In 1652 he married Maria Jens Martens (daughter of a rich Tönning alderman) in Friedrichstadt.

In 1654 Ovens spent a few weeks in Stockholm to paint the marriage between Charles X Gustav and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp.

Ovens became a citizen of Amsterdam in order to start a business or to get a job, as the rules of guilds were very strict.

The art-dealer Gerrit van Uylenburgh bought the house next door owned by Flinck.

In 1663 Ovens returned to Friedrichstadt at the instruction of Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, as one of the richest inhabitants.

From 1674 to 1675, he lived again in Holland and painted Michiel de Ruyter and Joan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen.

He also painted a portrait of the parents of Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone,[7] Comenius, Maarten Tromp, Charles II of England, Colonel John Hutchinson,[8][9] Adam Olearius, three times Christina of Sweden, Queen Sophie Amalie of Denmark, Jacob Backer, Jacques Specx,[10] Lucia Wijbrants, Dirck Kerckring and twice Giuseppe Francesco Borri, an eye doctor, charlatan and alchemist.