On a quiet Saturday morning in November, we meet Marieke Meulendijks at Huis de Vicq — a 17th-century canal residence along Amsterdam’s so-called Golden Bend. Morning light enters the room beneath a painted ceiling, while the old beams reveal the building’s age. Today, the house carries a different rhythm. It houses the Róhe in-house atelier, where tailoring, research and experimentation unfold behind preserved façades. Surrounded by centuries of craftsmanship, the setting underlines her point: progress takes time.
“I’m going to chase that dream anyway,” she says, looking back at the moment she decided to launch her own brand. “And if it doesn’t work, then at least I tried.” Starting Róhe wasn’t a romantic leap. It meant stepping away from established structures and taking full responsibility for the outcome. Uncertainty didn’t disappear with experience — it simply became something to work with. “We all live with it. The question is what you do with it.” Rather than waiting for perfect conditions, she chose movement.
Launched in 2021, Róhe entered an industry already in transition. Instead of responding with speed, Marieke leaned into intention. Collections are developed with longevity in mind; materials are selected for durability and feel. Growth is approached with intention rather than urgency. In the atelier upstairs, garments are refined through draping and in-house pattern making, continuing a tradition of tailoring while questioning it at the same time. The building — where art, architecture and craftsmanship come together — mirrors the brand’s foundation: rooted in history, yet open to reinterpretation. “Doing nothing is more dangerous than making the wrong decision,” she reflects. Progress, even imperfect, creates direction.
Looking back, she doesn’t frame her decision as fearless. It was necessary. It was uncomfortable. And it strengthened her sense of ownership. “And if it doesn’t work,” she adds, “then a deep bow.” Not failure, but perspective. In this historic setting, her words feel calm and considered. Entrepreneurship, as she sees it, is not about certainty. It is about stepping forward anyway — and allowing each decision to shape what follows.