in 1498 Frisian Freedom was stamped out by the very Emperor who was supposed to uphold it.
Episode 55: Full-on Frisian Foray: Freedom & Foreign Frenemies in the 15th Century — Republic of Amsterdam Radio
Over the fifty-four episodes of this podcast so far, we have often found ourselves fixated on familiar fields of sphagnum, or ferocious fights in far flung foreign fields, but frequently we’ve failed ...
www.republicofamsterdamradio.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
straatemans.bsky.social
8th of October 1573 is the day that the city of Alkmaar defeated the Spanish army in the #80yearswar. My cartoon shows Sept 18: Kitman’s heroic strike on the Spanish standard-bearer saved the day! 💪 #AlkmaarOntzet #Kitman #1573 #History
#ThisDayInHistory #TodayInHistory #OnThisDay
October 8, 2025 at 8:11 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
I thought I would do a quick drawing for the 8th of October (#alkmaar victory 1573)
But it became a big sketch. 
It’s about the storming of the walls by the Spanish on the 18th of September #1573
Hope to get it done before the 8th. 🤞🏻
#80jarigeoorlog #tachtigjarigeoorlog #80yearswar #8oktober
September 30, 2025 at 9:25 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
The Spaniards are coming!
Hopefully a new project 🤞🏻
but at least it is good practice for the 500 episodes about the 80 years war with @historyofnl.bsky.social 😅
#80jarigeoorlog #1573 #tachtigjarigeoorlog #80yearswar #8oktober #alkmaarontzet #vierdevictorie #alkmaar #alkmaarsontzet
Drawing of spanish soldiers in the rain
September 9, 2025 at 7:41 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
The team portrait series draws its blade... ⚔️
Meet our code poet—where logic meets lyric, and every line strikes true.
A warrior of syntax.
#CreativePortraits #TeamIllustration #CodePoet #HistoricalGlowUp #PortraitSeries #illustration
July 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM
straatemans.bsky.social
The team portrait series bends the knee. 👑
All rise for the king—every idea he backs turns to gold.
Vision sharp as a sword, presence heavy as a crown.
And today, we toast to his reign—it's his birthday, after all. 🥂✨
#CreativePortraits #TeamIllustration #PortraitSeries #illustration #RoyalEnergy
July 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
straatemans.bsky.social
The team portrait series sets sail once more... ☠️🏴‍☠️
Introducing our pirate queen—she doesn’t do meetings, she calls councils of war.
Sails by gut, fights by grit, and negotiates like a storm at sea.
#CreativePortraits #HistoricalGlowUp #PortraitSeries #illustration #CorporateCorsair #SeaWitchEnergy
July 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
straatemans.bsky.social
The team portrait series marches onward... ⚔️
Behold our digital berserker. He doesn’t debug—he conquers code like villages at dawn.
The saga continues. 🩸🌑
#CreativePortraits #VikingVibes #CodeWarrior #TeamIllustration #CharacterDesign #PortraitSeries #illustration #ModernViking #CodeAndConquer
July 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
straatemans.bsky.social
In our team portrait series;
Behold our graphics Pasha—because when it comes to design, he rules. Master of layers, lord of layouts, sultan of spacing. 💻🖌️
#CreativePortraits #TeamIllustration #HistoricalGlowUp #PortraitSeries #DesignSultan
July 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
straatemans.bsky.social
I thought I was going to be better with posting…but 🤷🏼
The team portrait series conjures on... 🔮
Next up: our spellbinding sorceress. She doesn’t code—she casts.
Stay tuned for more magic. 🧙‍♀️✨
#CreativePortraits #TeamIllustration #WitchVibes #HistoricalGlowUp #PortraitSeries #illustration
July 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM