Nicole Huisman
Home Series are conversations with friends about parenthood, work-life balance and treasured items.
Nicole Huisman is a Dutch fashion and interior stylist, living in a renovated house in Amsterdam with her partner, Friso. She recently became a mother to their daughter, Ola.
MT Huge congratulations on the arrival of your baby girl, Ola. Could you share a bit about your journey into motherhood, from your challenging fertility experience to Ola’s very early birth at just 25 weeks, seven months ago?
NH Thank you. I’m sharing this just after coming home from a medical check at the hospital, where the results weren’t what we had hoped for — a tough setback. It’s a difficult time for us right now, but I want to share our story.
After a long and challenging fertility journey with many setbacks and disappointments, I finally became pregnant with Ola at the start of summer 2024. I was overjoyed — but also quite insecure and vulnerable.
Then, last November, at just 25 weeks, I gave birth to Ola — much earlier than expected. What followed were months in the NICU, the intensive care unit for premature babies facing serious challenges, and months of ongoing care. We spent nearly half a year living at the hospital after her birth.
It’s still too soon for me to go into detail about that period, but it was the scariest time of my life — and also when I felt the deepest love I’ve ever known. After five and a half months, we finally brought Ola home.
Even with all the uncertainties, time and again, we choose hope and do our best to keep seeing the positive, fighting bravely onward, because we’re not done yet. Our beautiful little miracle baby, in many ways.
MT Can you share your experience with fertility and the Dutch healthcare system?
NH During our fertility journey, we chose to go to Belgium because the Dutch system didn’t feel like the right fit for us. In the hospitals we visited in the Netherlands, we often felt like just a number. In Belgium, we finally felt heard and seen, and it was there that our doctor discovered underlying issues that had either been overlooked or never investigated back home.
I eventually gave birth in Amsterdam, under extremely sudden and unexpected circumstances. The care we received there couldn’t have been better. The medical expertise, emotional support, and empathy were beyond anything we could have hoped for. At the NICU and children’s department of the AMC, it truly felt like angels were working there, people who fought for Ola’s life for months. I honestly can’t find the words to express how deeply thankful I am.
MT How did you cope emotionally during this challenging time?
NH Emotionally, the whole experience was incredibly challenging. We had a medical social worker who met with us twice a week to talk through everything, which was an enormous support. Friso and I had done personal development training years ago, which taught us a lot about ourselves and how to communicate, and that helped tremendously. Today, we’re still receiving psychological support from the hospital.
Friends and family formed an army of love around us, cooking for us every day, helping with chores, and simply being there. My dad even installed timers on the lights at home, so there was always a light on during those long hospital nights. Love and care also came from the most unexpected places. People I hadn’t spoken to in years sent the kindest messages, and my followers online kept sending support. That constant flow of love made all the difference. It continues even now, with people regularly checking in. We feel so held.
Daisy Bedding Camel and a grazing cow just outside the house
MT As an independent stylist and content creator, how have you approached becoming a mother while also running your own business, and how has maternity leave played into that?
NH There’s a lot of creative freedom in my work, and most of the time, I’m able to organize my schedule effectively. The idea was that I’d spend one day a week with Ola, just like her dad, with the other days covered by daycare and help from family.
As a freelance creative, I can shape my leave to suit our situation. I had a plan in mind, but as you can imagine, things turned out very differently. Right now, I’m just giving myself the time to heal and to be with Ola for as long as we need.
On the good days, I feel creativity slowly returning. I catch myself dreaming about what this new normal might look like: life with Ola, while pursuing meaningful and creative projects that feel true to who I am now, both as a mother and a maker.
MT Could you tell us a bit about how you decorated Ola’s room? What was important to you in creating that space?
NH As a fashion and interior stylist, creating spaces that tell a story comes naturally to me. But this ‘project’ felt extra special. The most important thing was that it'd feel warm and inviting, a place I’d want to go for night feeds, where she'd feel safe and sheltered. And later, a space where we could watch her play and grow, a room that felt fun, inspiring, and full of life.
I’ve always been drawn to color, print, and optimistic details - my styling signature, as well as my taste. So, designing a little girl’s room felt like the perfect opportunity to play and be creative. I started saving cute pins on Pinterest and soon found myself deep in the sometimes overwhelming world of baby furniture and nursery inspiration.
But I knew from the start that I didn’t want it to feel like something pulled straight from a catalogue or a copy-paste moodboard. I wanted it to be layered, meaningful, and personal, a mix of new, secondhand, refurbished, handmade, and pieces we already owned.
As with styling a wardrobe or curating a home, I love it when every piece has its own story. That’s what makes a space come alive, and that’s precisely what I love about this room.
MT More broadly, what matters most to you when it comes to decorating your home?
NH A home should be a place you can’t wait to come back to after a long day at work. It should be cozy, a place where friends and family feel welcome, and where you feel comfortable doing your daily things: sleeping, eating, relaxing, or working.
I feel happiest when I’m surrounded by uplifting colors, cheerful prints, and rich textures, but I also like to keep things neat. As a stylist, I sometimes get a little too excited about decorating, then my boyfriend reminds me, “We’re not living in a showroom,” which keeps me grounded.
Now that we’re a family home, I’m focusing on picking out and framing my favorite photos, something that was missing before. There’s something special about having personal pictures on the walls; it makes a house feel like a true home, adding that extra layer of warmth and belonging.
Nightingale Mobile in the family bathroom
MT Is there a particular object in your home that holds special meaning for you, and why?
NH It might sound cliché, but almost every item in our house has a story behind it. The painting above the couch was the first real piece of art I ever bought online —a total risk at the time, since I’d never seen it in person, and it still makes me happy every time I see it.
The pink bowl was a gift from interior designer Gustav Westman, whom I really admire. All the curtains were selected by me and a friend who works in interior design. They were ridiculously expensive, but they transform each room and make everything feel so much more like us, worth every penny when I see them every day.
Even our view tells a story; the cows grazing behind our backyard make us feel like we’re living in the countryside, even though we’re still right here in Amsterdam.
MT Looking ahead, what feels most important for your family’s overall well-being?
NH Learning to live with trust. Spending as much time together as possible, embracing the here and now. Simply allowing things to arise and unfold naturally, instead of getting caught up in expectations and worries.
MT What are you most excited about as you step into this new chapter of life?
NH I’m so excited to watch Ola grow up, the first steps she’s about to take, her first words, her laugh getting louder and more confident. She’s already teaching me so much about myself, and I know that will only deepen.
I’m savoring the small moments and getting to know my partner all over again as I watch him become a father. Where my whole life has felt like a rushed rollercoaster, with Ola’s arrival, there’s finally more peace, on a deeper level than just day-to-day life. (Because, of course, despite the medical worries, having a baby is still incredibly busy and exhausting.)
It’s not about constantly wondering what else is out there anymore, but truly appreciating what’s right here, right now.
MT Lastly, what advice would you give to parents who are expecting their first child, especially those facing unexpected challenges?
NH Allow yourself to feel it all. Let every emotion have its place. Don’t hold back your tears, and don’t silence your laughter. Talk with your partner, your friends, and even with yourself.
If friends and family ask how they can help, don’t be shy, let them nourish you with food, because you will need it. Embrace the hard days, and celebrate the good ones. Celebrate every day, every hour, every minute you get to spend with your baby.
And in the most challenging moments, never, ever lose hope, even when the days feel impossibly dark.
Photography: Sarah Wijzenbeek
The interview has been edited for clarity.
Published on June 13th, 2025.
