Oscar
Raaijmakers
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 1997
Oscar Raaijmakers @o.raaijmakers, fashion designer, educator and consultant, holds a BA and MA from ArtEZ Academy of the Arts in Arnhem and won the Frans Molenaar Prize in 1997, together with Süleyman Demir, as half of design duo Oscar Suleyman.
Oscar: “Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize gave us the boost to launch our label and design studio OSCAR SULEYMAN. We presented and sold our collections internationally and ran our design studio from 1997 till 2008.
Succeeding his own label and design studio Oscar has lead design teams of several fashion houses over the course of 15 years. Currently, Oscar’s practice focusses on fashion education and consultancy. His ambition is to support young designers in discovering their intrinsic motivation to create. By encouraging designers to embrace their creative intuition and equipping them with the skills to find their own unique ways of working, Oscar aims to foster a non-linear approach to the creative process, so that this inner drive can serve designers as a compass to navigate complex and uncertain times.
Roel
Schagen
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 1997
Roel Schagen @roelschagen launched his styling career at AvantGarde Magazine, where he was fashion director for several years. Due to his previous work as a fashion designer, winning several prestigious prizes, he understands the ins and outs of fashion. With his keen eye on materials and cut he can anticipate on what fits a character as no other. Roel’s strength as a fashion stylist lies in his significant, contemporary, modern style with a whiff of effortless chic and his ability to capture the essence of time. His work is published in a variety of magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, FD Persoonlijk, Mirror Mirror and the recently relaunched magazine AvantGarde.
“It feels special to be the third winner of the Frans Molenaar Prize.” he says. “The recognition that came with it immediately boosted my career – the award brought visibility, appreciation, and lasting name recognition. Even now, years later, I’m still regularly approached about it. Frans’s belief in young talent and his passion for fashion have made a lasting impression on me. Thanks in part to him, I’ve been successfully active in the fashion world for over 25 years.”
Diederik
Verbakel
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2000
Diederik Verbakel is a Dutch artist and fashion designer, and the creative mind behind the label *DIED* @diedworld
His work operates at the intersection of art, fashion, and sustainability - always with a keen eye on form, materials, and reuse.
Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize in 2000 not only meant recognition of his talent but also a leap forward in his career. It confirmed his sense of direction and gave him the freedom to continue to develop - both within the international fashion world and later within his own label.
“Winning the prize gave me even more confidence in my own vision,” he says. “At the time, I was working at Diesel, at the children’s department. After winning the prize, I was offered a position as head of the women’s collections.”
Maikel
Bongaerts
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2007
Dutch fashion designer Maikel Bongaerts designs menswear that celebrates classics, exudes timeless elegance, while maintaining refined simplicity. Each piece is created with an eye for proportion, detail and craftsmanship, made with the finest materials. It’s clothing that grows with the wearer, keeps its value and is worn with grace over the years. His career has taken him to fashion houses within LVMH, OTB, and PVH Corp. Now, he is Lead Designer at Aurélien, where he continue to search for the perfect balance between precision and subtle nuances.
In 1997 Maikel Bongaerts won the Frans Molenaar Prize, the first menswear designer ever to do so: “It felt like a recognition for everything I believe in: craftsmanship, attention to detail, and conscious intention. Thanks to the prize, I was able to intern in London, on Savile Row, and discover the art of true bespoke tailoring. It planted the seed to return and further develop my career here. Those years still form the foundation of my work: clarity, care and a quiet sense of purpose.”
Magnus
Dekker
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2011
Magnus Dekker, a Dutch fashion designer from Amsterdam, graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from ArtEZ Academy of the Arts in Arnhem and won the Frans Molenaar Prize that same year.
Currently he works as Senior Womenswear Designer at G-Star, bringing over ten years of experience from working in London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Magnus: “Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize with my graduation collection launched my career with a bang and landed me a job at Faith Connexion in Paris.”
Liselore
Frowijn
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2013
Liselore Frowijn @studiofrowijn is a Dutch visual artist whose practice operates at the intersection of feminism and ecology. She creates textile-based sculptures and site-specific installations that address urgent social and environmental issues.
Frowijn graduated cum laude in Fashion Design from ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem in 2013. That same year, she won the Frans Molenaar Prize, a milestone that opened the door to the international fashion and textile industry and led to her participation in the prestigious Festival de la Mode et de la Photographie in Hyères, France, where she received the Prix Chloé in 2014. These early recognitions provided crucial exposure, mentorship, and professional opportunities that laid the foundation for her studio in Amsterdam.
After beginning her career as a fashion and textile designer, Frowijn’s work has gradually evolved into a more engaged and interdisciplinary direction, exploring how material, form, and care ethics can translate ecological awareness and feminist politics into tangible experiences. Her practice often involves fieldwork and site immersion, resulting in installations deeply connected to their specific environments.
Portrait by @wendeliendaan
Frans
Molenaar
Prize 2025
for upcoming fashion talent
Hip hip hooray! It's finally here. In the fall of this year, 2025, after an eight-year break, the awarding of the fashion prize for young couture talent that is on the threshold of education and profession resumes.
The fashion king of the Netherlands, as couturier Frans Molenaar (1940 - 2015) jokingly calls himself, established the prize of 10,000 euros in 1995 and finances it himself. Like no one else, Frans knew how important encouragement and support are at the start of your career. The foundation that bears his name is now picking up the thread again.
The selection of the candidates is in full swing and is taking place initially through the Dutch fashion academies.
If you think you may also be eligible - you can send an email to: prijs@fransmolenaar.com
Do you want to stay updated? Follow us on Instagram
Members of the jury
> Lisselore Frowijn
> Magnus Dekker
> Maikel Bongaerts
> Diederik Verbakel
> Roel Schagen
> Oscar Raaijmakers
Previous recipients
2017
Boris Kollar en Ninamounah Langestraat
(shared price) - Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2016
Johannes Offerhaus
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2015
Josephine Goverts
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2014
Karin Vlug
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2013
Liselore Frowijn
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2012
Peet Dullaert
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2011
Magnus Dekker
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2010
Fred Farrow
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2009
Hyun Yeu
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2008
Danny Cremers
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2007
Maikel Bongaerts
MAFAD, Maastricht
2006
Aleksandra Stojadinov
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
2005
Edwin Oudshoorn
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2004
Frido van der Weij
ArtEZ University of the Arts Masters, Arnhem
2003
Katrin Neyer
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2002
Melanie Brown
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2001
Percy Irausquin
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2000
Diederik Verbakel
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
1999
Marcha Hüskes
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
1998
Roel Schagen
Academy of Art and Design St. Joost, Den Bosch
1997
Oscar Süleyman & Fang Yong
(shared price) ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem
1996
Louis Jon Floris
Utrecht University of the Arts, Utrecht
Oscar
Raaijmakers
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 1997
Oscar Raaijmakers @o.raaijmakers, fashion designer, educator and consultant, holds a BA and MA from ArtEZ Academy of the Arts in Arnhem and won the Frans Molenaar Prize in 1997, together with Süleyman Demir, as half of design duo Oscar Suleyman.
Oscar: “Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize gave us the boost to launch our label and design studio OSCAR SULEYMAN. We presented and sold our collections internationally and ran our design studio from 1997 till 2008.
Succeeding his own label and design studio Oscar has lead design teams of several fashion houses over the course of 15 years. Currently, Oscar’s practice focusses on fashion education and consultancy. His ambition is to support young designers in discovering their intrinsic motivation to create. By encouraging designers to embrace their creative intuition and equipping them with the skills to find their own unique ways of working, Oscar aims to foster a non-linear approach to the creative process, so that this inner drive can serve designers as a compass to navigate complex and uncertain times.
Roel
Schagen
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 1997
Roel Schagen @roelschagen launched his styling career at AvantGarde Magazine, where he was fashion director for several years. Due to his previous work as a fashion designer, winning several prestigious prizes, he understands the ins and outs of fashion. With his keen eye on materials and cut he can anticipate on what fits a character as no other. Roel’s strength as a fashion stylist lies in his significant, contemporary, modern style with a whiff of effortless chic and his ability to capture the essence of time. His work is published in a variety of magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, FD Persoonlijk, Mirror Mirror and the recently relaunched magazine AvantGarde.
“It feels special to be the third winner of the Frans Molenaar Prize.” he says. “The recognition that came with it immediately boosted my career – the award brought visibility, appreciation, and lasting name recognition. Even now, years later, I’m still regularly approached about it. Frans’s belief in young talent and his passion for fashion have made a lasting impression on me. Thanks in part to him, I’ve been successfully active in the fashion world for over 25 years.”
Diederik
Verbakel
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2000
Diederik Verbakel is a Dutch artist and fashion designer, and the creative mind behind the label *DIED* @diedworld
His work operates at the intersection of art, fashion, and sustainability - always with a keen eye on form, materials, and reuse.
Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize in 2000 not only meant recognition of his talent but also a leap forward in his career. It confirmed his sense of direction and gave him the freedom to continue to develop - both within the international fashion world and later within his own label.
“Winning the prize gave me even more confidence in my own vision,” he says. “At the time, I was working at Diesel, at the children’s department. After winning the prize, I was offered a position as head of the women’s collections.”
Maikel
Bongaerts
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2007
Dutch fashion designer Maikel Bongaerts designs menswear that celebrates classics, exudes timeless elegance, while maintaining refined simplicity. Each piece is created with an eye for proportion, detail and craftsmanship, made with the finest materials. It’s clothing that grows with the wearer, keeps its value and is worn with grace over the years. His career has taken him to fashion houses within LVMH, OTB, and PVH Corp. Now, he is Lead Designer at Aurélien, where he continue to search for the perfect balance between precision and subtle nuances.
In 1997 Maikel Bongaerts won the Frans Molenaar Prize, the first menswear designer ever to do so: “It felt like a recognition for everything I believe in: craftsmanship, attention to detail, and conscious intention. Thanks to the prize, I was able to intern in London, on Savile Row, and discover the art of true bespoke tailoring. It planted the seed to return and further develop my career here. Those years still form the foundation of my work: clarity, care and a quiet sense of purpose.”
Magnus
Dekker
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2011
Magnus Dekker, a Dutch fashion designer from Amsterdam, graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from ArtEZ Academy of the Arts in Arnhem and won the Frans Molenaar Prize that same year.
Currently he works as Senior Womenswear Designer at G-Star, bringing over ten years of experience from working in London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Magnus: “Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize with my graduation collection launched my career with a bang and landed me a job at Faith Connexion in Paris.”
Liselore
Frowijn
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2013
Liselore Frowijn @studiofrowijn is a Dutch visual artist whose practice operates at the intersection of feminism and ecology. She creates textile-based sculptures and site-specific installations that address urgent social and environmental issues.
Frowijn graduated cum laude in Fashion Design from ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem in 2013. That same year, she won the Frans Molenaar Prize, a milestone that opened the door to the international fashion and textile industry and led to her participation in the prestigious Festival de la Mode et de la Photographie in Hyères, France, where she received the Prix Chloé in 2014. These early recognitions provided crucial exposure, mentorship, and professional opportunities that laid the foundation for her studio in Amsterdam.
After beginning her career as a fashion and textile designer, Frowijn’s work has gradually evolved into a more engaged and interdisciplinary direction, exploring how material, form, and care ethics can translate ecological awareness and feminist politics into tangible experiences. Her practice often involves fieldwork and site immersion, resulting in installations deeply connected to their specific environments.
Portrait by @wendeliendaan
Frans
Molenaar
Prize 2025
for upcoming fashion talent
Hip hip hooray! It's finally here. In the fall of this year, 2025, after an eight-year break, the awarding of the fashion prize for young couture talent that is on the threshold of education and profession resumes.
The fashion king of the Netherlands, as couturier Frans Molenaar (1940 - 2015) jokingly calls himself, established the prize of 10,000 euros in 1995 and finances it himself. Like no one else, Frans knew how important encouragement and support are at the start of your career. The foundation that bears his name is now picking up the thread again.
The selection of the candidates is in full swing and is taking place initially through the Dutch fashion academies.
If you think you may also be eligible - you can send an email to: prijs@fransmolenaar.com
Do you want to stay updated? Follow us on Instagram
Members of the jury
> Lisselore Frowijn
> Magnus Dekker
> Maikel Bongaerts
> Diederik Verbakel
> Roel Schagen
> Oscar Raaijmakers
Previous recipients
2017
Boris Kollar en Ninamounah Langestraat
(shared price) - Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2016
Johannes Offerhaus
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2015
Josephine Goverts
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2014
Karin Vlug
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2013
Liselore Frowijn
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2012
Peet Dullaert
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2011
Magnus Dekker
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2010
Fred Farrow
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2009
Hyun Yeu
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2008
Danny Cremers
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2007
Maikel Bongaerts
MAFAD, Maastricht
2006
Aleksandra Stojadinov
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
2005
Edwin Oudshoorn
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2004
Frido van der Weij
ArtEZ University of the Arts Masters, Arnhem
2003
Katrin Neyer
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2002
Melanie Brown
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2001
Percy Irausquin
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2000
Diederik Verbakel
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
1999
Marcha Hüskes
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
1998
Roel Schagen
Academy of Art and Design St. Joost, Den Bosch
1997
Oscar Süleyman & Fang Yong
(shared price) ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem
1996
Louis Jon Floris
Utrecht University of the Arts, Utrecht
Oscar
Raaijmakers
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 1997
Oscar Raaijmakers @o.raaijmakers, fashion designer, educator and consultant, holds a BA and MA from ArtEZ Academy of the Arts in Arnhem and won the Frans Molenaar Prize in 1997, together with Süleyman Demir, as half of design duo Oscar Suleyman.
Oscar: “Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize gave us the boost to launch our label and design studio OSCAR SULEYMAN. We presented and sold our collections internationally and ran our design studio from 1997 till 2008.
Succeeding his own label and design studio Oscar has lead design teams of several fashion houses over the course of 15 years. Currently, Oscar’s practice focusses on fashion education and consultancy. His ambition is to support young designers in discovering their intrinsic motivation to create. By encouraging designers to embrace their creative intuition and equipping them with the skills to find their own unique ways of working, Oscar aims to foster a non-linear approach to the creative process, so that this inner drive can serve designers as a compass to navigate complex and uncertain times.
Roel
Schagen
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 1997
Roel Schagen @roelschagen launched his styling career at AvantGarde Magazine, where he was fashion director for several years. Due to his previous work as a fashion designer, winning several prestigious prizes, he understands the ins and outs of fashion. With his keen eye on materials and cut he can anticipate on what fits a character as no other. Roel’s strength as a fashion stylist lies in his significant, contemporary, modern style with a whiff of effortless chic and his ability to capture the essence of time. His work is published in a variety of magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, FD Persoonlijk, Mirror Mirror and the recently relaunched magazine AvantGarde.
“It feels special to be the third winner of the Frans Molenaar Prize.” he says. “The recognition that came with it immediately boosted my career – the award brought visibility, appreciation, and lasting name recognition. Even now, years later, I’m still regularly approached about it. Frans’s belief in young talent and his passion for fashion have made a lasting impression on me. Thanks in part to him, I’ve been successfully active in the fashion world for over 25 years.”
Diederik
Verbakel
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2000
Diederik Verbakel is a Dutch artist and fashion designer, and the creative mind behind the label *DIED* @diedworld
His work operates at the intersection of art, fashion, and sustainability - always with a keen eye on form, materials, and reuse.
Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize in 2000 not only meant recognition of his talent but also a leap forward in his career. It confirmed his sense of direction and gave him the freedom to continue to develop - both within the international fashion world and later within his own label.
“Winning the prize gave me even more confidence in my own vision,” he says. “At the time, I was working at Diesel, at the children’s department. After winning the prize, I was offered a position as head of the women’s collections.”
Maikel
Bongaerts
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2007
Dutch fashion designer Maikel Bongaerts designs menswear that celebrates classics, exudes timeless elegance, while maintaining refined simplicity. Each piece is created with an eye for proportion, detail and craftsmanship, made with the finest materials. It’s clothing that grows with the wearer, keeps its value and is worn with grace over the years. His career has taken him to fashion houses within LVMH, OTB, and PVH Corp. Now, he is Lead Designer at Aurélien, where he continue to search for the perfect balance between precision and subtle nuances.
In 1997 Maikel Bongaerts won the Frans Molenaar Prize, the first menswear designer ever to do so: “It felt like a recognition for everything I believe in: craftsmanship, attention to detail, and conscious intention. Thanks to the prize, I was able to intern in London, on Savile Row, and discover the art of true bespoke tailoring. It planted the seed to return and further develop my career here. Those years still form the foundation of my work: clarity, care and a quiet sense of purpose.”
Magnus
Dekker
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2011
Magnus Dekker, a Dutch fashion designer from Amsterdam, graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from ArtEZ Academy of the Arts in Arnhem and won the Frans Molenaar Prize that same year.
Currently he works as Senior Womenswear Designer at G-Star, bringing over ten years of experience from working in London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Magnus: “Winning the Frans Molenaar Prize with my graduation collection launched my career with a bang and landed me a job at Faith Connexion in Paris.”
Liselore
Frowijn
Jury member 2025
Winner Frans Molenaar Prize 2013
Liselore Frowijn @studiofrowijn is a Dutch visual artist whose practice operates at the intersection of feminism and ecology. She creates textile-based sculptures and site-specific installations that address urgent social and environmental issues.
Frowijn graduated cum laude in Fashion Design from ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem in 2013. That same year, she won the Frans Molenaar Prize, a milestone that opened the door to the international fashion and textile industry and led to her participation in the prestigious Festival de la Mode et de la Photographie in Hyères, France, where she received the Prix Chloé in 2014. These early recognitions provided crucial exposure, mentorship, and professional opportunities that laid the foundation for her studio in Amsterdam.
After beginning her career as a fashion and textile designer, Frowijn’s work has gradually evolved into a more engaged and interdisciplinary direction, exploring how material, form, and care ethics can translate ecological awareness and feminist politics into tangible experiences. Her practice often involves fieldwork and site immersion, resulting in installations deeply connected to their specific environments.
Portrait by @wendeliendaan
Frans
Molenaar
Prize 2025
for upcoming fashion talent
Hip hip hooray! It's finally here. In the fall of this year, 2025, after an eight-year break, the awarding of the fashion prize for young couture talent that is on the threshold of education and profession resumes.
The fashion king of the Netherlands, as couturier Frans Molenaar (1940 - 2015) jokingly calls himself, established the prize of 10,000 euros in 1995 and finances it himself. Like no one else, Frans knew how important encouragement and support are at the start of your career. The foundation that bears his name is now picking up the thread again.
The selection of the candidates is in full swing and is taking place initially through the Dutch fashion academies.
If you think you may also be eligible - you can send an email to: prijs@fransmolenaar.com
Do you want to stay updated? Follow us on Instagram
Members of the jury
> Lisselore Frowijn
> Magnus Dekker
> Maikel Bongaerts
> Diederik Verbakel
> Roel Schagen
> Oscar Raaijmakers
Previous recipients
2017
Boris Kollar en Ninamounah Langestraat
(shared price) - Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2016
Johannes Offerhaus
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2015
Josephine Goverts
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2014
Karin Vlug
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2013
Liselore Frowijn
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2012
Peet Dullaert
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2011
Magnus Dekker
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2010
Fred Farrow
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2009
Hyun Yeu
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2008
Danny Cremers
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2007
Maikel Bongaerts
MAFAD, Maastricht
2006
Aleksandra Stojadinov
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
2005
Edwin Oudshoorn
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
2004
Frido van der Weij
ArtEZ University of the Arts Masters, Arnhem
2003
Katrin Neyer
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2002
Melanie Brown
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2001
Percy Irausquin
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
2000
Diederik Verbakel
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
1999
Marcha Hüskes
ArtEZ Academy of the Arts, Arnhem
1998
Roel Schagen
Academy of Art and Design St. Joost, Den Bosch
1997
Oscar Süleyman & Fang Yong
(shared price) ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem
1996
Louis Jon Floris
Utrecht University of the Arts, Utrecht