Jade Kops

Biography Jade Kops was from 's-Gravenzande, a town in the municipality of Westland. She started dancing at the age of five and was a teaching assistant by the time she was fourteen.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment At the age of 14, Kops began to speak unclearly and snore. After a few weeks, on Friday 2 July 2021, she visited a medical professional, and she was told about a swelling in her throat and was referred to the Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis the same day. On Monday, at a hospital in Rotterdam, cancer was suspected. Kops was referred to the Princess Máxima Centre in Utrecht and diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in the neck region. The tumour extended from her throat to her ear. In the years that followed, she underwent an intensive course of treatment involving chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

After about a year and a half of treatment, the disease initially appeared to be under control, but shortly afterwards a scan revealed that the tumour had returned. In 2024, Kops was told that a cure was no longer possible.

At the end of February, Kops revealed that an MRI scan had shown the tumour had spread to almost the entire left side of her face. In March 2026, she announced on Instagram that doctors had told her she had only a few weeks left to live, after it was discovered that the tumour had spread further. Her news received national attention.

Social initiatives After her diagnosis, Kops shared updates about her journey with cancer via her Instagram account @mijnlevenmetkanker_. Her aim was to raise awareness about childhood cancer and offer support to others facing similar challenges.

Public appearances Kops was friends with singer Emma Kok, whom she met in 2023 at the Tina Awards, where they were both nominated in the ‘Girl Power’ category. Kok released a single called "Jade" in 2025. Kops was also present at the premiere of Kok’s theatre tour Never Lose Hope on 28 February 2025. In November 2024, Queen Máxima paid a visit to Kops at her home. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place earlier that year at the Princess Máxima Centre, but Kops was unable to attend at the time due to health reasons. During the TV programme Renze, Kops was surprised with a live performance by Claudia de Breij. In September 2025, Kops appeared on Pauw & De Wit alongside her oncologist. She spoke about her illness and the impact of the news from a year earlier that she likely had only twelve months left to live.

Death On 24 April 2026, Kops died at the age of 19 due to complications from rhabdomyosarcoma.

Recognition

Tribute In January 2026, artist Gert-Jan van der Kooij used a rake to create a portrait of Kops on the beach in her hometown of 's Gravenzande.

Awards In 2024, Kops received a royal honour for her community service and was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. She was presented with the award by the Mayor of Westland, Bouke Arends, in recognition of her work for children with cancer and their families. She was the youngest person to receive this honour. In 2026, she came second in The Best Social 100, which meant she received another award.

Book In the week of her eighteenth birthday, the autobiographical book Voor altijd jong: Mijn leven met kanker was published, in which Kops describes her experiences with illness, treatments and her personal life. The book reached number one in the national Bestseller 60 in February 2025.