Sylvie Meis

About Sylvie Meis

Born Sylvie Françoise van der Vaart on April 13, 1978, in Breda, this Dutch personality has carved a path as a model, actress, and presenter. She is also known for her past marriage to celebrated footballer Rafael van der Vaart. By the time she turned eighteen, Sylvie had set her sights on a modeling career, quickly securing opportunities with various casting agencies. Her transition to television saw her gain significant recognition through her work with FoxKids and the music channel TMF. At TMF, she took on hosting duties for numerous events, including the annual TMF awards, and conducted interviews with global music icons like Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue. Her creative endeavors also extended to appearing in music videos and the Dutch television series “Costa.” In partnership with JPC, she successfully launched the “Pure by Sylvie” jewelry collection in the Netherlands. Later, she had the honor of hosting the 2008 Fifa World Player of the Year award ceremony. Following her recognition as Holland’s Sexiest Female in 2003, she began a relationship with Rafael van der Vaart, who was then an Ajax player. Their individual careers, coupled with their public profile, quickly established them as Holland's most prominent “soccer couple.” Their marriage on June 10, 2005, further amplified their celebrity status, with live broadcast coverage on SBS drawing substantial viewership in the Netherlands. During a September 2004 league match between Ajax and ADO Den Haag, officials had to temporarily suspend play due to persistent anti-Semitic chants directed at van der Vaart by opposing fans. When Rafael van der Vaart departed Ajax Amsterdam to join German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV, Sylvie and her husband relocated to Germany. The couple then moved to Spain when he transferred to Real Madrid in 2008. Their son, Damián Rafael, was born on May 28, 2006. The couple's divorce was finalized in 2013. On September 19, 2020, she married Niclas Castello, a German contemporary artist born on July 21, 1978. As of December 2023, Sylvie Meis boasts a substantial following of 1.4 million on Instagram.