Introducing …

30-10-2026

Mats van Ooijen was born in Gorinchem in 2004 and grew up in Leerdam, a small town in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands. He has been living in Curaçao since August 18. Mats is studying Real Estate at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and began his internship with Hòfi Sint Joris and Wigbold Real Estate on August 31. At Hòfi Sint Joris, his work focuses primarily on planning and coordinating infrastructure activities.

Mats earned his high school diploma at Heerenlanden College in Leerdam. He is currently in his third year of the Real Estate program. To put his academic knowledge into practice, he chose to complete his internship in Curaçao, where he has the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in how a real estate development project is carried out.

Before starting his internship, Mats gained a wide range of work experience. He began working at Albert Heijn at the age of 15. He later worked as an account manager at The NEON Company, where he gained experience in sales, customer relations, after-sales service, and administrative tasks. He also worked in e-commerce, managing several international online stores and supervising employees. In addition, he gained hands-on experience at BLOM&ZN Chimney and Roof Maintenance, where he worked on projects including exterior wall restoration and various repair jobs. Alongside his studies, he currently works at Albert Heijn again as a team leader.

At Hòfi Sint Joris, Mats supports the day-to-day coordination of infrastructure work. For each section of the development, he tracks which tasks still need to be completed, who is responsible for them, and when they are scheduled. He also attends project meetings, documents agreements, and keeps project records and schedules organized. In addition, he communicates with the various parties involved in the development and supports Rieuwen in following up on ongoing work.

What Mats enjoys most about working at Hòfi Sint Joris is being able to follow the development of a residential community firsthand. He finds it interesting to see how a piece of land is gradually transformed into a fully developed neighborhood. He is also learning a great deal about the practical side of real estate development and enjoys working with the many different people involved in the project.

One of the challenges he faces is understanding the technical information while keeping track of the various tasks, stakeholders, agreements, and deadlines. By working through these challenges in practice, he is gaining a clearer understanding of everything involved in bringing a real estate development project to life.

Outside of work and school, Mats enjoys staying active. His favorite activities include running, working out, playing soccer, and playing padel. He also enjoys spending time with friends and occasionally attending music festivals.

After graduating, Mats hopes to continue developing his career in real estate. He is particularly interested in real estate development and residential brokerage but wants to gain as much experience as possible before deciding which direction best suits him. He also hopes to see more of the world, continue growing personally and professionally, and take on new athletic challenges.

Mats hopes Curaçao will continue to develop sustainably, with a strong focus on quality housing, infrastructure, the needs of local residents, and the preservation of the island’s natural environment. His internship at Hòfi Sint Joris gives him the opportunity not only to gain valuable experience in the real estate sector but also to contribute to the development of a new residential community on the island.