Jazz and Pop students Riny Douma and Julie Verkooijen nominated for Zwolle’s Student Entrepreneur of the Year award

Imagine this: you meet during your studies, hit it off instantly, and a few years later, you’re running a business together. That’s exactly what happened to Riny Douma and Julie Verkooijen. Both study Jazz & Pop at the Academy of Music in Zwolle and balance the busy life of a student with running their own company: Muziekles Harderwijk. And people are taking notice. With nearly forty students and a second location on the way, these young entrepreneurs have rightfully earned their nomination for the Zwolle Student Entrepreneur of the Year award, now in its fifth edition.

Blending art education with entrepreneurship

The nomination came as a surprise, but for Riny and Julie, it also feels like recognition for their hard work. “We started out small and without much of a plan, and now here we are. It’s truly an honor to be nominated,” Julie says proudly. Riny - who recently also did an internship at is own company - adds, “It shows that we’re doing something right and it’s a great acknowledgment of everything we’ve achieved so far.”

When asked how it feels to be the only art students in the competition, Julie smiles: “It’s really cool. These days, art education and entrepreneurship are more connected than they used to be. Our studies definitely encouraged that mindset.” Riny nods in agreement. “In the end, it’s up to you how much you do with it. Some students just want to focus on making music - and that’s great - but I believe it’s also important for art students to be entrepreneurial and approach the business side creatively. That mindset will take you much further.”

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