What would you say is the strangest thing about growing up?
The fact that unimportant matters, really don’t make a difference. With the years, you learn to care less about the things you would worry about when you were younger. That the small things in life are more appreciated. Family, friends, a walk with the dogs. It’s not that your world has become smaller, but you learn to see the things around you in perspective. It doesn’t all have to be grand and compelling anymore.
It’s no longer important what others (outside your inner circle) think of you, which also has a positive effect on your self-confidence. And physically, small inconveniences lure around the corner. Things you never considered or thought about. They’re suddenly right in front of you, but gravity overcomes all. Though, I feel privileged to get older, it’s not for everyone.
Tell us what you’d like us to know about yourself.
Despite or precisely why I am getting older, I am frequently asked again for modelling jobs. In addition to that, I design and make jewelry made of glass. I look after the grandchildren and keep myself busy with all sorts.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
This is a difficult question. What am I proud of? What have I achieved? After bringing 4 children into the world, I started styling. That work I did for many titles and companies. It satisfied and fulfilled me for about 20 years. However, I think I’m most proud of my children. Their attitude towards life, and the friendships they’ve build up with other young, friendly and inspiring people.
The life I have created with my husband. The house with garden that we have built ourselves, and still live in. Everything is in place.
What Do You Do For Work?
Since a year or 3, I’m more active as a “senior” model. I work in the Netherlands, Germany and France. Next to that, I design and make jewelry of glass.
What do you do to stay healthy?
Just keep on moving. Every day, I walk the dogs through the ‘Amsterdam Forrest’ or the beach instead, it’s a lovely start of the day.
Once a year, we go for a bike ride. Steaming off for three weeks in the open air, with our buddy Mees, a Parson Russell. We ride about 750/1000 kilometers. Sounds a bit fuddy-duddy, but you see so much more, the rhythm suits me. Landscapes slowly change, there’s small villages to visit, you can plump down, take a seat at a terrace after a few hours on the road.
If You Had a Warning Label, What Would It Be?
Too direct?
What are you most excited about this fall?
The trip to South Africa .
What are you most proud of?
My children .
Strangest recent middle-of-the-night thought?
All kinds of thoughts… But of course, all worries that come to mind and become bigger in the darkness of the night.
- Am I in control of everything, (which is impossible anyway)?
- Have I forgotten anything?
- Beautiful designs that go through my head.
- Imagine that……Trump gets granted a second term, or that the “foreign leaders from Poland, Hungary Romania become even bigger influencers”.
But you need to see all that in the right perspective.
What’s your age?
I am 69.
