Ernest started his career in the events industry, where he worked for Endemol and Maison van den Boer. During his ten-year career in the events world, Ernest starts developing property. His passion for property development was born with his first project, the redevelopment of an existing building in the centre of Haarlem into three luxury apartments. “I love making something out of nothing and creating something that lasts.”

Entrepreneurship is in Ernest’s DNA, so he founded Hallvard in 2008 and currently owns Wibaut. “The type of environment you work or live in is extremely important. Personally, I’m very sensitive to the atmosphere of a building or space. And I really enjoy creating a pleasant living environment for other people. In recent years, our focus has shifted from housing projects in the more luxurious segment to building affordable sustainable homes for large groups of people who need it most. 1828 (focused on young people) and the Community Land and Trust concept for affordable collaborative living in the city, which concept is yet to be developed further, are the first achievements of this.

“We think it’s important to use our knowledge and skills to realise high-quality and affordable homes.”