From 2021 to 2023, Iris Langejans starred for the Rutgers field hockey program. Playing in 61 games (all starts, with five goals and 15 assists), she was a key piece in leading Rutgers to the 2021 Big Ten Tournament title and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and two-time All-American, finishing her career as the Big Ten and Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year. 

Now, Langejans is showing her prowess on a different stage post-graduation. Langejans moved back home to the Netherlands, now living in The Hague, two hours southwest of her hometown of Almelo. Langejans now plays field hockey professionally with HDM Dames 1 at the highest level of Dutch professional field hockey.

After spending three years at Rutgers playing collegiate hockey, she is taking the time to relearn the game a little bit and transition into competing at the highest level. 

“It’s definitely tougher. The level is basically the highest you can get in the world at the moment,” said Langejans. “I’m learning a lot, just in the way that it’s so different from America and playing for your university.”

Langejans went from being a student athlete at a Big Ten University to figuring out life in the big leagues and balancing that with an entirely new lifestyle. 

Being back in the Netherlands has opened a bunch of new doors and opportunities for Langejans. Along with playing with a professional club, she has begun her life back home, working and continuing her studies. After graduating from Rutgers, she originally was playing on a team in the second division, where she was identified by scouts to play in the highest level, and subsequently joined HDM. 

“Here it’s different. You go to your club and beside your club you have university studies and work,” said Langejans. “In America, it’s combining school with field hockey and sports, you travel around for different states, it’s much bigger and spread out and in the Netherlands its more local.”

Langejans has taken a lot of her plate since moving back to Europe. She is currently balancing her studies (to prepare to become a PE teacher), work (at an afterschool child care) and hockey. 

Not only is the balance a change for the young pro, but her playing style has been challenged as well since joining HDM Dames 1. 

“In America, field hockey is much more technical and it's more power hockey,” Langejans explained. “In the Netherlands you need to be really smart. You have know the game really well and always be on your toes. My signature thing in America was to run all the way from right defense all the way into the circle, now, that’s not really possible with the level of players around you and against you. In America, I used my power and technical skills more. Here, it’s much more about building connections and more structured hockey.”

While this is a challenge and an adjustment for any athlete, Langejans loves the challenge and knows that she has been prepared for this moment for years to come. 

“It’s basically the highest level you can be at in the world right now,” said Langejans. “I can learn a lot from the girls I’m playing with. Defensively, it’s a bit different here. I’m playing against some of the best strikers in the world that are super technical and fast, I need to be a lot more patient.”

Being back in the Netherlands is somewhat of a homecoming for the Dutch native, but she still reminisces on the days she spent at Rutgers and competing as an NCAA athlete. 

“America was such a great experience,” Langejans exclaimed. Looking back at it, I was so fortunate. I loved my time in the States, I really felt at home there. I definitely miss Rutgers – and I still wear all of my Rutgers gear here all the time.”

Iris Langejans is just one of the success stories to come out of Rutgers and her story is proof of not only the athletic but the academic and personal excellence that this University brings to its students.