Princess Marilène was born in Dieren, Rheden, and is the youngest daughter of Hans van den Broek and Josee van den Broek-van Schendel. The van den Broeks belong to the Dutch patriciate. Marilène van den Broek obtained her highschool diploma (pre-university secondary education) in Wassenaar in 1988. She studied from 1988 to 1994 at the University of Groningen where she received her MSc degree in Business Administration. Princess Marilène currently works at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts, crafts, and history.
Marriage and children
She married Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven in Apeldoorn civilly on 29 May 1998, followed by a religious ceremony on 30 May. His Highness Prince Maurits is the eldest son of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven. Princess Marilène and Prince Maurits have three children, who carry no title, but by Royal Decree of 26 May 1998 bear the surname "van Lippe-Biesterfield van Vollenhoven":
Anastasia (Anna) Margriet Joséphine van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, born in Amsterdam on 15 April 2001.
Lucas Maurits Pieter Henri van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, born in Amsterdam on 26 October 2002.
Felicia Juliana Bénedicte Barbara van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, born in Amsterdam on 31 May 2005.