Marieke Janssen

My name is Marieke Janssen, and I have been working with sheep and their wool since 2017. During my studies, I became fascinated with sheep farming and their wool. So I decided to learn more about it. Animal husbandry is inextricably linked to the entire process and a beautiful end product.

In 2019 and 2023, I participated in the world championship sheep shearing and wool handling as the first Dutch wool handler. The connections I made during these competitions have allowed me to develop further internationally.

Since 2023, I have been apprenticed to Betty Stikkers, and we are working together on insulation research. I also have experience in testing wool fibres for microns and other wool qualities using an OFDA2000 machine.

In 2024, I co-founded Scheersport Nederland, with the aim of promoting the quality of shearing and wool handling in the Netherlands. We do this through courses, competitions and Dutch championships.

Internationally, I am affiliated with International Wool Harvesters, an English non-profit company that offers people the opportunity to learn how to shear with hand shears and handle wool, including sorting, twice a year.