About the founder: Marie-Claire Aarts LL.M.

Marie-Claire Aarts holds a Master’s in International Law from Utrecht University and runs Legal Hybrid, a legal OSINT firm which focuses on mitigating maritime and emerging markets risks.

Legal Hybrid was founded in 2006. The new travel safety activities started in 2023.

Marie-Claire brings 25+ years of experience in volatile regions to the table. Her career includes foreign correspondence and HUMINT.OSINT competitive/strategic intelligence in Southeast Asia and Africa.

She has witnessed major events from up close, such as the Khmer Rouge amnesty in Cambodia, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that killed 87,000, the Hong Kong handover in 1997 as well as the demonstrations in 2019, and more recently the incidents in Red Sea corridor.

She is currently finishing a handbook for travelers to unconventional locations, The High-Risk Travel Handbook — out in early 2026.

Certifications and Standards

All travel advice aligns with ISO 31030:2021 and UN BSAFE standards. Marie-Claire holds certifications in Kidnapping and Hostage Survival (DisasterReady), UN Security Awareness, and Active Shooter Incident response (BSAFE).