Meet Parker and Rider: A Dutch-Chinese Couple Travel Vlog with Global Dreams

Hi there, and welcome to our blog! We’re Parker and Rider, a Dutch and Chinese couple travel vlog duo sharing our journey across cultures, countries, and (eventually) continents. Whether you’re here after watching one of our YouTube videos or you just stumbled upon us while searching for couple travel vloggers, we’re so glad you found us.

This blog post is our chance to tell you who we are, why we started this international couple travel vlog, and where we dream of going next. If you prefer watching instead of reading, check out the video version below!

Who Are Parker and Rider?

We’re Pieter and Ruiting — husband and wife, best friends, and long-time travel buddies. We’ve been married for over five years and together for even longer. Pieter (a.k.a. Parker) is Dutch, born and raised in a small town in the Netherlands. Ruiting (a.k.a. Rider) is from China and moved to the Netherlands after we lived together in China for several years.

Pieter works as a geography teacher, and Ruiting, who used to be a nurse in China, now works in childcare at a local daycare in the Netherlands. We both love learning about people, places, and how culture shapes everyday life — and that curiosity is a huge part of what fuels our vlogging journey.

Read more about us here.

Why Parker and Rider Started Vlogging

Travel has always been part of our relationship. From the earliest days, we’ve explored backstreets, tried strange (and delicious) foods, and taken spontaneous trips together. And almost always, we had a camera in hand. For years, we filmed little videos — just for ourselves and close friends. But recently, we realized:

Why not share our story with the world?

The idea of becoming couple travel vloggers felt like a natural next step. We love storytelling, editing, and capturing real moments — and we especially love showing life through both of our cultural lenses.

Our vlogs are not just about picture-perfect destinations. They’re about what it feels like to be an international couple navigating different ways of life. They’re about finding beauty in everyday routines, connecting with locals, and getting lost (sometimes literally) on the road less travelled.

Our Content: More Than Just Travel

Parker and Rider isn’t a typical travel channel. We focus on:

• Cultural contrasts: How Chinese and Dutch cultures differ in daily life, food, family, and social habits.
• Local life: We film in real places where people actually live — not just tourist attractions.
• Street food & markets: Especially during our China series.
• Life as an expat couple: Challenges, joys, and the unexpected moments that come with crossing borders and blending lives.
• Future van life: Our dream is to convert a van or buy an RV and drive from the Netherlands to China, capturing every kilometer along the way.

Our journey is divided into phases:

1. China Series – Life in China with Rider’s family, exploring markets, cooking traditions, and local communities.
2. Netherlands Series – Exploring hidden gems, small towns, and cultural quirks that even locals sometimes miss.
3. The Big RV Journey (coming in the future) – Driving from Europe to Asia, one village and one story at a time.

Behind the Name: Parker and Rider

You might be wondering where the name comes from. Well, it’s simple:

Whenever we come across a road sign saying P+R we joke that it’s an homage to our unbreakable bond and eternal love. We also use many Park and Ride parking lots in order to get into the city centers of cities we like to explore together. So we are the Parker and Rider.

Parker = Pieter. As a geography teacher, he’s always mapping things out, literally and figuratively. He’s the planner, the navigator, and the one who parks us in the right spot — even if it takes a few tries.

Rider = Ruiting. She brings the energy, warmth, and creativity. She’s will ride along with Pieter and support him wherever they go.

Together, we’re Parker and Rider: always riding to new adventures and parking in a safe spot to res.

What Makes Us Different as Couple Travel Vloggers

There are lots of travel couples out there, but here’s what we think makes us stand out:

• Cultural fusion: We’re not just travelers. We’re an international couple sharing real experiences shaped by our Dutch and Chinese backgrounds.
• Everyday stories: Not every adventure has to be a mountaintop moment. We find magic in daily routines, family visits, and cultural misunderstandings.
• Long-term vision: Our content isn’t just vacation highlights. It’s about building a long-term life of slow travel, meaningful connection, and intentional storytelling.

Our Dream: The NL to China Road Trip

Our biggest dream — and a huge motivation for starting this vlog — is to one day drive from the Netherlands to China (or the other way around) in our own RV or converted van. This overland journey would take us through dozens of countries, cultures, languages, and landscapes.

It’s not just about the kilometers. It’s about the people we’ll meet, the meals we’ll share, and the lessons we’ll learn along the way. We want to document the entire journey, from van build to border crossings, so others can come along for the ride — virtually.

Right now, we’re still in the planning and dreaming phase. We don’t have the van yet, or the time or funds to go full nomad. But we hope that with your support, that dream can become a reality.

If you like what we do, here’s how you can help:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly videos
• Share our content with friends who love travel and cross-cultural stories
• Consider becoming a Patron to support the RV journey and get exclusive updates

Join Parker and Rider On the Road

Our journey is just beginning, and we’d love to have you along for the ride. Whether you’re a fellow expat, a travel dreamer, or just someone curious about life beyond borders, there’s a place for you in the Parker and Rider community.

We promise real stories, honest reflections, and lots of laughter along the way. So buckle up — this is going to be a beautiful ride.

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next vlog!

– Parker and Rider (Pieter & Ruiting)

P.S. If you have any questions or messages for us, please go to our contact page. Love to hear from you!.