Rie de Boois

De Boois was the eldest of 6 children. She studied biology at Utrecht University until 1962.^[1] She became a teacher at the Dutch National Institute for Nature Conservation after finishing her degree.^[2] She later graduated from the same university with a PhD in 1976, with her thesis titled Schimmelgroei in strooisellagen van enkele bosgronden (English: Grow of fungi in the litterfall of forests).^[1][3]

De Boois was a member of the municipal council of Arnhem from 1966 until 1974.^[4] De Boois was mainly involved in environmental matters. She fought for protection of the Wadden Sea, was a proponent of increased Dutch involvement in Antarctic research^[5] and advocated for better forest management.^[6] In 1976 she tried to abolish the use of driving in the hunt of wild boars. However, she faced resistance from members of the royal family and other people of nobility.^[1][7] The law would not come into effect until 2002. She was named 'Animal Protector of the Year' in 1986 for her work in animal conservation.^[1][7]

De Boois left the house of representatives in 1987.^[2] She became chairwoman of a water board in charge of water quality in the Gooi, Amstel and Vecht.^[2] She was the chairwomen of the Dutch Society for the Protection of Birds from 1996 until 2004.^[7]

Part of her inheritance was used to start the Rie de Boois-fund, which the Dutch Mammal Society use to fund research by volunteers.^[8]

In 1964 De Boois married Karel Nagel, himself a politician for the Labour Party and environmentalist.^[1] Their marriage ended in 1973. She later married Pierre Janssen, an art connoisseur.^[4] De Boois was a vegetarian.^[2]