Mathanje den Boer-Besemer is married and the mother of three wonderful boys. She was born in 1976 on a Dutch military base in Blomberg, Germany, where she spent most of her childhood. At an early age, she obtained all her swimming diplomas and immediately joined the DLRG (Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft). Around the age of fourteen, she also began assisting with teaching the youngest children.

Shortly before her seventeenth birthday, she returned to the Netherlands. There, she joined a local lifeguard association and completed her MDGO-AB education. However, she did not fully find her passion in this line of work. She started a university of applied sciences program to become a recreation officer but soon discovered that she is more of a doer than a thinker who sits in an office. This led her to switch to swim instruction, where she specialized in adapted sports. Building on this, she co-founded a foundation for people with medical limitations together with a friend, which she led for 25 years.

In the meantime, it became increasingly clear that the field of emergency services continued to attract her. She joined the Red Cross, became an instructor for both the Orange Cross and the Red Cross, and after five years of teaching the crew of KNRM station Hansweert, she herself became a crew member ten years ago. Since then, she has gained international experience, including an exchange in Croatia and training in Finland with Women in SAR.

Also ten years ago, Mathanje started working at DRTC as a first aid instructor. She greatly enjoys teaching and values the contribution she can make in the world of emergency services—whether with the Red Cross, Witte Kruis, the riot police, or the KNRM. For her, it is meaningful and rewarding work, and she hopes this is also reflected in her lessons.

With over thirty years of experience as a hospital nurse, Iris Marico has gained extensive expertise across various medical specialties. She brings this wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to De Ruyter Training & Consultancy (DRTC), where she provides Medical First Aid (MFA) and Medical Care (MC) training at the Vlissingen location.

Alongside her work at DRTC, Iris continues to practice in the hospital, ensuring she stays up to date with the latest medical developments, regulations, and protocols. She translates this current medical knowledge into practical applications relevant to the maritime industry.

With a partner working in the maritime sector, Iris also has a strong understanding of daily life at sea. This allows her to connect the STCW medical training standards to real-life scenarios, helping participants not only learn the required procedures but also understand how to act effectively in emergency situations.