Our team

I’m Sarah, a veterinarian for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. After years of working in clinics in Amsterdam and England, I’m now fulfilling my dream of opening my own practice: Dierenkliniek Westlandgracht.

My biggest passion is dentistry, because a healthy mouth means less pain and a happier, healthier life. Alongside dentistry, I provide first-line consultations and, together with my team, ensure every patient receives the best possible care.

I like to take the time to explain things clearly to pet owners, so you feel confident about the choices for your pet. At home, I share my life with my cats, Coconut and Beer, and I love riding my horse, Lena. I’m also a board member of Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Netherlands, supporting projects that connect healthy animals with healthy people and a healthy planet.

Louis is a companion animal veterinary surgeon and enjoys working with dogs and cats. He particularly values the personal contact during consultations and enjoys first-opinion surgery, always working with care and attention to detail.

Louis is Sarah’s partner and has been closely involved with Dierenkliniek Westlandgracht from the very beginning. He currently works mainly in Bergen and Naarden, so he is a little less frequently seen at our clinic. Behind the scenes, however, he is still very much involved and steps in whenever needed.

After graduating, he began his career in 2016 as a mixed-practice veterinarian in Brabant and England. During this time, he gained broad experience, treating a wide range of animals including cows, sheep, goats, owls, a young fox and occasionally a horse. He now focuses entirely on the care of companion animals.

Louis’s calm manner and clear explanations often have a reassuring effect on both our patients and their owners. Outside the clinic, he enjoys spending time in nature, exploring his interest in antique English and Japanese air rifles, or relaxing in a good English pub.

Elleke is a highly experienced and dedicated veterinarian and will be joining our team from May. From June onwards, she will be working with us approximately one day per week. We have known each other for many years, since 2018 when I first started working for her. It feels both special and very enjoyable that our roles have now been reversed.

Elleke graduated as a veterinarian in 2003 and has since gained extensive experience in first opinion practice. For many years, she was the owner of Dierenkliniek Amsterdam, where she became known for her personal and attentive approach to both patients and their owners.

She is a warm and highly skilled veterinarian who places great importance on both the animal and its owner. Elleke has broad interests within veterinary medicine, with particular expertise in surgery and ultrasonography. She enjoys thinking in solutions and looks beyond the immediate problem, placing strong emphasis on nutrition and a more holistic approach to patient care.

In addition to her clinical work, Elleke is actively involved in animal welfare, including her role as a member of the supervisory board of the Dierenambulance.

Elleke lives in Amsterdam with her husband, their three children, and a lively household of animals: Golden Retriever Cato and cats Klaartje, Lux and Luci.

Jesse is a small animal veterinary surgeon with a broad background in veterinary medicine. He qualified with a focus on farm animals and has spent the past few years working in mixed practice in Bergen, where he treated dogs and cats alongside cattle and horses. Within small animal practice, he has a particular interest in dentistry, not entirely by coincidence, as his father is a dentist!

Jesse enjoys variety and adventure. During his studies, he gained experience working with wildlife and marine mammals and also spent time on a large dairy farm in Australia. Last winter, he temporarily swapped the Netherlands for Austria, where he worked as a farm vet and also found plenty of opportunity to improve his skiing!

With his cheerful and positive personality, Jesse is a great addition to our team, and we are very happy to have him with us for the foreseeable future. Alongside his work at Dierenkliniek Westlandgracht, he occasionally works on the island of Texel, helping out during the busy holiday periods. In his spare time, Jesse loves heading to the mountains for a walking holiday.

Sarina Slotboom is a veterinary nurse and has been working at our clinic with great pleasure since February 2026. She has over six years of experience in the profession and began her career at Dierenkliniek Stad en Land. Alongside her work in the clinic, Sarina balances her career with motherhood, caring for her two children and two cats.

In her free time, Sarina enjoys walking and cycling, as well as spending time with her family. With her experience, dedication, and genuine love for animals, Sarina is committed to providing the best possible care for both patients and their owners every day.

Merel Beentjes is a student veterinary nurse and is studying at Vonk in Alkmaar. From a young age, she has had a deep love for animals and has always been involved in caring for them, helping improve their health and well-being.

During her training, Merel continues to expand her knowledge every day and applies it in the clinic with great enthusiasm. She has her own horse and several other pets, so animals play an important role in her life, both at work and at home.

With her calm, committed, and eager-to-learn attitude, Merel takes great care in supporting both animals and their owners, always striving to provide the best possible care.

Maikel is currently completing the accelerated Veterinary Nurse and Veterinary Assistant programme at Yuverta College in Houten and will graduate in October 2026. After graduating, he will be joining us as a veterinary nurse four days a week.

Maikel is usually found behind the scenes and feels completely at home in the operating theatre and dental suite. He works independently, prepares procedures carefully and has already become very skilled at taking dental X rays. Thanks to his excellent eye for positioning, he often manages to get the X ray tube in exactly the right place on the first try! Maikel is also very practical and a natural problem solver. If something is not working as it should, chances are he is already figuring out how to fix it.

Maikel is eager to learn, dedicated and has a real passion for animals. Alongside his work with us, he volunteers at Dierenopvang Amsterdam, where he gains further experience caring for cats and supporting the team. With his independent and motivated approach, he has already become a very valuable member of our clinic.

Animals are also very much part of Maikel’s life at home, where he has two cats of his own.

Stefanie van der Klei is a student veterinary nurse and is completing an internship at our clinic with great enthusiasm. She is enrolled in an accelerated veterinary nurse training programme in Utrecht and enjoys working closely with both animals and their owners.

Stefanie has gained experience in consultations, surgical procedures, radiography, and laboratory work, and is always keen to continue learning. She is careful and committed, and finds great fulfilment in contributing to animal well-being. Her background in animal welfare volunteering and her love for cats bring both empathy and a strong client-focused approach to her work.

Leonie is an experienced veterinary nurse and has been working in veterinary practice since 2014. She began her career at Dierenartsenpraktijk Kennemerland in Bergen, where she completed several placements during her training before joining the practice as a veterinary nurse. She later spent several years working in the orthopaedics department at Medisch Centrum voor Dieren in Amsterdam.

Leonie feels completely at home in the operating theatre. She is highly experienced in anaesthetic monitoring, keeps a close eye on her patients and is often quick to notice even subtle changes. She also knows the clinic’s equipment inside out and has extensive knowledge of its maintenance. Sarah and Leonie worked together every week on dental procedures in Bergen, so they are a very well-coordinated team.

With her extensive experience, keen eye and practical approach, Leonie is an incredibly valuable addition to our team, and we are very happy to have her with us. Outside the clinic, horses are a big part of her life. She competes in dressage at an advanced level with her own horses. Much of her spare time is therefore spent either in the saddle or at the stables.

Jurjen is a veterinary nurse and a permanent member of our clinic team. Our collaboration began during his internship at Dierenkliniek Amsterdam, where he continued working after completing it. That’s where we discovered our shared interest in dentistry and anaesthesia, and since then, we have become a well-coordinated team.

With his extensive experience in dentistry, anaesthesia, and caring for hospitalised patients, Jurjen is a key support in the clinic. He works calmly, carefully, and with great attention to the well-being of every animal.

In his free time, Jurjen enjoys going to the cinema, practising karate, and often cat-sits in Amsterdam. Even outside of work, caring for animals plays an important role in his life.