Privacy.
What happens to your data when you visit this site or send me a message.
Who I am
This site belongs to Merlijn van der Male, based in the Netherlands. I’m responsible for the personal data handled through it. You can reach me at merlijnvdmale@gmail.com.
Contact form
When you use the contact form, I receive your name, email address, company if you add it, and your message. I use these only to answer you and follow up. The legal basis is my legitimate interest in responding to people who contact me. Messages reach me by email, through my website host’s mail server and Gmail. I keep them only as long as I need them for that conversation, and I don’t sell or share them for marketing.
Google reCAPTCHA
To keep spam out of the contact form, this site uses Google reCAPTCHA v3. It looks at how the page is used and sends data such as your IP address and browser details to Google, which may process it outside the EU. Google’s own privacy policy and terms of service apply to this.
Google Fonts
This site loads its font from Google Fonts. To do this, your browser connects to Google, which receives your IP address.
Google Analytics
If you allow it, this site uses Google Analytics to show me which pages get read and how people get in touch. It sets cookies and sends data such as your IP address, device details and the pages you visit to Google, which may process it outside the EU. The legal basis is your consent. Advertising features are switched off, and the data is kept for 2 months. You can change your choice at any time through Analytics settings at the bottom of each page. The password-protected CV page isn’t measured.
Cookies
Analytics cookies are only set if you allow them, and this site doesn’t use advertising cookies. Your analytics choice is saved in your browser for a year. reCAPTCHA may set cookies for spam protection. If you open the password-protected CV page, WordPress sets a cookie that remembers your access.
Hosting
My hosting provider stores this site and may keep technical server logs, such as IP addresses, to keep it secure and running.
Your rights
You can ask me to show, correct or delete your personal data, or object to how I use it. Email me and I’ll respond within a month. You can also file a complaint with the Dutch data protection authority, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens.
Last updated: October 31, 2026.