LAW OF THE SEA x Arctic Exped - Julien on the edge of the Atlantic

For Julien, Iceland isn’t just a place — it’s a way of life. From diving into the Atlantic to navigating glaciers and volcanic landscapes, he lives by the rhythm of nature. In our latest story, he shares how the ocean shaped his path, what it’s like to live surrounded by untamed beauty, and why Iceland is unlike anywhere else on earth.

What does Iceland mean to you? What do you feel when you're out in nature?
Iceland is home now. Its raw, untamed nature is unmatched. Just thirty minutes outside the capital and you're deep in the wilderness. Even after all these years, we're still discovering new places. Out here, I feel like a modern-day explorer every time.

How has the ocean shaped you? Or influenced your work?
My connection with the ocean started with a short career in the military as a para-commando. After that, I worked as a dive instructor across Asia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. These days, we live right on the edge of the Atlantic. The sea and Iceland are inseparable; they belong together. My very first job here was teaching diving.

What makes Iceland different from anywhere else on earth?
The untouched nature. The fact that you can still find places no one’s heard of. Where steaming hot springs meet glacial rivers, where green moss fields, red rhyolite mountains and black sand beaches all collide. The range of landscapes here is wild and endless.

What was your first thought when you started working with our brand?
It felt like an honour, really. Law of the Sea is young, sharp, and rooted in quality. The visual identity spoke to me right away. And I loved that I finally got to collaborate with fellow Dutch speakers on a project like this that felt special.

What’s your favorite spot on the island and why?
That's one of the questions I get most from guests and it always depends on the season.
In deep winter: the Troll Peninsula up north. Skiing from mountain peaks straight down to the sea. Endless white fjords and ocean views.

In summer: the Highlands. The heart of Iceland is only accessible for 2–3 months a year due to snowfall. Geothermal fields, glaciers, and thousands of kilometers of rugged gravel roads. You need proper 4x4 skills to get through there.

In spring: the alpine mountains in the southeast, home to Iceland’s highest peaks. Great climbing routes and glacier adventures around the Vatnajökull ice cap.

What do you want visitors to truly understand about this landscape?
How remote it is. How wild. Iceland strips everything back and it resets you. You feel that in your bones.

How do you see the relationship between people and nature here?
There’s deep humility toward nature here. Icelanders know how brutal it can get 120km/h wind gusts, wind chills down to -30°C, volcanic eruptions, glacial floods. Out here, nature makes the rules. We adjust our plans daily to follow its lead.