About Kristian Koopman: Co-Founder of Tolk2Go
In short: From moving to the Netherlands at age four to co-founding a platform that is changing how interpreters are booked. Kristian's personal experience with language barriers drives his mission to make interpreting accessible, transparent and fair.
Active in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and France
Kristian Koopman — building a fairer interpreting industry
Innovation in the Interpreting Sector
Kristian Koopman is one of the driving forces behind Tolk2Go, a pioneering online platform transforming the interpreting sector in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. As a co-founder, Kristian brings a unique combination of personal experience, technical knowledge and a passion for innovation to the platform.
His goal from day one has been straightforward: interpreting services should be as easy to book as an Uber or Airbnb — with fair rates for both clients and interpreters. No agencies controlling the market. No opaque pricing. No waiting days for a callback. Just a transparent platform where qualified interpreters and clients find each other directly.
Kristian's Journey
At the age of four, Kristian moved to the Netherlands from Slovenia. Growing up in a new country with a different language gave him a firsthand understanding of what it means to face a language barrier — at school, at the doctor's office, at government counters. These are not abstract problems for Kristian. They are lived experiences.
That personal history is what makes Tolk2Go more than a business. It is the reason the platform exists. Kristian understands what it feels like when communication breaks down and how much difference the right interpreter at the right moment can make.
Our Origins
The story of Tolk2Go begins with a family that saw the interpreting industry from the inside — and decided to change it. Kristian, together with his mother Svetlana and his father Jaap, built Tolk2Go from the ground up.
Strategy, growth, partnerships and client relations. Kristian drives the commercial side of Tolk2Go and connects the platform with clients across sectors.
As a Russian-Dutch interpreter with more than 20 years of experience, Svetlana saw the sector's shortcomings firsthand. Her insight into what interpreters need forms the foundation of Tolk2Go.
The technical architect behind the platform. With experience at IBM and TNO, Jaap built the technology that makes real-time interpreter booking possible.
Together, they saw the inefficiencies and injustices within the traditional interpreting industry — agencies controlling pricing, interpreters undervalued, clients left in the dark — and created a platform that puts transparency, fairness and choice first.
Vision and Mission
Kristian's vision for Tolk2Go is simple: interpreting services should be as accessible and easy to book as any modern online service — with fair rates for both clients and interpreters. Through smart technology and a client-centred approach, Tolk2Go aims to innovate an industry that was long overdue for change.
All-in rates visible before booking. Click the orange question mark for a full cost breakdown — interpreter rate, preparation, travel, mediation fee. No hidden costs, no surprises.
Designed for quick, intuitive booking. Find the right interpreter, check their profile, read reviews and send a request — all in minutes, not days. No paperwork, no phone calls.
Interpreters set their own rates, manage their own schedule and build their reputation through verified reviews. They are treated as the professionals they are — not as anonymous resources.
Real-time availability, instant notifications, multiple simultaneous requests and a matching system that connects clients with the most suitable interpreter for their specific needs.
Kristian's Role at Tolk2Go
At Tolk2Go, Kristian is involved in the strategic direction, growth and development of the platform, and in establishing new partnerships. His work spans everything from client relations and sector outreach to shaping the platform's commercial strategy.
- Client focus: ensuring the platform meets the real needs of organisations booking interpreters — from hospitals and courts to businesses and schools
- Strategic partnerships: building relationships with organisations, municipalities and companies that need reliable interpreting services
- Innovation: identifying opportunities to improve the booking experience and solve real problems in the interpreting workflow
- Entrepreneurship: driving the growth of Tolk2Go from a startup idea to a platform serving 3300+ clients across multiple countries
- Sector knowledge: combining lived experience as a newcomer with deep understanding of how interpreting services work in practice
What Tolk2Go Has Built
What started as a family project driven by frustration with the status quo has grown into a platform that serves clients and interpreters across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and France.
- 1600+ interpreters across 190+ languages — from common European languages to rare combinations
- 4.7 average rating across 700+ verified reviews on Reviews.io
- 24/7 availability — book an interpreter any time, including evenings, weekends and holidays
- All sectors covered — legal, medical, business, education, government, notarial, construction, agriculture and more
- On-site and remote — interpreters available at your location or via telephone and video
- No contracts, no minimum volumes — book what you need, when you need it
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kristian Koopman an interpreter himself?
No. Kristian is the co-founder of Tolk2Go and handles the commercial and strategic side of the platform. His mother Svetlana Mikelevich is the interpreter in the family, with more than 20 years of professional experience. Her insight into the interpreting profession helped shape the platform from the start.
What motivated the founding of Tolk2Go?
The traditional interpreting industry was opaque, slow and unfair — both for clients and interpreters. Agencies controlled pricing and assignment, interpreters had little autonomy, and clients had no visibility into who they were booking. Kristian, Svetlana and Jaap set out to build a transparent platform where interpreters and clients connect directly.
Where did Kristian grow up?
Kristian was born in Slovenia and moved to the Netherlands at the age of four. Growing up as a newcomer with a different language gave him a personal understanding of the challenges that language barriers create — an experience that directly influenced his decision to co-found Tolk2Go.
What is Kristian's role at Tolk2Go?
Kristian handles sales, strategy, growth and partnerships. He is responsible for the commercial direction of the platform, building relationships with clients and organisations, and ensuring Tolk2Go continues to develop in a way that serves both interpreters and clients.
How can I contact Kristian or the Tolk2Go team?
You can reach the Tolk2Go team through the contact page. Whether you have questions about the platform, want to discuss a partnership or need help booking an interpreter — the team is happy to help.
Is Tolk2Go available outside the Netherlands?
Yes. Tolk2Go is active in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and France. The platform continues to expand, and interpreters across 190+ languages are available for bookings in these countries.
What makes Tolk2Go different from traditional interpreting agencies?
Tolk2Go is a platform, not an agency. Clients browse interpreter profiles, compare qualifications and reviews, and choose who they want to book — directly. Pricing is transparent, interpreters set their own rates, and the platform is available 24/7. There are no contracts and no minimum volumes. Read more on the new way to book page.
Explore More
How Tolk2Go was founded on Christmas Eve 2017 — the full story.
What makes Tolk2Go fundamentally different from traditional agencies.
Meet Svetlana Mikelevich — interpreter with 20+ years of experience.
Meet Jaap van den Eersten — IT architect behind the Tolk2Go platform.