Bart Kooijman
Bart Kooijman has more than 13 years of experience in financial services, with a career spanning customer service, financial advice, mortgage applications, and mortgage advisory. He has been part of the OHAO team since 2021 and is based in Amersfoort, helping both Dutch and international clients navigate the Dutch mortgage process.
Bart is known for making the mortgage process feel calm, clear, and well organised. He takes the time to understand each client's situation, patiently answers questions, and keeps clients informed throughout the process. Whether someone is buying their first home or has a more complex financial situation, his goal is to provide clear advice and make sure they feel confident and supported when making one of life's biggest financial decisions.
Certificates & specialties
Buying your first home, moving to your next one, and borrowing more against the one you have are three very different conversations. Bart advises on all three, and helps clients work out not just what's possible on paper but what makes sense for where they are right now.
Bart holds certificates:
Wft Basis
Wft Hypothecair Krediet
Wft Vermogen
SEH Certified Financial Advisor
Permanent Education (PE) Certified
Bart specialises in:
First-time buyers
Increasing your existing mortgage
Moving to your next home
Mortgage situations Bart often handles
From first-time buyers taking their first step onto the Dutch housing market, to clients moving to their next home, to homeowners borrowing more against a property they already own — Bart advises across the full range.
First-time buyer guidance
Increasing an existing mortgage
Selling & buying at the same time
Case study
Priya and Arjun bought their house in Utrecht four years ago and had always planned to open up the ground floor and replace the old boiler. The quotes came in at around €70,000, more than they had saved.
They assumed the answer was to remortgage the whole thing, but their current mortgage was fixed at a rate well below what lenders were offering now. Refinancing everything meant losing that rate on the full amount, which felt like an expensive way to pay for a kitchen.
They also weren't sure how much the house was worth after four years, or whether the energy work would change what a lender was willing to lend.
1. Established what the house is worth now
Property values had risen since they bought, and part of the mortgage was already paid off. Their loan-to-value had dropped considerably, which opened up options they hadn't considered.
2. Compared adding to the mortgage against refinancing
Bart set both routes out side by side. Taking a second part alongside the existing mortgage kept their original low rate intact and applied the new rate only to the €70,000 — noticeably cheaper over the term than refinancing everything.
3. Checked what the energy measures unlocked
Insulation and a heat pump qualified for extra borrowing capacity on top of the standard maximum, and several lenders offered a rate discount for improving the energy label.
4. Set up a renovation deposit
Rather than releasing the full amount at once, the funds sat in a construction deposit and were paid out against invoices as the work progressed — so they only paid interest on what had actually been drawn.
5. Confirmed the monthly figure before committing
Bart worked out what the combined payment would be once both parts were running, so they knew exactly what the renovation would cost them each month before signing anything.
What clients say about Bart
Real reviews from people he has helped find the right mortgage.
Blog articles written by Bart
Practical articles and guides to help expats understand how mortgages work in the Netherlands, explore their options, and make confident decisions about buying a home.