Dirk and I have been together since the 1994 graduation gala at Zwijssen College, the high school we both attended.
We got married in 2002, and in 2010, we welcomed our daughter, Lieve.
Our home is in Veghel, but right now, we’re living in Bali for a while, and we absolutely love it here!
And you know what else we love?
Spending time in nature, enjoying great food, playing games together, getting creative, practicing yoga and meditation, and exploring new places in Bali.
Since September 2015, I’ve been an independent Brand Partner for Young Living essential oils. You can read all about how that journey started in the story below. I’m also a team leader for Team Oil Up, which includes about 60 enthusiastic distributors and around 590 happy customers.
Dirk is a PE teacher at a bilingual secondary school and also a certified Wim Hof Method instructor. Every day, he’s dedicated to supporting both his students’ and his own physical and mental well-being—pretty awesome, right?
On top of that, Dirk is an incredible chef. Every day, he whips up a feast on a plate for us. I know… I’m beyond blessed!
My story
A long time ago, I started noticing these little bottles of oil popping up on my friends Facebook feed. Back then, they were still a mystery to me, but my curiosity was instantly piqued. If only because of those beautifully colored bottles.
So, I did some digging online. I read countless success stories, and it seemed like there was an oil for just about everything. My first thought? This sounds too good to be true. So, I let it pass me by.
Still, I couldn’t get it out of my head
I kept feeling drawn to these oils. Something about them just felt like this is something I need to explore. At the time, my energy was completely drained—I was recovering from treatment for colon cancer. While the radiation, surgeries, and chemo had done their job, they had also taken a serious toll on my body. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. I felt tired all the time, had zero energy, slept poorly, and found myself saying no to fun things simply because I couldn’t keep up.
My friend who was sharing about the oils told me there were several oils that could support my recovery. That alone made it worth trying.
On top of that, our daughter is highly sensitive and often gets overstimulated. I figured the oils might help her too. And believe it or not… there was even an oil that could help with a snoring husband!
We were also planning a trip to Thailand, and I wanted to make my own natural mosquito repellent without DEET. And, of course, essential oils were exactly what I needed for that.
My husband and I had already been making a shift toward a more natural lifestyle. Fresh fruits and vegetables, cooking from scratch without processed foods, using natural skincare products, and choosing healthier alternatives whenever possible.
So, I took the leap
…I ordered the Premium Starter Kit from Young Living, thinking, “Well, let’s just give it a try and see how it goes.”
And oh my! The moment that box arrived and I opened it…
Pure bliss! The first thing I noticed was how incredibly pure the oils smelled. Absolutely no synthetic undertones like you sometimes get with lower-quality oils. I had tried something similar before, but those gave me headaches. Not these. These were the real deal. Pure, powerful, and effective.
Since that day, I’ve used my diffuser every single day. In fact, we now have several of them around the house!
But it didn’t stop at just diffusing. We started using the oils in so many ways. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Every single day, they support us. And beyond just the oils, we’ve swapped out so many products in our home. Toxin-free cleaners, shampoo, skincare, toothpaste, you name it.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
And now? My mission is to inspire as many people as possible to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.
Step by step.
Drop by drop.
Because I truly believe—it makes life better for everyone.




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