How do you know each other?
We first met each other in 2004 at Ladies Night at the Union. That group expanded over freshman weekend and Welcome Week and was completed when Thijs joined our mentor group. Later, we joined a project team where we got to know each other well.
Why the name?
In the early days of our little group, sparks regularly flew between several members. Rietzeilers is a nod to this period. Now, we’re all just good friends.
Why do you still hang out?
We’ve become very close, and so have the WAGs and HABs. We see each other on birthdays, have dinner together, go to the sauna, on holidays, play dates with our children and weddings.
We’ve even embarked on business ventures together. In October, we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary with a weekend in Delft.
Favourite student life anecdote?
One member of the group – no names – spent a lot of time at Kriminele (annual party of student fraternity DSC, eds.). Despite her nocturnal activities, she was never late for Design 1 the following morning. Her coat, however, gave off such an intense stench that it never took long for the studio to clear.
Where was the picture taken?
At Thijs’s 40th birthday, where all Rietzeilers reunited (except Laura, who lives in Italy).
Myrte Loosjes (40, IDE and a master’s degree in civil engineering 2011)
“IDE didn’t scratch my engineering itch, so I switched to a master’s degree in civil engineering. I then became a structural engineer at IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs in Rotterdam. A few years ago, I stumbled across a degree programme in ecological garden design, which combined design with environmental and climate issues. I love being able to combine my creativity and love for nature in my job, which I now get to do for 1.5 days a week with De Ronde Tuin, my own garden design company, alongside my work at IMd.”
Roos van Genuchten (38, IDE 2011)
“I followed Marlies to KPN. Having graduated with a master’s degree in strategic product design, I couldn’t wait to work on innovative products. Instead, my brief was to: “sell what we have now.” It was a great learning experience. I enjoyed translating technical innovations to customers, and customer requirements to technical innovations. After 10 years, I felt an increasing need to make a positive impact on the world. I work at Joulz, a tech company that works on the energy transition. It’s based in Delft, so I get to cycle from Voorburg to the office every day, passing the Schie and my old uni town.”
Marleen Strien-Trommelen (37, IDE 2011)
“I started at PostNL as the formula manager of shop-in-shop post offices. Later, I joined a company that built web shops for major fashion brands. During my student days, I had my own business in graphic design and I wanted to explore doing it full time. Soon after, the Entrepreneurs’ Association for Stadshart Woerden approached me to help their marketing efforts. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past 6 years, along with city marketing for other cities.”
Thijs van Oorschot (40, IDE 2009)
“I started in AE in 2002 before switching to ID in 2004. After graduating, I became co-founder and CTO of NightBalance, where I worked with IDE alumna Eline van Beest to develop her idea for an innovative treatment for sleep apnoea. I look back on the adventure with great pride. After the company was sold to Philips, I became a consultant. I now work at LiGalli, where we are developing a medical product for personalised vaginal administering of medication.”
Marlies Dusseljee (38, IDE 2010)
“I started as a marketer and trainee at KPN. Next, I went to the innovation department. After 7.5 years, our family moved to Dubai for 4 years. With my own company, Chiqadee, I now help organisations create the best possible staff experiences. I have to say that my ID skills come in pretty handy. One of my favourite things to do is facilitating team sessions with creative working methods.”