Entrepreneur on the Costa Blanca: Rick Bouwmeister
In the “Entrepreneur on the Costa Blanca” section, we meet Dutch-speaking entrepreneurs on the Costa Blanca. Who are they, what do they do and what are their plans? In this item I (Rick) introduce myself as the initiator of this platform.
Who is the entrepreneur Rick?
Nice to meet you! My name is Rick, freelance marketer and initiator of CostaBlanca.nl. I am located with my office in the Achterhoek and I have a collaboration with the Dutch Business Center Spain in La Nucia and if possible I work from there.
After studying Sport & Exercise and Commercial Economics, I started doing business in 2017. Designing logos, managing social media and maintaining websites were my first jobs.
At that time, I also went from a full-time job to a part-time job: 3 days employed and the rest “for myself. After about 4 years of “pioneering,” I decided to work completely for myself.
What am I currently doing as an entrepreneur?
Since 2022, I have been working as an SEO specialist, improving the online findability of companies in the Achterhoek region in particular. I have built up a nice and varied client base and I am working on a number of fun projects for myself, including this platform.
I have also, together with a fellow marketer, set up a community for marketers in the Achterhoek set up.
How did the idea for CostaBlanca.com come about?
During one of my vacations on the Costa Blanca, I immersed myself in the region and its online presence of information. Thus, I discovered that the website at the domain costablanca.com was severely outdated. The website had not been updated for about 10 years. I went to investigate and found out the owner’s phone number.
We happily got in touch and I shared my ideas. Not much later, we came to an agreement. This was my biggest business investment at the time. But I saw the potential of the name/domain so it was well worth it!
Now I combine my expertise in marketing with my interest in the Costa Blanca.
What does an average work week look like for me?
On average, I spend about 3 days a week with my regular clients and 1 day for appointments, administration and self-development. The rest of the time I work on this platform. I work mainly from my office in Doetinchem and where necessary I visit my clients.
How do I get new assignments/clients?
Since starting my college education, I have invested a lot of time in LinkedIn(check out my profile and feel free to send a connection request). In addition, I did many internships and had side jobs or board positions that allowed my network to grow quickly.
As a result, most assignments come in through my own network. Because I work with most of my clients indefinitely, I have little turnover and do not have to look for new work quickly. Meanwhile, I also work for a number of clients based on the Costa Blanca.
How has CostaBlanca.com evolved?
In the beginning (September 2020) the plan was to create a blog. For that to succeed it is important to write articles regularly. At the time, I could not prioritize this so little happened.
Eventually, I started small by focusing on the homepage and Costa Blanca in general. From there, I started expanding the content to include information about popular places on the Costa Blanca.
Meanwhile, I take time every day to work on expanding and improving the platform. I have also started actively using social media, including Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. This is paying off as great collaborations are emerging!
This is reflected in the visitor numbers, which more than double year on year. That, of course, motivates us to further develop and expand everything.
What are my plans for CostaBlanca.com?
CostaBlanca.com is the number 1 website for everything you want to know about the Costa Blanca and the places the area has. The website currently contains a lot of information. The intention is to expand this information but more importantly to improve it and make it more relevant. Also, there are still many places on the Costa Blanca that have not been named.
Business market, local entrepreneurs
Because the online reach is large, the communication channels of CostaBlanca.com also offer opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs. Think for example of real estate agents, project developers but also owners of vacation rentals.
With an extensive company listing, a (business) interview and posts through the social media channels of CostaBlanca.com you reach the perfect target group at the right time. With the advantage that all statistics are also visible because online everything is measurable compared to offline communication.
Is it possible to cooperate with CostaBlanca.com?
Yes definitely, I am open to collaborations with brokers, property developers and other companies and associations, as well as vacation home or apartment owners. Read more about the cooperation possibilities.
More entrepreneurs on the Costa Blanca:
Tip an entrepreneur!
Do you know any Dutch-speaking entrepreneurs on the Costa Blanca?
Or would you like to give an interview yourself?
Publication date:
8 July 2024
Publication date: 8 July 2024
Updated on:
5 January 2026
Updated on: 5 January 2026
Comments on this article:
Your signpost on the Costa Blanca
Hi! My name is Rick, initiator of CostaBlanca.nl and the free App. Since 2015 I can be found on the Costa Blanca on a monthly basis.
With this online platform I make as much as possible relevant information and tips about places on the Costa Blanca insightful and clear. The texts are exclusively written by myself. The photos and videos are made by me.
Learn more about collaborative opportunities.
