At the moment we are all enjoying Robert Jan’s search for true love in B&B Vol Liefde. Recently we saw how he sent the crowd’s favorite Els home with a heavy heart, a difficult decision for both of them. But it seems that Robert Jan can now make these choices more easily, because he has truly learned what matters in life. This insight has everything to do with a serious illness that he has overcome, an event that changed his life forever.
Bye bye Netherlands, hello Scotland
After Robert Jan had beaten cancer, he decided to pack his bags and move to where his heart lies: Scotland. In the B&B Vol Liefde episode on Monday evening, he went into more detail about this difficult period during his date with Margreeth. “I managed to get out of it and that is an inspiring example for many people. There is always hope, even in the darkest times. There is always a way up.”
Face to face with death
Robert Jan was really on the verge of saying goodbye to life. But he kept fighting and the rehabilitation took him two years. “A doctor told me at the end of the chemotherapy that I wouldn’t even be able to walk up the stairs. That was the moment for me that I thought: ‘That’s not going to happen, I’m going to fight my way out.'”
Fitter than ever and full of gratitude
Fast forward to now: Robert Jan feels fitter than ever before! He is back in full swing of life and is enjoying it to the fullest. “Every day I am grateful that I am still here. I enjoy it! When I open the curtain in the morning, I feel proud and grateful for everything I have achieved.”
B&B Full of Love-Robert Jan a millionaire?
By the way, it is claimed that Robert Jan is a millionaire. Okay, so? You might think. But according to Robert Jan, this is not true at all. He is absolutely not happy with the image that RTL 4 paints of him. In RTL Boulevard it is claimed that he has a fortune of 4.1 million and that he owes this mainly to his wealthy family. He is furious about these reports and that is not without reason. The Scottish gentleman tells the Story that there is absolutely no truth to this. “I really do not think it is okay what nonsense has been spread about me. I have children, right? They are affected by this”, says Robert Jan.
Hard work
In fact, he says that during his economics studies he had to work very hard to pay all the bills. He worked behind the bar and as a cleaner at a graphic design company. He also worked as a truck driver for a while. In 1998 he started his own company with which he could earn enough money to eventually start his B&B in Scotland. The latter has more than succeeded, as we can see in B&B Vol Liefde.
