Maruga Koops is an illustrator based in the Netherlands creating children's book illustrations and greeting card designs full of color, warmth, and diverse characters.

Her illustrations bring diverse characters to life, so every child can see themselves in the stories they read.

Work with me
Six children of diverse ethnicities standing in a row, smiling and looking to the side.

Selected Work — Children's book illustrations and greeting card designs

created with warmth, intention, and a whole lot of color.

Illustration of a Tina Turner singing into a microphone and a young girl holding a microphone on a stage, with the words "Just Like Tina" in large gold and purple letters and a pink and red background decorated with yellow stars.
Illustrated scene of children and adults performing music and dancing on stage with colorful lighting.
Illustration of a girl with curly hair running in a grassy field with a dog. The background features a city skyline, a blue sky with clouds, and birds flying.
Illustration of two young girls are sitting on a pink cushions in a bright living room, with one girl pointing outside as they smile. There are scattered craft supplies on the floor, and a white cat sleeping on a chair in the background.
illustration plant shop with mother and daughter
Illustration of an elephant with a pink bow on its head and a bee on its trunk, set in a grassy field with trees and wildflowers, with the title 'Nelly and the Bee'
A colorful illustration of three elephants with pink markings on their heads in a grassy savannah, baby elephants are playing among purple butterflies, with a small bee on a pink flower in the foreground. In the background, there are trees and giraff
Illustration of a night scene with a full moon, tropical palm trees, and lush greenery. A person is sleeping in a hammock inside a wooden hut, while a leopard is hiding behind foliage, looking towards the person.
Illustration of a boy sleeping in bed with a dream bubble showing a colorful scene of a closet with drawers, some reaching or interacting with each other, symbolizing a vivid dream.
Illustration of a Family celebrating Eid with a decorated table of food, gifts, and Muslim-themed decorations in the background.
Illustration of a girl hugging a smiling balloon on a beach, with a crab, starfish, a bucket of sand, a shovel, and a sailboat in the background.
Illustration of man cooking vegetables in a frying pan in a cozy kitchen with a child sitting on a purple couch reading a book in the background, and various kitchen items and vegetables on the counter and shelves.
illustration of a girl with curly hair in various poses and expressions, wearing colorful clothing including rainbow shirts, striped leggings, and sneakers.
Greeting card illustration of a colorful worm wearing a party hat with star pattern, and a small ladybug on top. Inside the worm, a speech bubble reads 'WORM BIRTHDAY WISHES'.
Colorful illustration with two leopards sitting on an orange mat surrounded by large green leaves and pink flowers. The text reads 'Wild About You' on a pink background.
Greetingcard illustration of two pickles at a birthday party, dancing and celebrating with a birthday hat, a flower, and pink boots, with a record player in the background and presents on the floor. The text reads "Happy birthday Party pickle."
An illustrated girl with white hair, closed eyes, and a pink sweater. Her hair is depicted as blooming with various colorful flowers, leaves, and a hummingbird, against a dark background with small stars. The text above her reads, 'you make me bloom'
illustration of a green frog sitting among pink water lilies and green lily pads in a pond with a bee and a ladybug nearby, and the text 'HOPPY SPRING' at the bottom.
Colorful birthday card with a smiling crocodile wearing glasses, holding a three-tiered pink cake with strawberries and a bird on top, and the text "Wishing You a Snappy Birthday."
Illustration of a moose in a winter forest with tall, leafless trees, a starry night sky with a crescent moon, and the text 'Travels in Moldova searching for a moose' by Maruga Koops.
An illustrated young girl with dark skin and large expressive eyes, smiling. Her hair is colorful and appears like puzzle pieces in shades of pink, red, orange, and purple. There are playful words floating around her head, including "My Brain Works"
Illustration of Edmonia 'Wildfire' Lewis, a Black woman with curly hair, wearing a white blouse with a red necktie, holding a hammer, with her name, birth and death years, and a bust sculpture in the background.
Tarot card illustration of The Empress, featuring a woman with a leafy crown holding a scepter, surrounded by floral and nature motifs in vibrant colors.

A curated selection of clients

Outline of a stylized penguin within an oval border.
Close-up of the word 'VOLT' in bold black capital letters on a black background.
Close-up of the HarperCollins Holland logo on a black background.
Logo of TreeLree Gretings featuring a stylized tree above the words
Bold, stylized text reading 'Rebel Girls' in white on a black background.
Logo with a circle, capital letter Q and number 2, and the word 'QUERIDO' below.
Black background with white cursive text that says "nelson line."
Google logo with a lion face mascot to the left of the text.
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize

Frequently Asked Questions

A girl with big, curly red hair, green eyes, and freckles, wearing a pink shirt with mushroom patterns and blue suspenders, has her finger on her lips in a thoughtful pose.

  • I create illustrations for children’s books and educational publications, and licenses artwork for products such as greeting cards and puzzles.
    I also offer coaching for starting illustrators (available in Dutch).

  • Easy! Just send a message through the contact form or book a call for coaching. I’ll help you figure out the next steps and answer all your questions.
    For illustration projects outside the Netherlands and Belgium, you can reach out to my lovely agents at Advocate Art.

  • Diversity and inclusivity are at the heart of everything I create. I believe everyone deserves to be seen, recognised, and represented.
    I’m known for my warm, open, and flexible way of working—and I love collaborating closely with clients.

  • You can reach me anytime via my contact page or email. I aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

  • Pricing is flexible and based on the type and complexity of each project. After a first chat, you’ll receive a clear and transparent quote—no surprises.
    For coaching, all prices are listed on the coaching page.

  • Think collaborative, relaxed, and fun. I love bouncing ideas back and forth and creating something we’re both proud of. I communicate clearly, keep things flexible, and always make space for your input.
    My goal? To make the process just as enjoyable as the final illustrations