career from scratch

Founding a thriving
real estate firm .

Petronella, born in Arnhem Klarendal (The Netherlands), grew up surrounded by art—her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all painters. At 56, she held her first art exhibition in the fishermen village of Ferragudo on the Algarve, proudly carrying on her family’s tradition. Fascinated and extremely driven from a young age to become an independent businesswoman, she started working at the age of 14 next to school in The Netherlands. It was her own life journey that led her to become a trusted advisor and mentor to those navigating Portugal’s luxury real estate market.

Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and a deep-rooted dedication to success. Inspired by sales from a young age, she accompanied her father to several exhibitions in hotels and monasteries, where he sold his paintings to the public. This passion for selling and connecting with people eventually led her to the real estate industry. She began by cleaning and renting out small apartments to tourists, later transitioning to selling apartments. Over time, she specialized in high-end properties, managing them for her clients and assisting foreign investment companies in buying and selling their real estate assets.

Today, 25 years later, Petronella has completed over €150 million in successful deals until 2023. After 10 years of owning a real estate office with 12 female staff members, she has reinvented herself. Now, she uses her 25 years of expertise to help buyers, sellers, and investors get the most out of their real estate journeys. She divides her time between a picturesque Portuguese fishing village and her family in Holland, balancing life as a mother of a adult daughter and son plus first-time grandmother with her passion for empowering others to achieve financial independence through real estate.