Career
Hylkema began his athletic career in field hockey. In 1968, he was part of the Dutch field hockey team at the 1968 Summer Olympics. In 1970, he turned to professional soccer when he signed with Football Club Groningen but he spent his first season with the reserves.
In 1971, Hylkema gained promotion to the first team where he saw limited time over two seasons.
He then played for Atlante F.C. in Mexico. In 1975, Hylkema played three games for the San Antonio Thunder of the North American Soccer League.
In 1976, he played for the Oakland Buccaneers of the American Soccer League. In 1977 and 1978, he played for the Sacramento Gold.
In 1980, the Golden Gate Gales selected Hylkema in the Advanced Systems Limited Dispersal Draft.
After he retired from playing professionally, Hytlkema settled in the San Francisco Bay area where he coached.
