Get to Know the Connect5 Team
At Connect5, everything revolves around people, and that starts with our own team. We are a colorful mix of young and old, each bringing unique talents and passions. One creates the most delicious dishes in the kitchen, while another makes sure you feel at home the moment you walk in.
Together, we create a place where you don’t just come to eat or drink, but where you truly feel welcome. Get to know us and discover the faces behind Connect5!
Inhua Muijrers-Chen – Owner Connect5
Connect5 was born from the dream of Inhua Muijrers-Chen. Having grown up in Brazil and the United States, and now calling Meerssen home for nearly 20 years together with her husband and three daughters, she brings with her a rich international background.
With experience in science and education, ranging from the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam to Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Heerlen and the prestigious MIT in Boston, Inhua decided to combine her knowledge and passion into something new: a place where people can truly connect.
This is how Connect5 became a vibrant meeting place, where hospitality and global influences come together in fresh and healthy dishes, always with a playful touch.
Bèr Jacobs – Chef
Bèr Jacobs has been devoted to everything related to food and drink throughout his life. Trained as a pastry chef in Belgium and experienced in various kitchens, he still works with passion in the world of cooking and hospitality after nearly 45 years. He finds joy in delighting guests, friends, and family with culinary experiences.
What appeals to him most about Connect5? The opportunity to do more than just cook together with the entire team, and to contribute to a place where connection and creativity take center stage.
Ania Szymanska – Chef
From primary education to the world of coffee and pastry—Ania has taken quite a remarkable path. Together with her husband, who shares a passion for coffee, she discovered the world of hospitality. With years of experience in creating refined sweets and running a coffeehouse, Ania now lets her creativity shine at Connect5.
Her specialty? Cakes that are not only delicious but also tell a personal story. At Connect5, we proudly call this: Culinary Art.
Frédérique Hollanders – Marketing & Communication
Frédérique (22) grew up in Meerssen. After completing her studies in International Business at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, she started the Master’s program in International Business: Strategic Marketing at Maastricht University in September. Since February 2025, she has been part of the Connect5 team, where she enthusiastically manages social media and the website.
What inspires her most? Working in a young and dynamic team and the inspiring concept of Connect5, where creativity and connection are at the heart of everything.
Emma Muijrers
Emma (20) joined our team full-time on August 1, 2025. For her, Connect5 feels like a second home: she has been involved since the very beginning and has grown into a warm and helpful young woman who welcomes every visitor with a smile.
She enjoys the conversations that take place here and loves meeting new people. In her free time, Emma enjoys reading and taking long walks with her dog. At Connect5, she hopes to further develop herself as a hostess and as a hospitality entrepreneur.
Julien Hesemans
Julien (18) has been part of Connect5 since the very beginning. Behind the bar, he feels completely at home, especially at the tap, and behind the scenes, he helps organize events, such as the successful Après-Ski van het Zuiden in 2024.
In 2025, he obtained his VWO diploma and started his Business Studies program at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Sittard. Outside of his studies, he enjoys playing football and going to parties. His goal? To stay actively involved with Connect5 for a long time, both in the café and at events.
Jessa Huurdeman
Jessa (20) is full of energy and creativity. While studying Applied Medical Sciences and craniosacral therapy, she is always looking for new ways to challenge herself. Her free time is filled with a wide range of hobbies: from sports like running, cycling, and swimming to archery, singing, acting, and pottery. And as if that weren’t enough, she is also a beekeeper; her love for bees and nature is unmistakable.
What drives her most? Inspiring people and showing them what art can mean. For Jessa, art is an accessible world: a place to express emotions, discover new ideas, or simply drift away for a while. She sees nature as the most beautiful artwork of all, and that is exactly the feeling she conveys in her watercolor workshops.
Cas Huurdeman
Cas Huurdeman, Jessa’s twin brother, has been playing the guitar for more than ten years. What began with classical music soon expanded into a wide-ranging musical journey: from blues and rock to metal, fingerstyle, and even classical again. During high school, he chose music as one of his final exam subjects, and he now continues that passion with full dedication as a third-year Music & Technology student at the Utrecht School of the Arts. With his versatile style and creative drive, Cas shows just how boundless music can be.
Tjen van Weersch
Tjen van Weersch discovered his talent for piano at the age of twelve, and his love for music has only grown since then. He is now studying at the Maastricht Conservatory, fully focused on the Music Education program. With that same dedication, he has developed into an all-round music professional: from music teacher and conductor to répétiteur and professional pianist. For the past year, he has also been teaching piano at Stichting Connect5!, where he enthusiastically shares his passion for sound and making music together.
Anjou van der Graaf
Anjou (16) has a great passion for writing and research. From a young age, she started writing stories, and nowadays she also focuses on journalistic pieces. For her, writing is the way to share her opinion and tell her story.
What inspires her the most? The freedom to explore topics and to give a voice, through words, to ideas and experiences that truly matter.