Hi, I’m Youri Pruim from the Netherlands, and hot air balloons have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fascinated by them since I was just two years old.

My first balloon festival was the Friese Ballonfeesten in Joure when I was about six. I was a small kid, completely amazed by those huge colorful balloons in the sky. I still remember special shapes like Action Man, the Kangaroo Duo, and even a Scottish piper balloon. Moments like that really stayed with me.

When I was younger, I would cycle around my village just hoping to spot balloons somewhere in the distance. Later, when I got my driver’s license, I could finally go wherever the balloons were, and my passion only grew stronger.

In 2017 I started Ballooning Noord on Facebook and Instagram to share my adventures and love for ballooning. That same year I also began crewing with Westerwolde Ballooning, and I’m still proudly part of the team today.

Through this page I share photos and videos from balloon events all across Europe. For me, ballooning is not just a hobby, it’s a feeling of freedom, adventure, and pure magic.

I hope you enjoy following along, and if you ever have a question or would like to use a photo, feel free to reach out anytime.