February 17, 2026
Jan Smit is making a name for himself as a real estate agent in laid-back Marbella: “I can sell people anything—and it’s not because I’m famous.”
Jan Smit has a new career in Marbella. What began as a Spanish dream has grown into a serious real estate career on the Costa del Sol. We accompanied the artist on a tour of multimillion-dollar villas with ocean views and ended up at Café Los Amigos: “Volendam has embraced Marbella, too.”
“Look how expertly these cabinets are crafted. And have you seen the intricate detailing on those baseboards?” Jan Smit—yes, that Jan Smit—walks through Casa Cielo in Estepona, Spain, like a seasoned real estate agent. He’s clearly enjoying his role. “This villa was renovated by a company from Volendam. They did a better job than the Spanish would have, but that also made the renovation a lot more expensive.”
Jan Smit Real Estate: “A hobby that got out of hand”
In between, Jan shoots a video for Instagram in one take, highlighting the villa’s selling points—“ocean view, fully renovated, custom kitchen”—and confides in us: “The asking price is €2,190,000, but we’d be happy to take it for two million.”
We’re out and about with the artist from Volendam in and around the Spanish resort town of Marbella, where he’s been making a name for himself as a real estate agent for nearly two years now. As we drive to his next property listing in his mint-green Mercedes, he tells us that real estate has turned into a hobby that got out of hand. “When I perform, I earn more than when I sell houses. But I really think it’s a great way to further develop myself.”
Marbella Golf Valley
Eight years ago, Jan and his wife Liza began their Spanish adventure in the heart of the “Golf Valley,” between Marbella and Estepona. At the La Resina Golf complex, where they bought their first apartment, a penthouse is now for sale for €750,000. It has been renovated, is fully furnished, offers stunning ocean views, and comes with a private parking space.
“Liza and I were able to buy something here for a song back then,” Jan says as we walk through the complex. “It was my first time in Marbella with the Flemish singer Christoff, who had already bought a place here. We had an amazing party, and the next morning he called because a golden opportunity had come up at this complex. My curiosity was piqued. Since I had already left, my manager Aloys stopped by and gave me a tour via FaceTime. When Aloys said he’d buy it if I didn’t take it, I knew it was a good deal. We didn’t see it in person until we signed the purchase contract.”
Real estate agent
We walk past the little pool where Jan’s children used to play. “We made some wonderful memories here; those were happy times. Christoff was there too, and Katty from Belgium—who did my makeup back then—and her husband Gino were our neighbors.”
“Gino and Katty had just started out in real estate, and since I had become an expert through experience, I was regularly asked questions about the buying process. I advised people and referred them to Marbella Second Home, Katty and Gino’s company. Eventually, they asked me what I thought about joining them. I was immediately enthusiastic.”
Katty Devoldere and Gino Michels say they were completely on board with Jan. “People sometimes think it’s a marketing gimmick and that Jan is nothing more than a figurehead for us. But the opposite is true. Not only does Jan bring in a lot of potential buyers, but he also conducts showings and accompanies us to the notary. We are full partners, and although Jan isn’t always here and we are, we have a clear division of roles and daily contact regarding the state of affairs.”
Hassle
And yet the singer is certainly not short of work. The question remains: why does he put himself through all this hassle? “Liza wonders that sometimes too, haha. We’ve agreed at home that when we’re really on vacation, I’ll only do viewings until lunchtime. But I don’t see this as a hassle; it makes me happy, and real estate really challenges me. I perform, people come to see me, and I usually make them happy. I’ve been doing that for thirty years.”
“This is a different story. People entrust their future to me—and, so to speak, their wallets as well. That’s a big responsibility, and it involves a lot of emotions and conversations. Although I’m not a licensed real estate agent—it’s not required in Spain—I’ve gained a lot of new knowledge along the way. And I’m still learning every day.”
Burnout
Does he feel a greater need to step outside his comfort zone since his burnout? After all, he had already become president of FC Volendam before that. “That burnout certainly made me realize that you only have one life. I used to be happy, wanting to work as much as possible and be successful. I feel that way less now. I enjoy taking on new challenges alongside my performances and TV work, stepping off the beaten path.”
“So I’m currently working on yet another exciting project. I’m going to announce it on December 31, during my 40th birthday party. It’s something completely different from what people would expect from me. My mother once said in our real-life soap opera: ‘Jan can’t do anything,’ and apparently that really stuck with me. By the way, she thinks this is really fun. She never asks about my performances—that’s become so routine. But she does ask if I’ve sold another house.”
Honesty
According to Jan, the main reason he’s so good at this is that he’s always honest. “People often don’t dare take the plunge because they don’t know where to start or who to trust. I could sell people anything—not because I’m famous, but because I’ve learned how to do it in my line of work. But I don’t do that; on the contrary. I often tell clients, ‘Guys, this isn’t going to work,’ if I feel the house isn’t right for them. I think it’s much more important that two years later they say, ‘Jan, thanks again for helping us make the right choice.’”
Real estate agent Jan also likes to offer advice. “For example, I took out a partial mortgage here because it makes good financial sense. I share that knowledge when I think it’s in my clients’ best interest too. Recently, I lent them our electric bikes when clients insisted on a sea view and were therefore looking for something a bit higher up. They had this romantic image in mind that they’d do everything by bike. Going downhill is fine, but after three glasses of wine, you still have to climb back up the hill. I wanted them to experience that for themselves.”
Work meeting
Speaking of wine. Jan stops at a beach bar for a work meeting with Gino and Katty. Which, of course, goes hand in hand with a nice glass of Rioja. After all, you’ve got to enjoy yourself on the Costa. “We take it veryeasy here. I start the day with a cappuccino and end it with a cold glass of wine. By the way, I’m about to pick up Liza at home; she’s currently decorating the Christmas tree. We’re meeting up with some friends from Volendam later at Los Amigo’s, the Dutch pub we love to visit. Would you guys like to join us?”
We don’t need to be told twice, but first we catch up on the latest news over coffee on this terrace. One of the properties Marbella Second Home just listed is probably already sold. The Spanish housing market has exploded, and so have prices. The same goes for Marbella, the trio explains. Marbella is a popular destination for many nationalities, but especially for Belgians and Dutch people. And let’s not forget the people from Volendam; they love coming here too.
Volendam
Jan, who has already moved twice in the area, says: “People from Volendam love to hang out together. When I was growing up, we always went on vacation to Salou as a group. Did I mention that my friend Kees Tol is also starting a business here? Kees has started a design firm with a colleague from VT Wonen, and I’ve now connected them with clients. I love doing that. And it works the other way around, too: Kees knows people who’d love to buy a house here.”
Jan Smit walking down the street incognito
At Los Amigos, we meet Jan and Liza’s friends from Volendam, who are currently having a house built in Marbella. The ladies exchange a few details in authentic Volendam dialect, but above all, they relax and raise a toast on the terrace. “This is what you want, isn’t it?” says Jan.
“Even while I’m still at Schiphol, I start looking forward to these moments. I can walk around here fairly anonymously; the hustle and bustle of Spanish life never gets to you, and we have a close-knit community here. My friend Frank de Boer has a house here, as do Quinty and Orlando Trustfull, Bas Smit and Nicolette van Dam, and Jeroen van der Boom and his wife. And let’s not forget the people from Volendam who’ve made a home here.”
Emigrate
Jan would love to move abroad, but Liza isn’t ready yet, and besides, the kids aren’t leaving home anytime soon. “We love watching showslike *Ik Vertrek*, and yeah, it’s tempting. I think we’ll try to stay here for a long stretch first, and then fly back and forth a bit for work. I’m talking about that other work, you know. Which, by the way, just like real estate, never feels like work.”
