Hello from Toronto, Canada! We are Alex and Ruud. Thank you for looking at our profile and considering us as potential adoptive parents for your child. We appreciate that making an adoption plan comes with many emotions, and no matter what you decide, we wish you all the best in weighing your options.

Having a family with children has been a dream for both of us since we were young. So naturally, we have been talking about adoption since our first date. We hope to adopt in the United States because maintaining an open adoption is important to us.

We are happy to share this profile to show who we are and what we can offer a child. We are so excited to be on the road to starting a family!

We met in 2017 and started dating in 2018 after going on vacation together to Lisbon, Portugal. We got engaged in 2019, and after a pandemic delay, we tied the knot in 2022. We love taking our dog, Lisbon, out for walks or -even better- a swim in the lake near our home.

We love to travel, and visit Europe (Ruud’s family) and the USA at least once a year. We enjoy quiet evenings on the couch, meals with friends, and because of Alex’s large and close family, a big family birthday party is never far away. We also attend live theatre almost every month.

Alex Here! I was born and raised in downtown Toronto. I’m a lawyer and have my own small law firm. I am a history buff and a sci-fi geek. I grew up watching Star Trek, and I still love shows like Game of Thrones, and Halo. My favorite video games include Civ V, and Elden Ring, and I love a good museum, almost as much as ancient ruins. I love adventures. As a kid, I would bike around all day, and as soon as I could, I got a part time job to support my travel goals. Travel highlights include the Colosseum in Rome, Pyramids in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Great Wall of China.

I love food, bakeries, and cooking. Although Ruud’s parents don’t speak English, and I don’t speak Dutch, we’ve connected through food. Ruud and I prepare a big meal for his family each time we visit. Cooking is one of the ways my family shows love, and I can’t wait to build a family with Ruud and pass down the recipes, flavors, and traditions of my childhood.

I feel so fortunate to spend my life with Alex, a thoughtful and fearless individual who deeply cares for those around him. Incredibly smart, Alex has a passion for learning about art, history, and politics.

Alex possesses a strong sense of justice, always standing up for himself and his loved ones. As a lawyer, he impressively advocates for his clients, especially those who are less fortunate. He maintains close friendships from high school and college, as well as bonds formed later in life. He makes himself available to support his friends in times of need.

He loves hosting dinners, spending hours in the kitchen to create amazing meals, and has an uncanny love for baked goods—when we were in Lisbon, we visited at least ten bakeries.

Alex also enjoys spending time in nature, frequently going on camping trips to national parks - which is something he would love to do with our future child.

Hi! I'm Ruud. I was born in the Netherlands and grew up on a farm with my parents and big brother. My childhood was joyous and I spent a lot of time playing outside. I come from a very large family (both my parents have 11 siblings), so naturally, I spent a lot of time with my brother and cousins growing up.

After becoming a Pediatrician, I moved to Canada for specialized training in rare diseases. While my job can be busy, I’m also lucky to have the flexibility in where and when I spend my hours. This way, I never have to miss important family events.

In my downtime, I enjoy baking Dutch bread, watching movies, and going to the theatre to watch musicals and comedy shows.

When I think about starting a family, I’m excited about taking Alex and our future child out to explore all the cultures Toronto has to offer.

Before meeting Ruud I couldn’t imagine being so in love with someone – I don’t know when I stopped believing in that kind of love, or maybe I just never thought it would happen to me. Ruud is my Rom-Com “happy ever after” come true. I know that sounds so silly, but he really is my rock. Ruud is reliable, trustworthy and strong. In him, I found a partner I can conquer life’s challenges with.

Ruud’s so smart, and genuinely tries to understand other perspectives: I think that’s what makes him such an excellent doctor, husband, and hopefully one day, father. Ruud’s job often involves scared parents at a hospital with a child that’s too young to communicate what they’re feeling. It takes a lot of compassion and listening to be able to help patients in such situations. Healing children is a big part of who he is and what brings him joy, and one of the many reasons why I love him so much.

We live in Toronto, a big city with a small-town feel. Like most of Canada, Toronto is extremely safe and offers free healthcare for everyone. Toronto is often celebrated as one of the most diverse cities in the world: over half of the people living here were born outside of Canada. There are many green spaces all around the city for children and dogs. At this moment, we live near Lake Ontario, which offers beaches, parks and places to cool down in the summer. In 2025, we will move to a house near a huge park that measures 400-football fields. The schools in that neighborhood are some of the best of the city, which has attracted many families with young children.

Alex's family is originally from China, with people from different cultural backgrounds having married into the family. The majority of Alex’s family live in the same part of the city, and aside from Alex’s parents, siblings and their six children, we regularly see various aunts, uncles, cousins and their children too. It’s common for family events to include more than 20 people, and almost every month there is a birthday or holiday to celebrate together. Food is a huge part of Chinese culture and all of the frequent gatherings involve feasts. It is common to have a mix of Chinese and other foods, and every Thanksgiving requires a turkey and ham. Alex’s mother loves spending time with the small children and she is excited about the prospect of a new grandchild.

Ruud's parents, brother and sister-in-law live in a small village in the Netherlands, close to most of the extended family (including 4 adopted cousins). Although they live far away, we make sure to visit them at least once a year. They are thrilled about our adoption plans and can’t wait to meet our future child. They are excited to show them the theme parks in the Netherlands where they took Ruud when he was a child.

We are grateful for your consideration and the opportunity to share our story with you. We hope this profile has given you an impression of who we are and what life we can offer your child. Our hearts are open, and we are committed to maintaining a connection that respects your wishes.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us.
~ Alex and Ruud