Tony Wijntuin: The man who decodes the city at eye level

Take a look at the ground floor of a building you walk past every single day. Do you see a closed facade, or a place where the door stands hospitably open? For Tony Wijntuin, that is exactly where the story of a street begins. A lively cafe, a creative workshop, or an accessible community space determines whether you keep walking or choose to linger. As a real estate strategist, placemaker, and founder of WYNE Strategy & Innovation, he has made those very first meters his life's work. But his sharp eye for human connection and hospitality? That finds its deepest origins in his Surinamese roots.

The Warmth of the Surinamese dyari

Real estate is often calculated in cold square meters and financial returns, but Tony brings a different perspective to Dutch streets. In Surinamese culture, the boundary between inside and outside is naturally fluid. The prasi, outside area [the dyari] is where life happens, where neighbors catch up, and where there is always room for one more. It is precisely this warm, inclusive atmosphere that Tony translates to the modern urban ground floor. For him, the ground floor of an apartment block on the Amsterdam Zuidas or a building at Strijp-S in Eindhoven is essentially the veranda of the city: a space that invites connection.

What Schiphol Taught Him

Before transforming the real estate world, Tony spent eleven years working at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. First in baggage and passenger services, and later on the commercial side. At this international airport, he witnessed a microcosm of the world passing by every day. One traveler rushes stressfully toward their gate, while another is looking for comfort or entertainment. Together with his team, he experimented with amenities that did not necessarily have to generate immediate profit, but made the travel experience more human and pleasant. That approach—looking at what a human being truly needs to feel at home somewhere is what he took with him when he started his own business.

Who Feels Welcome on the Street?

In the Dutch real estate industry, his specialty is known as 'plintprogrammering' (ground floor programming). But for Tony, this choice goes far beyond simply finding the right tenant; it is about social justice and inclusivity. On the Amsterdam Zuidas, an area he knows intimately as a resident of nearby Buitenveldert, he looks past the fast-paced corporate world. What is there on those first few meters for the local residents? For the Surinamese grandmother taking her walk, for children playing, or for the local creative entrepreneur?

This is where his work touches the core of the Surinamese philosophy of togetherness: how do you ensure everyone has a place at the table (or on the street) while keeping the project financially viable? According to Tony, a vibrant city requires a harmonious mix of shops, restaurants, and community spaces where human connection, rather than profit, takes center stage.

The Manjas From His Mother's Garden

The fact that his Surinamese background serves as his compass is clear from the proud way he shares his culture. He recently shared a beautiful, personal insight on LinkedIn: a photo of Golet manjas (mangoes), straight from his mother's garden, ripened under the Surinaamse sun. They had been picked a little early and did not all look perfect on the outside, but after a few days of patience, the flavor was phenomenal.

It serves as a striking metaphor for how Tony views cities. Sometimes you have to give something time to mature and bloom. The most beautiful initiatives or places might not be glossy and polished on the outside, but they carry the most flavor and soul.

Tony Wijntuin proves that while you can judge a city by its impressive skyline, the real magic happens at eye level. Equipped with the corporate expertise of the Dutch real estate market and the generous, open culture of his roots, he opens doors that previously remained closed. Because a city is only truly successful when everyone feels welcome.