What's in the doctor's bag of Vera VanVeer?

1. Hi Vera! Let’s dive right in. What’s in your VanVeer?

Ha! I use the Fun Bag for all my daily essentials: keys, phone, lip balm, wallet, sunglasses, and usually a pack of gum too.

My Backpack carries my MacBook Air, my color swatches, and honestly, plenty of random bits and pieces. Confession: I’m not great at keeping my bag organized… so I’m not even sure what else is in there!

2. Which VanVeer Bag do you use the most right now?

The Fun Bag is my go-to every single day. I have two, one in Terra and one in Green Snake, and I switch between them. I think it’s time again for a new color… one of the perks of being Vera from VanVeer, haha!

I also use my Backpack daily. It’s perfect for cycling, especially now that I have an e-bike I take to the studio. The Backpack is just the best for that.

3. How did the Backpack model come to life?

The Backpack turned out exactly how I imagined it. I wanted a doctor’s bag that was easy to carry, even on a bike, without hurting your shoulders. It had to be a backpack, but with the look and functionality of a classic doctor’s bag.

I played around with the size and added extra details like piping on the sides and front, and a built-in zip pocket. Of course, it also had to fit a laptop. This bag first came to life about ten years ago, in 2015. I kept tweaking it for a few years, and just last year I made some small updates you probably wouldn’t even notice. And that’s how the Backpack became what it is today - and yes, I’m its biggest fan!

4. Which bag started it all?

The Original was the very first doctor’s bag I ever made. I learned the craft at Leerlokaal, where I studied from 2009 to 2013. That’s where I learned the special technique behind a doctor’s bag: adding a metal frame inside, so the bag stays open when you set it down, giving you a clear view of everything inside.

The size of the Original came to me early on and it’s still the same today! If you grabbed a pattern from 2010, it would be almost identical to the ones we use now. That wasn’t a conscious decision; the proportions just felt right from the start. The bag is built from two main parts, a base and a body, and that structure just made sense.

I’ve always loved colors and mixing them. Many of my early designs were small bags made from colorful patchwork pieces of leather. That carried over to the Original: it’s always been about color play, and that’s still one of my favorite parts of designing.

The Original is roomy enough to carry everything you need, yet it still looks feminine and compact. I’m still pretty proud of it.

5. Let’s talk about you. Since 2014 you’ve poured your heart and soul into VanVeer. What drives you?

I officially went full-time with VanVeer in 2014, but really, it all started in 2009. After art school, I worked in art education, but I missed working with my hands. I was creative in my head, but not in practice. So I signed up for a leather working course and I absolutely loved it. At first, I just wanted to make as many bags as possible. But that quickly became an expensive hobby, so I started selling them. My family and friends were my first eager customers!

In 2014 we moved to Spain. I quit my job at the 'Centrum Beeldende Kunst' Rotterdam and decided to focus fully on VanVeer. Around that time, I got my first orders from midwifery schools. That was such a special moment for me and still gives me so much joy. For them, a bag isn’t just a tool; it’s a trophy. After years of hard work, they finally get to carry a real doctor’s bag. It’s so meaningful.

Since then, GP’s and other healthcare professionals have joined our customer base. What drives me is giving them something truly special: a bag they can be proud of, that boosts their confidence and reflects their personality. Even after all these years, that’s still what motivates me every day.

6. You also use VanVeer’s platform to support causes like the annual raffle for Because You Carry, and you speak up about Palestine. What motivates you?

I believe a business can be a force for good, a way to give back to the world. VanVeer has a strong platform and a wide reach, so why not use it to raise awareness about injustice or to support meaningful causes? There are so many people who need help. That’s always on my mind; it’s one of my core values. And honestly, I still think we could be doing even more.

VanVeer is also a brand by, for, and about women. Our products challenge the traditional image of the doctor’s bag, which was historically made for men in a male-dominated profession. Even today, many women are still carrying “men’s bags.” Women often want something different, and that’s what we aim to create.

We want to empower women, boost their confidence, and help them feel seen in a world that’s still heavily male-driven. It breaks my heart when women say: “I need to look professional. I have to be taken seriously, so I can’t carry a colorful bag.” That’s exactly why VanVeer exists - to create a world where women can fully express themselves without compromise.

7. If you could change one thing about the world of doctor’s bags, what would it be?

I’d love for every woman to choose a bag that feels 100% like her, a true extension of her personality. No fear of not being taken seriously because it’s “too much” or “too colorful.” No one is too much. That feeling of being completely yourself? That’s what I wish for everyone.

8. What future plans are in your bag?

I’ve been dreaming about creating a VanVeer trauma bag, a stylish, functional alternative to the standard orange or red ones. I’m not sure if it will ever happen, but the idea is still alive.

I also want to keep growing our No Waste line, making the most of every piece of leftover leather. And beyond VanVeer, I’d love to explore some personal creative projects, ideas that could help our customers feel creative, expressive, and truly themselves. Those dreams are still mostly in my head, but I’m hoping to find the courage to bring them to life.

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