She is the older sister of marathon speed skater Bob de Vries.

De Vries was three years old when she started riding on skates on a small creek near her home, but first became part of a club in artistic gymnastics and athletics before becoming a member at a speed skating club in Noordenveld in 1991.

[1] In the 2000-01 season she was asked to join Jong Oranje which is the Dutch national youth squad, covered by the national speed skating association KNSB.

In two years time as a member of Jong Oranje she appeared on two Junior World Championships.

The next two years in the KNSB team she was part of the talent raising squad for starting seniors, while in inline skating she represented the Netherlands in the 2002, 2004 and 2005 European Championships, as well as the 2004 and 2005 World Championships, riding for the Maple Team.