Committed to the development of golf at youth level and founded his own youth team in 2005 called Golfjuniors, consisting of three top Dutch amateurs around the age of 16. Inspired to take this action by former Open Champion Paul Lawrie after hearing of the Scot’s support of junior golf. The juniors also benefit from the expertise of his coaches including putting guru Harold Swash and psychologist Alan Fine. Took up golf at age 14 after a new course was constructed close to his home in Nijmegen. In an impressive amateur career he won the Dutch Match Play and Stroke Play titles before turning professional in 1996. Has notched two victories on The European Tour, the 2005 Madeira Island Open Caixa Geral de Depositos and the Dubai Desert Classic in 2003 when he held off the challenge of Ernie Els to win. Came close to winning a third title when runner-up in the 2008 BMW Asian Open. Robert-Jan retired from The European Tour at the end of the 2014 season, making his 394th and final appearance at the Turkish Airlines Open. He plans to take a long break before deciding what career path to take.