MEET
Marlies, Harper, Mabel and Dax
Marlies Verhoeven Reijtenbagh is the co-founder and CEO of The Cultivist, a global arts club that reimagines how people engage with culture, offering insider access to the world’s leading museums, collections, and artists. With a background in global marketing at Sotheby’s and experience across art, fashion, and international affairs, she brings a uniquely expansive, international perspective to everything she does.
Based in the West Village Marlies balances her role in the arts world with life as a mother of three, Harper (13), Mabel (12), and Dax (8), and serves as an active board member and supporter of major cultural institutions. She’s one of those women who moves seamlessly between worlds, deeply informed, globally minded, and always impeccably pulled together.
Follow Marlies: @marlies.thecultivist
Marlies and Her Kids
Marlies and Her Kids
Rachelle: Okay. What does your perfect day in New York look like?
Harper: When the weather is perfect. Like, you know that autumn or spring weather where it's absolutely perfect? It's not too cold and not too warm? Those days, especially in the fall when there's all of the colors.
Marlies: Or maybe when you go for a perfect slice of pizza.
Rachelle: Oh, where's your perfect slice of pizza?
Marlies: Mama's place.
Harper: It's the New York Pizza.
Marlies: We clearly all have different opinions on the best pizza. I would say another perfect day in New York is walking down the streets of the West Village and running into friends, and it turning into a whole day of family and fun.
Dax: And having brunch at Golden Swan.
Rachelle: What's your favorite thing about being a mom?
Marlies: My favorite thing about being a mom is that it gives you a lot of perspective on what actually matters in life.
Rachelle: And what surprised you the most about being a mom?
Marlies: That each kid is so different and is their own person, and that's amazing.
Marlies: But it also means you don't really have that much influence in the end. You just have to accept who they are.
Rachelle: Can you explain what's on the sweaters?
Marlies: We have a Dutch expression, "doe maar gewoon," which means, just be normal. Be kind to everyone. Don't be crazy. Yeah.
