Circus Herman Renz
Encyclopedia
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and has been touring the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and other countries since 1911.
Establishment of the circus
Arnold van der Vegt decided in the winter of 1911 to start his own circusCircus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
. The first artist he contracted was his friend Tom Mix
Tom Mix
Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features...
. In 1923 Arnold changed the name of the circus to "Renz". During the Second World war it was difficult for the circus to survive, and because of the circumstances it was forced to give shows for the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
. After the war, things improved dramatically. Arnold died in 1955.
After the death of Arnold van der Vegt, his son Herman Sr. took over management of the circus. In 1970 he transferred the running of the circus to his sons, Paul and Arnold Jr. (also known as Nol). Paul acted as a clown in the shows and Arnold Jr. became the director.
Arnold Jr. and his wife Marina made the circus very successful. For many years they traveled around with great success. In 1967 their son Herman Jr. was born. As a child, Herman's ambition was to continue his fathers circus business.
Success
The success of circus Renz reached its peak in 1978. In 1978, Bassie and AdriaanBassie and Adriaan
Bassie & Adriaan were a Dutch circus duo who starred in their own television series. Bassie is a ginger-haired red-nosed clown who wears a red tartan-jacket and green trousers; he's fond of cream-cakes, and calls himself "stupid, but not smart". Adriaan is an acrobat in a blue 1970s-style shirt;...
made several television series with Circus Renz as the backdrop. In the weekends, they made their appearance in the circus with successful clown performances. During this period the shows were regularly sold out.
Bassie and Adriaan
In 1980 the Dutch tv-producer Joop van den EndeJoop van den Ende
Johannes "Joop" Adrianus van den Ende is a Dutch media tycoon, theatrical producer, co-founder of Endemol and founder/owner of Stage Entertainment....
established Circus Bassie & Adriaan
Circus Bassie & Adriaan
Circus Bassie & Adriaan was a large Dutch circus that had made different tours through the Netherlands and Belgium. It has been touring in the periods 1980-1982 and 1985-1989....
. The staff of Circus Renz was involved with the entire transport of Circus Bassie & Adriaan
Circus Bassie & Adriaan
Circus Bassie & Adriaan was a large Dutch circus that had made different tours through the Netherlands and Belgium. It has been touring in the periods 1980-1982 and 1985-1989....
. Circus Renz itself travelled throughout the country. At the end of 1983 Joop van den Ende stopped with the circus after he tried a show with the Dutch singer André Hazes
André Hazes
André Gerardus Hazes was a Dutch singer in a genre called levenslied which is a form of emotional folk music about everyday life sung in the Dutch language. André Hazes was one of the most successful singers in this genre...
.
At Circus Renz the Steijvers family reinforced the program, followed by the Luycx-Sisters in 1983. Herman Jr. fell in love with Diana Luycx and they started a relationship.
Arnold Jr. again came in contact with Bassie and Adriaan
Bassie and Adriaan
Bassie & Adriaan were a Dutch circus duo who starred in their own television series. Bassie is a ginger-haired red-nosed clown who wears a red tartan-jacket and green trousers; he's fond of cream-cakes, and calls himself "stupid, but not smart". Adriaan is an acrobat in a blue 1970s-style shirt;...
in 1985. The cooperation between them was renewed and the success of circus Renz grew yet again. But, in 1988, Arnold Jr. became very ill. His last and largest wish was to travel once more with Bassie and Adriaan
Bassie and Adriaan
Bassie & Adriaan were a Dutch circus duo who starred in their own television series. Bassie is a ginger-haired red-nosed clown who wears a red tartan-jacket and green trousers; he's fond of cream-cakes, and calls himself "stupid, but not smart". Adriaan is an acrobat in a blue 1970s-style shirt;...
and a complete new circus-tent. The new tent was bought, but in January 1989 Arnold van der Vegt Jr. died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Because the new tour was already planned, Bassie and Adriaan
Bassie and Adriaan
Bassie & Adriaan were a Dutch circus duo who starred in their own television series. Bassie is a ginger-haired red-nosed clown who wears a red tartan-jacket and green trousers; he's fond of cream-cakes, and calls himself "stupid, but not smart". Adriaan is an acrobat in a blue 1970s-style shirt;...
decided to finish the tour after which, in 1989, the tent and material was sold.
The new circus Renz
In 1990 Herman Jr., and his girlfriend Diana, perform for one season with the French circus Achille Zavatta II. Despite this, Herman wanted to continue the Circus Renz with Diana, and the families of Steijvers and Ronday.In September 1990 Diana & Herman Renz broke the contract with the Circus Achille Zavatta II. On March the 13th 1991 they open with the renewed 'Dutch National Circus Herman Renz'. The first place of the tour is Eemnes
Eemnes
Eemnes is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-The town of Eemnes :Eemnes formerly consisted of two villages, Eemnes-Binnen and Eemnes-Buiten...
. For the young board of directors it is a heavy venture, but thanks to a contract with Center Parcs
Center Parcs
Center Parcs is a European network of holiday villages incorporating a UK-based company, Center Parcs UK, which runs holiday villages in the United Kingdom and a sister enterprise, Center Parcs Europe, that operates in numerous locations in continental Europe...
it developed into a large success.
In five years time, the now-married Diana & Herman Renz develop the circus into the largest in the Netherlands and later the Benelux. During the period around Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
the circus always present their Wintershow in the Dutch city of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
. In December 1995 Diana & Herman Renz received the Oscar Carré Trophy
Oscar Carré Trophy
The Oscar Carré Trophy is a circus award in Netherlands. Most of the time it is based upon the complete oeuvre of the circus.-Winners of the Oscar Carré Trophy:*1993: Flavio Togni*1995: Herman Renz*2000: Louis Knie Senior of Circus Knie...
. The trophy is handed over by the Swiss circus director Frédy Knie of Circus Knie
Circus Knie
Circus Knie is the largest circus of Switzerland, based in Rapperswil.The circus was founded in 1803 by the Knie family and has existed in its present form since 1919 when it changed from an open arena to a covered tent. The circus has been long famous for its animals and now operates a zoo and a...
.
There were plans for the year 1996. A new tent had been ordered and there was a new contract with Center Parcs
Center Parcs
Center Parcs is a European network of holiday villages incorporating a UK-based company, Center Parcs UK, which runs holiday villages in the United Kingdom and a sister enterprise, Center Parcs Europe, that operates in numerous locations in continental Europe...
. The tour of 1996 started at February 22 in the Dutch city of Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
.
A black period
The shows and the tour were temporarily cancelled. Some days later, the Circus is relocated to the Dutch city of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, where the funeral is to take place.
After the funeral ceremony, the funeral proceeds to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where Diana & Herman are buried at the family tomb at the cemetery 'Zorgvlied',
Swing into action
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
stands to the edge of the abyss.
From several places help is unexpectedly offered. The, then, nine years old Ronald Blom starts an action which generates a lot of publicity. Ronald is seen among a lot of television shows such as 'The TV-Show of Ivo Niehe
Ivo Niehe
Ivo Johannes Ignatius Niehe OON is a Dutch radio and television presenter, television producer and actor.Niehe was born in Amsterdam in 1946 he studied French at the University of Amsterdam and received his MA in French Language and Literature in 1973...
', 'Hart van Nederland' and 'Het Jeugdjournaal
Jeugdjournaal
Jeugdjournaal is a Dutch television news programme produced by the Dutch public service broadcaster NOS for children. The programme has been broadcast since 1981....
' (the news for youth). There is even a story in the local newspaper of Haarlem ('Haarlems Dagblad'). Ronald also collects money (in total 1,012 guilders). For his commitment he receives a free ticket for life of the interim executive board.
Also, Ed Glas organised actions to save the circus, together with the interim executive board of the circus, Toin Routers (public relations officer of the circus in 2005) and Hans de Jager. A fan club was set up, and individuals and companies can rent a chair in the Circus as sponsors.
Princess Household Appliances, a company located in the Dutch city of Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
owned by Aad Ouborg, is sponsors the circus. Because of that, Princess becomes the most important sponsor of circus Herman Renz until 1998.
Nowadays, the circus is owned by the families Steijvers, Ronday and Olivier. The executive board consists of five people.
A royal distinction
On December 22, 2002 circus Herman Renz received royal recognition. Mayor Jaap Pop (mayor of the Dutch city of HaarlemHaarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
) had the honour of presenting the award. Circus Herman Renz was the first Dutch circus to receive this award, which motivated the employees of Circus Herman Renz to preserve the last great Dutch circus.