Van der Plas was born Cuijk and lives in Deventer. She is a widow (her husband passed away in 2019) with two sons. Her father was a well-known Deventer sports journalist and her (from Ireland originating) mother a CDA alderwoman in the same Overijssel city. She herself was also a member of the CDA party. In 2018, she gave up membership because of the lack of support for the farmer's interests in her opinion.