Carla van den Brink (1942-2005)

In our current work, we often ask about Carla van den Brink. Who was Carla van den Brink-Van de Laar? She is often described as a classic, elegant woman and a pioneer in the real estate industry. As the founder of our real estate agency on De Lairessestraat, she made her mark on the real estate market and brought an innovative approach to a traditionally male-dominated world at the time.

Her career in real estate began after a tragic event: in 1972, she lost her husband and was left alone with two young children. Determined to support her family, she entered the real estate sector. After gaining several years of experience at renowned firms such as the Kok Groep and Jorrit de Jong, she started her own company in 1979 with Anne Marie Groot (now of De Graaf & Groot Makelaars). This made them the first female entrepreneurs in the Amsterdam real estate industry.

From the outset, Carla van den Brink focused on the high-end housing market and built a reputation as a stylish and honest real estate agent. Her focus on buying and selling, rather than the diversification that was common at the time, made her unique. "That sharp focus attracted clients," explains her son, Pieter Joep, who took over the family business in 1995.

In addition to her work as a real estate agent, Carla van den Brink held important positions. Between 1991 and 1996, she was a board member of the Amsterdam Real Estate Agents Association (MVA) and played an active role in the Amsterdam Council for Urban Development, where she advocated for more new construction. Without explicitly pursuing a feminist agenda, she created an office known for its female team. Many of today's successful real estate agents have had the opportunity to learn the trade here and have developed a special bond with our office.

In 1995, Carla retired from the business and moved to a country house in Almen, near Zutphen. There, she found time for her grandchildren, art, and new passions. She completed a four-year training course as a spiritual aura healer in the south of France, a profession she shared with her daughter Chantal.

In early 2005, Carla van den Brink was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Despite her illness, she continued to enjoy her family and her life in Almen until the very end. On July 25, 2005, she passed away, surrounded by her loved ones, a grande dame who left an indelible impression on the real estate industry and beyond.

We still encounter her indelible mark on the real estate market every day. With the same vision as Carla, we turn a new page every day to write history in the Amsterdam real estate market.