Privacy Policy
Last updated: 2 November 2026
1. Who I Am
Welcome to Merel Explores (https://merelexplores.com).
This website is owned and managed by Merel Hoffman, as a private individual.
For privacy-related questions, you can contact me at:
Name: Merel Hoffman
Email: mhcreatesss@gmail.com
Website: https://merelexplores.com
2. Personal Data I Collect
I may collect personal information when you:
- Visit and browse this website.
- Contact me through the contact form.
- Contact me directly by email.
- Interact with cookies and analytics tools on this website.
The information collected may include your name, email address, message, IP address and technical information about your device or browser, depending on the services and settings used.
3. Contact Form – SureForms
This website uses SureForms to provide its contact form.
When you submit the form, I may collect your name, email address and the message you provide. I use this information to respond to your enquiry and communicate with you.
Form submissions may be stored in the database of this WordPress website. Depending on the form configuration, additional services may process information for purposes such as spam prevention or integrations.
I do not use contact form submissions to send marketing emails unless you have separately agreed to receive them.
4. Google Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics through the Site Kit by Google plugin to understand how visitors use the website.
Google Analytics may collect information such as pages visited, time spent on the website, browser type, device information and approximate location.
This information helps me understand which content is useful to visitors and improve the website.
Analytics cookies and related tracking technologies are used only after the legally required consent has been obtained.
More information: https://policies.google.com/privacy
5. Cookies
This website may use cookies and similar technologies for essential website functionality, analytics and advertising.
Non-essential cookies and tracking technologies are used only after you have given consent where required by law. You can change or withdraw your cookie preferences through the cookie settings available on the website, if provided.
6. Advertising – Google AdSense
This website may display advertisements through Google AdSense.
If advertising is enabled, Google and its partners may use cookies or similar technologies to show advertisements, measure advertising performance and, where permitted, personalise ads.
Where required, visitors will be asked for consent before advertising cookies or personalised advertising technologies are used.
More information: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites
7. Affiliate Links
In the future, this website may contain affiliate links. If I introduce affiliate links, this policy will be updated accordingly.
Affiliate links may allow me to earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. Any affiliate relationships will be disclosed where appropriate.
8. Third-Party Websites
Some articles may contain links to external websites. I am not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. Please consult their privacy policies when visiting them.
9. How Long I Keep Your Data
I keep personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
Contact form submissions are retained for as long as necessary to handle and follow up on the enquiry. Technical and analytics data may be retained according to the settings and retention policies of the relevant services.
10. Sharing of Personal Data
I do not sell your personal data.
Information may be processed by service providers that help operate this website, such as WordPress.com, Google Analytics and, if enabled, advertising or spam-prevention services.
These providers may process information according to their own privacy policies and applicable data protection requirements.
11. Your Privacy Rights
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you may have the right to:
- Request access to your personal data.
- Request correction of inaccurate data.
- Request deletion of your personal data.
- Request restriction of processing.
- Object to certain types of processing.
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
- Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.
If you wish to exercise your rights, please contact me at mhcreatesss@gmail.com.
If you are in Belgium, you can also contact the Belgian Data Protection Authority: https://www.dataprotectionauthority.be/
12. Children’s Privacy
This website is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through this website, please contact me so that I can take appropriate action.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be published on this page, together with the updated date.
14. Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal data is handled, please contact:
Merel Hoffman
Merel Explores
Email: mhcreatesss@gmail.com
Website: https://merelexplores.com