Anna Drijver: Dutch Actress, Model, and Writer

Anna Drijver is a Dutch actress, model, and writer born on October 1, 1983, in The Hague, Netherlands. She has built a multifaceted career spanning film, television, theater, and literature, gaining international recognition through Netflix series, including Undercover and Knokke Off (released internationally as High Tides).

Who is Anna Drijver?

Anna Drijver began classical ballet training at age six and started modeling professionally at fourteen. She graduated from the Amsterdamse Toneel & Kleinkunst Academie in 2008 and has since appeared in numerous Dutch and international productions.

Her breakthrough came with the 2008 film Bride Flight, directed by Ben Sombogaart, for which she won the Golden Calf for Best Actress. Beyond acting, Drijver has published two novels—Je Blijft (2010) and Ei (2014)—and co-wrote the screenplay for the romantic comedy Weg van Jou (2017).

Early Life, Training, and Acting Career

Anna Drijver was born in The Hague to parents Peter Drijver and Mieke Bosse, both architects known for their work in traditional urbanism. She began classical ballet at age six, developing the discipline and physical awareness that would later inform her stage and screen performances.

At fourteen, she launched a modeling career, traveling internationally during her secondary school years. This early professional experience helped her develop confidence in front of cameras and on sets, preparing her for an acting career. The combination of ballet training and modeling work provided a foundation in movement, expression, and visual storytelling.

1. Early Television and Film (2002-2007)

Drijver’s screen debut came in 2002 with the Dutch soap opera Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden. She appeared in the BNN series Bitches and had supporting roles in films including Flirt (2005) and Het Schnitzelparadijs (2005), directed by Martin Koolhoven.

While building her screen career, she pursued formal training at the Amsterdamse Toneel & Kleinkunst Academie, graduating in 2008 with comprehensive preparation in classical and contemporary theater techniques.

2. Breakthrough: Bride Flight (2008)

Drijver’s career-defining role came in Bride Flight, where she played Esther, one of three young Dutch women emigrating to New Zealand in the 1950s. Directed by Ben Sombogaart, the period drama earned widespread critical acclaim and international festival screenings.

Her performance won the Golden Calf for Best Actress in 2008, establishing her as a leading talent in Dutch cinema. The same year, she provided voice work for the Dutch version of God of War III, voicing Aphrodite, and The Chronicles of Spellborn.

3. Film Work (2009-2023)

Drijver continued building her film career with varied roles:

• Komt een vrouw bij de dokter (Love Life) (2009): Played Roos opposite Carice van Houten and Barry Atsma, earning a Rembrandt Award nomination for Best Actress
• Loft (2010): Featured as Ann Marai in the Dutch remake of the Belgian thriller, receiving another Rembrandt Award nomination and a Golden Film award
• Der Bankraub (2015): German television film
• Smoorverliefd (2013): Romantic comedy
• Het Geheugenspel (The Memory Game) (2023): Thriller based on the Nicci French novel, achieving success on Netflix

4. Television Series

Drijver has been a series regular in multiple acclaimed television productions:

• De Co-assistent (2009): Medical drama series
• Bellicher (2010-2013): Crime thriller mini-series where she played Kirsten; won Gouden Notekraker award (2011) for this role, and Levenslied
• Zwarte Tulp (Black Tulip) (2015-2016): Played Emma Vonk across 24 episodes
• Heirs of the Night (2019-2020): International vampire series directed by Diederik van Rooijen, with Drijver playing Mother Alisa/Lady Anna von Vamalia
• Nieuwe Buren (The Neighbors) (2019): Featured alongside partner Benja Bruijning as Victoria
• Undercover (2019-2020): Belgian-Dutch Netflix series where she played Kim de Rooij; the series was selected for the Cannes International Series Festival and gained international distribution
• Knokke Off (2023-2025, internationally as High Tides): Plays Melissa, mother of character Daan, in this Belgian-Dutch co-production for VRT/Netflix that became one of the most-watched non-English series globally in late 2023

5. Stage Work

Theater remains central to Drijver’s artistic practice. She has performed in productions including:

• Buitengewoon Binnen (directed by Job Raaijmakers)
• Uitgedokterd (IRPA productions, directed by Bruun Kuyt)
• 90 Minuten (directed by Ola Mafaalani)
• Niet zo bedoeld (2010, Theater Bellevue, written and directed by Benja Bruijning)
• De Mannen van Maria (2023-2024): Solo monologue based on Anneloes Timmerije’s novel, with script by Maxine Palit de Jongh and direction by Olivier Diepenhorst, touring theaters throughout the Netherlands

Writing Career

Drijver published her debut novel Je Blijft (You Stay) in November 2010 through Lebowski Publishers. The 272-page work follows Dora, a young woman who attends funerals for strangers with her partner Daaf as a way of honoring those without family. When personal tragedy strikes, she embarks on a journey through grief and memory. The novel explores themes of loss, love, and identity through spare, poetic prose.

Her second novel, Ei (Egg), was published in 2014 by Singel Uitgeverijen. The book presents a dual narrative: Leyla, a woman undergoing a medical procedure related to fertility, and Dr. Adema, the gynecologist performing the surgery. The novel examines women’s bodily autonomy, medical uncertainty, and the emotional weight of potential loss through concise, inferential storytelling.

In 2017, Drijver co-wrote the screenplay for Weg van Jou (Love Over Distance), a romantic comedy directed by Jelle de Jonge and starring Katja Herbers and Maarten Heijmans. The film was produced by NL Film, and Herbers received a Golden Calf nomination for her performance.

Beyond feature films, Drijver has contributed to television series writing and collaborated with writer Hanna Bervoets on a weekly column for Viva magazine.

Podcasts and Media Work

Drijver co-hosts two podcasts:

Camera Loopt: Interviews with directors, screenwriters, costume designers, and sound designers, exploring the craft of filmmaking
Nooit Gezien (Never Seen): Weekly film podcast with Gijs Wilbrink and Ivo van Aart, discussing classic films that are new to at least one host

• Golden Calf for Best Actress (2008): Bride Flight
• Golden Film Award: Loft
• Rembrandt Award nominations for Best Actress: Komt een vrouw bij de dokter (2009), Loft (2010)
• Gouden Notekraker (2011): For roles in Levenslied and Bellicher
• Nominee: Wie is de Mol? (2011), eliminated in Episode 8

Humanitarian and Advocacy Work

In 2010, Drijver became an ambassador for the Ubuntu Theatre Organization, supporting arts education and access initiatives. She became a UNHCR High Profile Supporter in 2021, advocating for refugees and displaced persons.

Through UNHCR, she has:

• Supported World Refugee Day campaigns (2018, 2020, 2021) in partnership with Cinetree
• Voiced animation videos for a 2019 campaign to combat statelessness in the Netherlands
• Advocated specifically for women’s and girls’ rights to education and freedom in displacement situations
• Used her platform to raise awareness about climate change, sustainability, and refugee rights

Personal Life

Anna Drijver has been in a long-term relationship with Dutch actor Benja Bruijning since the mid-2010s. They are not married but share a committed partnership and family life.

The couple has two children:

• Lea: Born November 2016
• Jona: Born November 2019

Drijver has spoken publicly about balancing professional ambitions with motherhood, advocating for shared parenting and rejecting societal pressure on women to prioritize childcare above personal fulfillment. She describes her partnership with Bruijning as feminist and collaborative.

Her parents, Peter Drijver and Mieke Bosse, both worked as architects specializing in traditional urbanism and have been supportive influences throughout her career.

Projects and Recent Work

As of 2026, Drijver continues working across multiple creative disciplines:

• Completed filming for Knokke Off Season 3 (2026)
• Touring the monologue De Mannen van Maria in theaters across the Netherlands
• Developing new screenwriting projects
• Continuing podcast production for Camera Loopt and Nooit Gezien
• Maintaining her UNHCR advocacy work

Her Instagram account (@annadrijver) has over 107,000 followers, where she shares updates about professional projects and selective glimpses of family life.

• 1983: Born in The Hague, Netherlands
• 1989: Began classical ballet training (age 6)
• 1997: Started modeling career (age 14)
• 2002: Television debut in Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden
• 2008: Graduated from Amsterdamse Toneel & Kleinkunst Academie; starred in Bride Flight; won Golden Calf for Best Actress
• 2010: Became Ubuntu Theatre Organization ambassador; published debut novel Je Blijft
• 2011: Won Gouden Notekraker award for Levenslied and Bellicher
• 2014: Published second novel Ei
• 2016: Daughter Lea born (November)
• 2017: Co-wrote screenplay for Weg van Jou
• 2019: Son Jona born (November); appeared in Heirs of the Night and Nieuwe Buren
• 2019-2020: Series regular in Undercover (Netflix)
• 2021: Became UNHCR High Profile Supporter
• 2023: Featured in Het Geheugenspel; began Knokke Off (High Tides) on Netflix
• 2023-2024: Toured with De Mannen van Maria stage monologue
• 2025: Knokke Off Season 2 released (March)
• 2026: Completed Knokke Off Season 3

Anna Drijver represents a generation of Dutch performers who have successfully crossed between commercial and artistic projects, domestic and international productions, and multiple creative disciplines. Her work in Undercover and Knokke Off brought Dutch-language drama to global Netflix audiences, while her novels and screenwriting demonstrate literary ambition beyond acting.

Through her UNHCR advocacy, she has used her platform to amplify marginalized voices and support humanitarian causes. Her approach to work-life balance and public discussion of feminist parenting partnerships has influenced conversations about gender equality in the Netherlands.

With a career spanning over two decades across acting, writing, and advocacy, Drijver continues to be one of the Netherlands’ most visible and multifaceted cultural figures.

Conclusion

Anna Drijver’s journey in the entertainment industry is a testament to her talent, dedication, and passion for the arts. From her early days as a ballet dancer to becoming a celebrated actress and model, Anna has consistently demonstrated her ability to excel in various aspects of the industry. Her versatility and commitment to her craft have earned her numerous awards and accolades, making her a beloved figure in the world of entertainment.

Anna’s personal life, including her relationship with actor Benja Bruijning and her role as a mother, adds depth to her identity and showcases her ability to balance her career with her family responsibilities. Her involvement in charitable work and commitment to using her platform for positive change further highlight her dedication to making a difference in the world.

As Anna Drijver continues to work on new projects and explore different creative avenues, her influence and impact on the entertainment industry remain significant. Her journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists and a reminder of the power of passion and perseverance in achieving success.