Rogier van Rossem

Rogier van Rossem was born on 2 October 1974 in Tilburg. From an early age, he had a profound passion for animals, and pets have always been a part of the household in which Rogier grew up.

At just six years old, Rogier began keeping reptiles and amphibians—a passion that would, years later, come to dominate his professional life. Around the same time, the specialist terrarium shop De Kameleon opened its doors in Tilburg, and Rogier soon became a frequent visitor.

At the age of fifteen, Rogier was given the opportunity to join the company where he had already been a regular customer for years. This allowed him to further develop his knowledge of reptiles and amphibians.

Following studies in animal care, veterinary assistance, and dog behaviour, Rogier worked not only at De Kameleon but also for the educational department at Safaripark Beekse Bergen, where he co-developed the guided tour programme for the walking route. At the same time, he worked in dog training for placement issues and assisted as a veterinary nurse at Dierenkliniek Den Herd in Tilburg.

His passion for reptiles and amphibians never waned, and eventually he made the decision to pursue it full-time at De Kameleon, where he has remained employed ever since the age of fifteen. In 2005, Rogier took over the business from its then-owner, Reinier Plooijer. Since then, the shop has grown into its current form, with two floors showcasing animals to customers—all of which come from captive-bred sources.

From 2005 onwards, new opportunities arose to further develop Rogier’s other passions: education and conservation. This drive led to the founding of Stichting Herpetofauna in 2008. Herpetofauna is a nature conservation organisation focused on the protection of reptiles and amphibians, their habitats, the provision of education, and the support of scientific research. The organisation often acts as a knowledge partner to other institutions and government bodies. Today, the foundation operates in 23 countries.

Thanks to his extensive knowledge, Rogier has been actively involved in the development of professional qualifications and examinations for herpetology. He delivers numerous courses in the fields of animal welfare and behaviour, and regularly serves as a guest lecturer on herpetological topics.

Rogier has long served on the board of Stichting Dierbaar and the Reptile and Amphibian Working Group of the PVH (Platform Verantwoord Huisdierenbezit). He also spent several years as an active member of the Dibevo Committee of Experts.

Currently, Rogier serves on the advisory board of Save The Snakes and is a board member of the King Cobra Conservancy. Drawing on this expertise, he is regularly invited to speak at international conferences.

Other animal groups have also always interested Rogier, particularly the connection and relationship between humans and animals. For this reason, in collaboration with the municipality of Tilburg and several others, Rogier co-founded the nature education centre ’t Valleike, which also includes a petting zoo. As chair of the board, he is involved in the centre’s daily operations. Rogier frequently engages with local policymakers on animal-related policy development in the Tilburg region.

At the national level, Rogier is also active in the fields of animal welfare and legislation through the network organisation Our-EARTH. He often gives lectures and is closely involved in course-based education in the Netherlands.

Rogier has written three children’s books on conservation.
In 2022, his book Het Grote Terrarium Handboek (“The Complete Terrarium Handbook”) was published. This comprehensive reference work on the most commonly kept species in captivity also serves as a study book for professional qualifications.

He lives in Tilburg with his wife Ineke and their three children: Ocean, Darwin and Summer.