A resident from Breda, the Netherlands, Pieter Bastiaans is an independent defence correspondent and photographer who has a background in the Dutch military.

Pieter served in the Royal Netherlands Army for 18 years, 12 of which as a commissioned officer. During this period he built up a strong network of contacts in the defence and aerospace industry as well as in the armed forces at home and abroad.

His interest in worldwide defence and security developments motivated him to venture into the world of news writing. A contributor to a wide range of publications, Pieter started working for Shephard Media in 2011.