Educated as a landscape architect at the University of Wageningen (1978), Michael van Gessel is active in the broader field of landscape architecture and urbanism. Since 1997 he has worked as an independent advisor. Prior to this he was employed for eighteen years at Bureau B+B (urbanism and landscape architecture), the last seven as its director. He devotes half his time to the supervision of large scale projects such as: the development of the Belvédère in Maastricht; the development of the former harbour area in Amsterdam, IJ-oevers; the renovation of the Vondel Park in Amsterdam; the renovation and expansion of Artis, the Amsterdam Zoo. Landscape architectural projects take up the rest of his time. These projects include working on new parks (Stadspark and Waterpark Osdorp in Amsterdam; the Museum Park at the Oranjewoud estate in Heerenveen; Kromhoutpark in Tilburg), the renovation of old city parks and estates (Rijsterborgherpark in Deventer; Valkenbergpark in Breda; Oranjepark in Vlaardingen; Twickel in Delden; De Haar Castle in Haarzuilens), designing gardens for buildings (ING House; the embassies of the Netherlands in Mozambique and Thailand; the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, the Council of State in The Hague; Martini Hospital in Groningen; the Hermitage in Amsterdam), and envisioning schemes for large areas (the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie; the Grebbelinie; the Harbour Quarter of Deventer; the drainage area in Friesland). He realises these projects in collaboration with others, with individuals as well as with companies. For each project he selects the people best suited for the work at hand.