In today’s world of dating apps and endless swiping, frustration often mounts as genuine connections remain elusive. Some individuals, however, are bucking the trend and opting for more traditional, albeit unconventional, methods to find true love. One such individual is Vera Dijkmans, a Dutch influencer who devised a unique strategy by having potential suitors complete a 15-question quiz to see if they met her high standards.
Vera, whose Instagram account @veradijkmans boasts an impressive 5.5 million followers, received an overwhelming 5,000 applications from hopeful men eager to win her heart. Despite this turnout, she remains single after rejecting all of the men, even after going on dates with the top three candidates selected through the quiz.
In an interview with Ladbible, Dijkmans shared, “I went on a date with them, but I’m currently still single. Despite this disappointing result, I still consider the experiment a success since I was able to be upfront about what I want and see which men fit that criteria.”
The quiz was designed to reveal applicants’ lifestyles, values, and commitment levels. Questions ranged from whether the applicant still lived with their parents, had any “crazy” ex-girlfriends, held a full-time job, or currently had a “booty call.” Dijkmans also probed their morals and loyalty by asking, “Is it acceptable to hit on my friends?”
Responses varied widely. One applicant admitted he lived with his parents and didn’t own a car but boasted of having two boats. Another declared he would never hit on her friends—a baseline expectation—while a third mentioned having a full-time career but wouldn’t give her a bigger wardrobe.
Dijkmans had to sift through numerous unusual applications, including one candidate who offered to send a sample of his blood and asked for hers in return, which she ignored. She also mentioned that an undisclosed famous person had slid into her DMs. Interestingly, she noted a significant number of applicants were from Texas and shared the star sign Aquarius.
Despite rejecting thousands of men and picking three whom she described as “suitable” but was unable to connect with, Dijkmans isn’t disillusioned with dating. “At the moment, I’ve put the boyfriend search on hold but I’m keeping my options open,” she said, adding that she wouldn’t repeat the quiz on social media. “I’m just very picky, and I need a guy to be almost perfect. I don’t think I should have to compromise on my needs—I’d rather be single until I find the man I’m meant to be with.”
In a related trend, a single woman named Candice, living in Singapore, has turned to the business networking site LinkedIn to find her soulmate, over traditional dating apps like Bumble and Tinder. She is challenging herself to use one dating app every week for ten weeks in her quest to find an “A-grade” partner and is documenting her journey online. Having tried Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder to no avail, she now focuses on LinkedIn, where she can filter potential partners by education level, profession, and country.
Vera Dijkmans’ boyfriend application questions included:
1. What’s your astrological sign?
2. Number of ex-girlfriends, number that are “crazy,” and exes you still text/talk to.
3. Do you have kids?
4. Do you want them?
5. Are you married/dating someone now?
6. Do you have a full-time job?
7. If you were picking three adjectives to describe yourself, would one of them be “douchey”?
8. Do you live with your parents?
9. Do you own a working car?
10. Do you have Twitter?
11. Do you currently have a booty call?
12. If we lived together, would I get the walk-in closet?
13. Is it acceptable to hit on my friends?
14. Do you like watching Avatar (ATLA)?
15. Who is the best artist: The Weeknd, Future, Drake, or Travis Scott?
This innovative and upfront approach to dating highlights a growing trend of individuals seeking more personalized and meaningful connections in a world of increasingly superficial interactions. As society continues to grapple with the impacts of digital dating, Dijkmans’ method serves as a reminder of the enduring value of clear standards and traditional values in building genuine relationships.
