De Stratemakeropzeeshow

Having just watched a Stratemakeropzee marathon on the digital channel /Geschiedenis (which also included two episodes from the follow up series J.J. de Bom Voorheen: De Kindervriend), I just had to browse the web for more information on this historic 70s piece of Dutch children's television history.

The story goes that VARA television had plum run out of children's programming by the summer of 1972, so producer Trees Hazelhoff asked Aart Staartjes if he could come up with something. Staartjes was presenting a rather notorious IKON children's program at the time that featured stories from the Bible adapted by Karel Eykman. He knew he wanted Wieteke van Dort, formerly of KRO's Oebele to be part of the show and, according to some sources, bumped into Joost Prinsen in the studio cafeteria. Putting these three together proved to be one of those inspired combinations that survives till this day, as they still occasionally share the stage in 'Het Klokhuis' (Stratemaker mark III if you like).

Staartjes actually borrowed the idiosyncratic concept of a construction-worker at sea from his uncle Dirk, who would often talk about such things and decided to play this part himself. Wieteke clearly relished the opportunity to break out of her good girl image and be ruder and naughtier than she ever was on Oebele. But the break out star of the show was Joost, who was christened 'Erik Engerd' ('Creepy Eric') by writer Jan Riem. Riem then managed to come up with a truckload of gags in no time based on poor Joost's ugly mug. These usually revolved around him failing in his attempts to try and frighten everybody around him with his face and voice. However, these three character were just the starting of point for each episode, in which the three principals portrayed numerous different characters, young and old, male and female in a cavalcade of sketches and songs base on that weeks subject.

Of course the show wouldn't have become as groundbreaking if it hadn't been for the infamous writers collective that gave this and many other 70s children's program's each distinctive voices. This consisted of the aforementioned Jan Riem, Hans Dorrestijn, Karel Eykman, Ries Moonen & Fetze Pijlman. Add to this Harrie Bannink to put music to their words and you could be sure that each installment of De Stratemaker featured a collection of memorable songs ranging from hilarious to touching (not to mention naughty). Joost Prinsen debuted his insightful song 'Frekie' on De Straat, which became a modest hit single. The original version of the song actually featured him sitting on a stool with a burning cigarette in hand, crooner style. Ah, the seventies! Controversy struck by the time the third episode was broadcast, in which one of the main subjects was 'Pies & Poep'. It says something that even today these two rather childish names for bodily excrement's can't be mentioned on this site uncensored. Gossip journalist Henk van der Meyden denounced immediately the show in his Telegraaf newspaper column, which of course prompted a lot of parents to forbid their offspring to watch it and in turn caused the television ratings to sour sky high.

Recurring skits included a pair of children (Wieteke & Aart) who seemed to be raising their dad (Joost) instead of the other way round, the King (Aart) who could eat anything he liked (but feared going to the dentist) and the all round expert Professor Piekerbol (Joost) who was always one upped by his dimwitted assistant (Wieteke). The background was usually provided by a series of three multi-functional set pieces which were used to create a wide variety of settings. One particularly innovative move was to have blackboards on one side of several of these pieces, on which forced perspective drawings could be made to create backgrounds (remember, the VARA didn't have much money to spare for what was essentially supposed to be just a summer filler upper).

One thing surprising element to me was that Aart, Wieteke & Joost were credited at the end of each episode not as themselves but as their respective characters 'De Stratemaker Op Zee', 'De Deftige Dame' & 'Erik Engert'. No wonder people kept referring to Joost as Engert for years to come. This was also addressed in a song in which Prinsen lamented the fact that no one knew him by his real name. Other than the main three cast members, it was rare to see a guest actor on the show. When Onno Molenkamp appeared in a non-speaking part as Aart Staartjes father (unblinking in a giant close-up during the entire length of a musical number, no less) he naturally remained uncredited. However, they made sure his name was written on the blackboard later on in the episode, surrounded by the names of the other cast members and titles of popular children's program's of the time.

At one point De Straat started interviewing children to get more insight in their point of view, something that was incorporated to a greater extend in the sequel, 'J.J. de Bom'. Still, by the end of 1974 Staartjes felt that they had run out of subjects to cover and decided to put a sock in it. And, like so many other great series from the seventies, most episodes were wiped clear out of existence to make way for new recordings. Luckily, enough of the songs, skits and bits still remain to make up the two 90 minute compilations I was lucky enough to catch today (also available on DVD since 2008). This means that anyone inclined to catch a slice of early Seventies pedagogy sound edu-tainment can do so and watch De Straat, De Dame & Erik Engerd in their prime. What's more, many thanks to Henk N. Bom of Het Stratemakeropzee Genootschap for providing a list of episodes and air-dates that this contributor plans to put to great use on this very site.

9 out of 10