Blog: Lonneke Bakker

"From Zeeuws-Vlaanderen to the world and back: the adventurous journey of Lonneke Bakker"

Hi! My name is Lonneke Bakker, 21 years young, and this is the story of how I chase my dreams while studying Real Estate Management. From my hometown Axel to the distant shores of Curaçao and South Africa, and back again.

My dream
From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in the real estate market. The idea of working with property, helping people find their dream home, or developing a residential area fascinated me. After obtaining my HAVO diploma, I started studying Real Estate Management at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. 

Studying in Rotterdam and Curaçao
I spent the first two years of my studies in Rotterdam, where I lived in student housing. Even though the Covid pandemic broke out the year I started studying, I still had a great time. But I longed for more, a full student experience. I found that during my internship in Curaçao, where I worked for four months at a real estate agency and had the opportunity to sell the beautiful homes on the island. An unforgettable and educational experience. 

LIV Realty: my own company
Back in Rotterdam, I continued my studies and started my own company: LIV Realty. The name stands for ‘Listings In Videos’, a concept that combines my passion for videography with my love for real estate. In the real estate sector, a ‘listing’ is a property offered for sale or rent. ‘Realty’ means ‘real estate’. My idea was simple but innovative: to visualize the real estate market through videos. 

Adventure in South Africa
My adventurous spirit then led me to South Africa, where I spent two months with my boyfriend, who had just graduated. It was the perfect time for us to discover the world together. I took my international minor online while we explored South Africa together. An unforgettable time of learning, love, and discovery.

Back to basics: AM Zeeland
After returning, I faced the challenge of finding a place for my graduation internship. I received an offer from AM Zeeland and was immediately excited about the project I could work on there. A week later, I signed my contract and in February I started a new adventure at this company, where I am now happily conducting my research. 

Coming home
Despite my travels and adventures, nothing can match the feeling of coming home to Axel, where my family and friends are. Every weekend we do fun things, from going to the coast to visiting the local football club FC Axel and the cozy restaurants and bars in the region. 

The best thing about a village is that everyone knows each other and takes time for a chat. We have many parties every year, sometimes with about 100 people. In Axel and the surrounding area, age doesn’t matter, as long as you’re fun to be around. 

And if we want something different, we can be in Ghent or Antwerp in no time. It’s here, in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, where my roots are and where I always return, no matter how far I travel.