I’m Holland! I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but grew up in the suburbs of Houston, then I made my way to the University of Arkansas, where I majored in business (even though my heart belongs to all things creative). I LOVE lettering, photography, drawing, and throwing a good party. Basically, if it involves making something fun and beautiful, I’m all over it! Now, I’m in Dallas hoping to share some fun things with y’all!!

Enough about me! Let me tell you the story behind Anke&Co—
If you scrolled through the pictures and videos on the Instagram, you got to see (and hear) my amazing grandma—Oma, or as most knew her, Anke! Besides being the life of the party, she also had one of the coolest life stories.

Anke was born in Indonesia in 1941, during WWII, she and her family were imprisoned in Japanese camps. After their release, they made their way back to the Netherlands. Wayyy later, she became a stewardess for KLM Airlines, where she just so happened to meet Tommy Virgets—PaPa T—from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fast forward a bit, they got married, lived in The Hague, and had their first daughter, Nicoline (my mom)! A few years (and a move to Rome) later, they welcomed my aunts, Michelle and Colette. Eventually, PaPa T wanted to be back in the States, so they packed up and headed home to Baton Rouge.

Anyone who met Anke would tell you how incredible she was—she loved her people to no end, was always outside or on the water, probably cooking up something delicious, or getting ready to host whoever showed up just for fun. She was the definition of “hostess with the mostest.”

People always ask me, “Why is your name Holland?” And my answer is always, I'm the only granddaughter on my mom’s side, so naturally, Oma wanted me to be named after her—Anke. And naturally, my parents said… no. And decided that Holland would be a good way to honor Oma and our Dutch roots. Thanks, Mom and Dad! While I love Oma, I think Holland was the right call.

All this to say—Anke&Co was inspired by my Oma, who loved celebrating everyone and everything. So, let’s celebrate together like Anke would!