diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 092747c..d0b2d8d 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ DB_NAME="focizdev"
 DB_USER="focizdev_user"
 DB_PASS="F0c1z_Dev_Secure_2026!"
 
+# Omgeving: 'development' (knippert rood) of 'live' (knippert groen)
+APP_ENV="development"
+
 # Applicatie URL (voor uitnodigingslinks)
 APP_URL="https://dev.fociz.nl"
 
diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a346f22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# MariaDB Verbinding
+DB_HOST="127.0.0.1"
+DB_PORT="3306"
+DB_NAME="fociz"
+DB_USER="root"
+DB_PASS=""
+
+# Omgeving: 'development' (knippert rood) of 'live' (knippert groen)
+APP_ENV="development"
+
+# Applicatie URL (voor uitnodigingslinks)
+APP_URL="https://uw-domein.nl"
+
+# Applicatie Geheime Sleutel (willekeurige tekenreeks)
+APP_SECRET="fociz-maria-db-super-secret-key-998877"
diff --git a/config/config.php b/config/config.php
index 8e4677e..45bcd5d 100644
--- a/config/config.php
+++ b/config/config.php
@@ -1,40 +1,82 @@
 <?php
 /**
  * Fociz Applicatie- en Databaseconfiguratie
+ * Laadt automatisch .env (of .env.example indien .env niet bestaat)
  */
 
-// Automatisch eenvoudige .env ondersteuning indien aanwezig
-$envFile = __DIR__ . '/../.env';
-if (file_exists($envFile)) {
-    $lines = file($envFile, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES | FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES);
-    foreach ($lines as $line) {
-        if (str_starts_with(trim($line), '#')) continue;
-        if (strpos($line, '=') !== false) {
-            list($name, $value) = explode('=', $line, 2);
-            $name = trim($name);
-            $value = trim($value, " \t\n\r\0\x0B\"'");
-            if (!array_key_exists($name, $_SERVER) && !array_key_exists($name, $_ENV)) {
-                putenv(sprintf('%s=%s', $name, $value));
-                $_ENV[$name] = $value;
-                $_SERVER[$name] = $value;
+$envVars = [];
+
+// 1. Zoek naar .env of val terug op .env.example
+$envCandidates = [
+    __DIR__ . '/../.env',
+    __DIR__ . '/../.env.example',
+];
+
+foreach ($envCandidates as $envFile) {
+    if (file_exists($envFile)) {
+        $lines = file($envFile, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES | FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES);
+        if ($lines !== false) {
+            foreach ($lines as $line) {
+                $line = trim($line);
+                // Negeer lege regels en commentaarregels (# of //)
+                if ($line === '' || str_starts_with($line, '#') || str_starts_with($line, '//')) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if (strpos($line, '=') !== false) {
+                    list($name, $value) = explode('=', $line, 2);
+                    $name = trim($name);
+                    $value = trim($value);
+                    // Verwijder omlijstende aanhalingstekens (" of ')
+                    $value = trim($value, " \t\n\r\0\x0B\"'");
+
+                    // Sla op in array en zet in globale PHP variabelen
+                    $envVars[$name] = $value;
+                    $_ENV[$name] = $value;
+                    $_SERVER[$name] = $value;
+                    @putenv("{$name}={$value}");
+                }
             }
         }
+        break; // Stop zodra we het eerste geldige bestand hebben ingeladen
     }
 }
 
-// MariaDB Verbindingsgegevens (pas deze aan naar uw server instellingen of gebruik .env)
-define('DB_HOST', getenv('DB_HOST') ?: '127.0.0.1');
-define('DB_PORT', getenv('DB_PORT') ?: '3306');
-define('DB_NAME', getenv('DB_NAME') ?: 'focizdev');
-define('DB_USER', getenv('DB_USER') ?: 'focizdev_user');
-define('DB_PASS', getenv('DB_PASS') !== false ? getenv('DB_PASS') : 'F0c1z_Dev_Secure_2026!');
+/**
+ * Veilige helper om een omgevingsvariabele op te vragen
+ */
+if (!function_exists('fociz_env')) {
+    function fociz_env(string $key, $default = null) {
+        global $envVars;
+        if (isset($envVars[$key]) && $envVars[$key] !== '') {
+            return $envVars[$key];
+        }
+        if (isset($_ENV[$key]) && $_ENV[$key] !== '') {
+            return $_ENV[$key];
+        }
+        if (isset($_SERVER[$key]) && $_SERVER[$key] !== '') {
+            return $_SERVER[$key];
+        }
+        $val = @getenv($key);
+        if ($val !== false && $val !== '') {
+            return $val;
+        }
+        return $default;
+    }
+}
+
+// MariaDB Verbindingsgegevens (uit .env of .env.example)
+define('DB_HOST', fociz_env('DB_HOST', '127.0.0.1'));
+define('DB_PORT', fociz_env('DB_PORT', '3306'));
+define('DB_NAME', fociz_env('DB_NAME', 'fociz'));
+define('DB_USER', fociz_env('DB_USER', 'root'));
+define('DB_PASS', fociz_env('DB_PASS', ''));
 define('DB_CHARSET', 'utf8mb4');
 
 // Applicatie instellingen
 define('APP_NAME', 'Fociz');
-define('APP_URL', getenv('APP_URL') ?: ((isset($_SERVER['HTTPS']) && $_SERVER['HTTPS'] === 'on' ? 'https://' : 'http://') . ($_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'] ?? 'localhost')));
-define('APP_SECRET', getenv('APP_SECRET') ?: 'fociz-maria-db-super-secret-key-998877');
+define('APP_URL', fociz_env('APP_URL', ((isset($_SERVER['HTTPS']) && $_SERVER['HTTPS'] === 'on' ? 'https://' : 'http://') . ($_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'] ?? 'localhost'))));
+define('APP_SECRET', fociz_env('APP_SECRET', 'fociz-maria-db-super-secret-key-998877'));
+define('APP_ENV', fociz_env('APP_ENV', 'development')); // 'development' of 'live'
 
 // Tijdzone
 date_default_timezone_set('Europe/Amsterdam');
-
diff --git a/includes/env_badge.php b/includes/env_badge.php
index 6e7fcd3..13140bf 100644
--- a/includes/env_badge.php
+++ b/includes/env_badge.php
@@ -9,23 +9,19 @@
  * - OP DE DEV OMGEVING:  $environment = 'development';  (Rood met 'Development' + radar ping)
  * - OP DE MAIN OMGEVING: $environment = 'live';         (Groen met 'Live' + radar ping)
  * 
- * U kunt de waarde hieronder aanpassen, of instellen via APP_ENV in .env.
+ * U kunt dit hieronder aanpassen, of instellen via APP_ENV in .env / .env.example!
  */
 
-// Bepaal de omgeving: 'development' of 'live' (of 'main')
-$environment = 'development'; // <-- ZET DIT OP DE MAIN SERVER OP 'live'
+require_once __DIR__ . '/../config/config.php';
 
-// Optionele fallback als het in .env gedefinieerd is
-if (getenv('APP_ENV')) {
-    $envVal = strtolower(trim(getenv('APP_ENV')));
-    if (in_array($envVal, ['live', 'production', 'prod', 'main'])) {
-        $environment = 'live';
-    } elseif (in_array($envVal, ['dev', 'development', 'staging', 'test'])) {
-        $environment = 'development';
-    }
+// Standaard waarde (wordt overschreven als APP_ENV in .env staat)
+$environment = defined('APP_ENV') ? APP_ENV : 'development';
+
+if (function_exists('fociz_env') && fociz_env('APP_ENV')) {
+    $environment = fociz_env('APP_ENV');
 }
 
-$isLive = in_array(strtolower($environment), ['live', 'production', 'prod', 'main']);
+$isLive = in_array(strtolower(trim($environment)), ['live', 'production', 'prod', 'main']);
 ?>
 
 <!-- FLASHY OMGEVINGSINDICATOR LINKS BOVENIN -->
@@ -66,4 +62,3 @@ $isLive = in_array(strtolower($environment), ['live', 'production', 'prod', 'mai
         </div>
     <?php endif; ?>
 </div>
-