Hilversum
Encyclopedia
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, wood
s, meadow
s, lake
s, and smaller village
s. Hilversum is part of the Randstad
, one of the largest conurbation
s in Europe
.
and 20 km north of Utrecht
.
The town is often called "media
city
" since it is the principal centre for radio
and television
broadcasting
in the Netherlands. Radio Netherlands
, heard worldwide via shortwave radio since the 1920s, is based here. Hilversum is home to an extensive complex of audio and television studio
s belonging to the national broadcast production company NOS, as well as to the studios and offices of all the Dutch public broadcasting organizations and many commercial TV production companies. As a result many old radio sets in Britain had a "Hilversum” dial position marked on their tuning scales (along with other exotic locations like Athlone).
Hilversum is also known for its architecturally important "Raadhuis" or town hall, designed by Willem Dudok
(1884–1974).
Hilversum has one public library, two swimming pools (Hellemond Sport and De Lieberg), a number of sporting halls and several shopping centers (such as Hilvertshof, Kerkelanden, Riebeeck-Galerij, Severijn, Seinhorst and Chatham). In the region the city centre is known as 'het dorp' which means 'the village'.
, which is an early- to mid-Bronze Age, or 800–1200 BCE material culture
. Artifacts from this prehistoric civilization bear similarities to the Wessex Culture of southern Britain and may indicate that the first Hilversum residents emigrated from that area. The first brick settlements formed around 900, but it was not until 1305 that the first official mention of Hilversum ("Hilfersheem" from "Hilvertshem" meaning "houses between the hills") is found. At that point it was a part of Naarden, the oldest town in the Gooi area.
Farming, raising sheep and some wool manufacturing were the means of life for the Gooi in the Middle Ages. In March 21 at 6:30 AM (The hour at which people got up, as the farm was full of loud and restless animals) 1424, Hilversum received its first official independent status. This made possible further growth in the village because permission from Naarden was no longer needed for new industrial development. The town grew further in the 17th century when the Dutch economy as a whole entered its age of prosperity, and several canals were built connecting it indirectly to Amsterdam. In 1725 and 1766 large fires destroyed most of the town, leveling parts of the old townhouse and the church next to it. The town overcame these setbacks and the textile industry continued to develop, among other ways by devising a way to weave cows' hair. In the 19th century a substantial textile and tapestry industry emerged, aided by a railway link to Amsterdam in 1874. From that time the town grew quickly with rich commuters from Amsterdam moving in, building themselves large villas in the wooded surroundings, and gradually starting to live in Hilversum permanently. Despite this growth, Hilversum was never granted city rights so it is still referred to by many locals as "het dorp," or "the village."
For the 1928 Summer Olympics
in neighboring Amsterdam
, it hosted the all of the non-jumping equestrian
and the running part of the modern pentathlon
event.
The Nederlandse Seintoestellen Fabriek (NSF) company established a professional transmitter and radio factory in Hilversum in the early 1920s, growing into the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, and in 1948 being taken over by Philips
. By then the textile industry had started its decline; only one factory, Veneta, managed to continue into the 1960s, when it also had to close its doors. Another major industry, the chemical factory IFF, also closed by the end of the 1960s. In the meantime, almost all Dutch radio broadcasting organizations (followed by television broadcasters in the 1950s) established their headquarters in Hilversum and provided a source of continuing economic growth. The concentration of broadcasters in Hilversum has given it its enduring status as the media city for The Netherlands.
In 1964, the population reached a record high – over 103,000 people called Hilversum home. The current population hovers around 84,000. Several factors figure into the decline: one is the fact that the average family nowadays consists of fewer people, so fewer people live in each house; second, the town is virtually unable to expand because all the surrounding lands were sold to the Gooisch Natuurreservaat by city architect W.M. Dudok.
Some sources blame connections in the television world for attracting crime to Hilversum, and the town has had to cope with mounting drug-related issues in a community with higher than average unemployment and ongoing housing shortage.
Hilversum was one of the first towns to have a local party of the populist movement called Leefbaar ("liveable")
. Founded by former social-democrat party strongman Jan Nagel, it was initially held at bay for alderman positions. In 2001, Nagel from 'Leefbaar Hilversum' teamed up with 'Leefbaar Utrecht' leaders to found a national 'Leefbaar Nederland' party. By strange coincidence, in 2002 the most vocal and controversial Dutch 'Leefbaar Rotterdam' politician Pim Fortuyn
was shot and killed by an animal rights activist at Hilversum Media Park just after finishing a radio interview. This happened, however, after a break between Fortuyn and Nagel during a Leefbaar Nederland board meeting in Hilversum on Fortuyn's anti-Islamic viewpoints.
The town of Hilversum has put a great deal of effort into improvements, including a recent renovation to its central train station, thorough renovation of the main shopping centre (Hilvertshof), and development of new dining and retail districts downtown including the "vintage" district in the Leeuwenstraat. Several notable architectural accomplishments include the Institute for Sound and Vision, and the largest man-made wildlife crossing
in the world, Zanderij Crailoo
The best links are from Hilversum railway station, as this is an Intercity station.
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...
, in the province of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, wood
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
s, lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s, and smaller village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s. Hilversum is part of the Randstad
Randstad
Image:Randstad_with_scale.png|400px|thumb|right|Clickable schematic map of the Randstadcircle 528 380 26 Schipholrect 426 356 498 436 Haarlemmermeerrect 399 166 479 245 Velsencircle 250 716 32 Delftcircle 220 642 60 The Hague...
, one of the largest conurbation
Conurbation
A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area...
s in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The Town Of Hilversum
Hilversum lies some 30 km south-east of AmsterdamAmsterdam
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...
and 20 km north of Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
.
The town is often called "media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
" since it is the principal centre for radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
in the Netherlands. Radio Netherlands
Radio Netherlands
Radio Netherlands Worldwide is a public radio and television network based in Hilversum, producing and transmitting programmes for international audiences outside the Netherlands...
, heard worldwide via shortwave radio since the 1920s, is based here. Hilversum is home to an extensive complex of audio and television studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
s belonging to the national broadcast production company NOS, as well as to the studios and offices of all the Dutch public broadcasting organizations and many commercial TV production companies. As a result many old radio sets in Britain had a "Hilversum” dial position marked on their tuning scales (along with other exotic locations like Athlone).
Hilversum is also known for its architecturally important "Raadhuis" or town hall, designed by Willem Dudok
Willem Marinus Dudok
Willem Marinus Dudok , was a Dutch modernist architect, best known for the brick Hilversum City Hall....
(1884–1974).
Hilversum has one public library, two swimming pools (Hellemond Sport and De Lieberg), a number of sporting halls and several shopping centers (such as Hilvertshof, Kerkelanden, Riebeeck-Galerij, Severijn, Seinhorst and Chatham). In the region the city centre is known as 'het dorp' which means 'the village'.
History
Earthenware found in Hilversum gives its name to the Hilversum cultureHilversum culture
The Hilversum culture is a prehistoric material culture found in middle Bronze Age in the region of the southern Netherlands and northern Belgium...
, which is an early- to mid-Bronze Age, or 800–1200 BCE material culture
Material culture
In the social sciences, material culture is a term that refers to the relationship between artifacts and social relations. Studying a culture's relationship to materiality is a lens through which social and cultural attitudes can be discussed...
. Artifacts from this prehistoric civilization bear similarities to the Wessex Culture of southern Britain and may indicate that the first Hilversum residents emigrated from that area. The first brick settlements formed around 900, but it was not until 1305 that the first official mention of Hilversum ("Hilfersheem" from "Hilvertshem" meaning "houses between the hills") is found. At that point it was a part of Naarden, the oldest town in the Gooi area.
Farming, raising sheep and some wool manufacturing were the means of life for the Gooi in the Middle Ages. In March 21 at 6:30 AM (The hour at which people got up, as the farm was full of loud and restless animals) 1424, Hilversum received its first official independent status. This made possible further growth in the village because permission from Naarden was no longer needed for new industrial development. The town grew further in the 17th century when the Dutch economy as a whole entered its age of prosperity, and several canals were built connecting it indirectly to Amsterdam. In 1725 and 1766 large fires destroyed most of the town, leveling parts of the old townhouse and the church next to it. The town overcame these setbacks and the textile industry continued to develop, among other ways by devising a way to weave cows' hair. In the 19th century a substantial textile and tapestry industry emerged, aided by a railway link to Amsterdam in 1874. From that time the town grew quickly with rich commuters from Amsterdam moving in, building themselves large villas in the wooded surroundings, and gradually starting to live in Hilversum permanently. Despite this growth, Hilversum was never granted city rights so it is still referred to by many locals as "het dorp," or "the village."
For the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
in neighboring 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...
, it hosted the all of the non-jumping equestrian
Equestrian at the 1928 Summer Olympics
The Equestrian Events at the 1928 Summer Olympics included Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions. The competitions were held from August 8, 1928 to August 12, 1928.-Medal summary:...
and the running part of the modern pentathlon
Modern pentathlon at the 1928 Summer Olympics
At the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, a single modern pentathlon event was contested.-Medalists:...
event.
The Nederlandse Seintoestellen Fabriek (NSF) company established a professional transmitter and radio factory in Hilversum in the early 1920s, growing into the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, and in 1948 being taken over by Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
. By then the textile industry had started its decline; only one factory, Veneta, managed to continue into the 1960s, when it also had to close its doors. Another major industry, the chemical factory IFF, also closed by the end of the 1960s. In the meantime, almost all Dutch radio broadcasting organizations (followed by television broadcasters in the 1950s) established their headquarters in Hilversum and provided a source of continuing economic growth. The concentration of broadcasters in Hilversum has given it its enduring status as the media city for The Netherlands.
In 1964, the population reached a record high – over 103,000 people called Hilversum home. The current population hovers around 84,000. Several factors figure into the decline: one is the fact that the average family nowadays consists of fewer people, so fewer people live in each house; second, the town is virtually unable to expand because all the surrounding lands were sold to the Gooisch Natuurreservaat by city architect W.M. Dudok.
Some sources blame connections in the television world for attracting crime to Hilversum, and the town has had to cope with mounting drug-related issues in a community with higher than average unemployment and ongoing housing shortage.
Hilversum was one of the first towns to have a local party of the populist movement called Leefbaar ("liveable")
Livable Netherlands
Livable Netherlands was a Dutch political party. Pim Fortuyn began his political career in the party.-Party history:Historically there have always been parties in States-Provincial and Gemeenteraad that were independent from the national party system...
. Founded by former social-democrat party strongman Jan Nagel, it was initially held at bay for alderman positions. In 2001, Nagel from 'Leefbaar Hilversum' teamed up with 'Leefbaar Utrecht' leaders to found a national 'Leefbaar Nederland' party. By strange coincidence, in 2002 the most vocal and controversial Dutch 'Leefbaar Rotterdam' politician Pim Fortuyn
Pim Fortuyn
Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn was a Dutch politician, civil servant, sociologist, author and professor who formed his own party, Pim Fortuyn List ....
was shot and killed by an animal rights activist at Hilversum Media Park just after finishing a radio interview. This happened, however, after a break between Fortuyn and Nagel during a Leefbaar Nederland board meeting in Hilversum on Fortuyn's anti-Islamic viewpoints.
The town of Hilversum has put a great deal of effort into improvements, including a recent renovation to its central train station, thorough renovation of the main shopping centre (Hilvertshof), and development of new dining and retail districts downtown including the "vintage" district in the Leeuwenstraat. Several notable architectural accomplishments include the Institute for Sound and Vision, and the largest man-made wildlife crossing
Wildlife crossing
Wildlife crossings are structures that allow animals to cross human-made barriers safely. Wildlife crossings may include: underpass tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses ; amphibian tunnels; fish ladders; tunnels and culverts ; green roofs .Wildlife crossings are a...
in the world, Zanderij Crailoo
Facts about the city
- The home of the Dutch open golf tournament KLM OpenKLM OpenThe KLM Open is an annual golf tournament played in The Netherlands, and has been part of the European Tour's schedule since the Tour was inaugurated in 1972. Founded in 1912, the tournament was originally known as the Dutch Open, before a variety of sponsors resulted in numerous name changes over...
. - The population declined from 103,000 in 1964 to 84,000 in 2006.
- It was the location of the assassination of Pim FortuynPim FortuynWilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn was a Dutch politician, civil servant, sociologist, author and professor who formed his own party, Pim Fortuyn List ....
, a controversial politician. - The first city with a "LeefbaarLivable NetherlandsLivable Netherlands was a Dutch political party. Pim Fortuyn began his political career in the party.-Party history:Historically there have always been parties in States-Provincial and Gemeenteraad that were independent from the national party system...
" party (which was intended as just a local party). - The high number of villas dating back to the 1900s.
- The large Catholic neo-gothic St. Vitus church (P.J.H. CuypersPierre CuypersPetrus Josephus Hubertus Cuypers was a Dutch architect. His name is most frequently associated with the Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum , both in Amsterdam. More representative for his oeuvre, however, are numerous churches, of which he designed more than 100...
, 1892, belltower 96 metres). - The city was the headquarters of the German ground forces (WehrmachtWehrmachtThe Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
) in the Netherlands. - The city played host to many landscape artists during the 19th Century, including Barend Cornelis KoekkoekBarend Cornelis KoekkoekKoekkoek, Barend Cornelis Dutch landscape artist and father of Johannes Hermanus Barend Koekkoek.-Life:...
.
Transportation
Hilversum is well connected to the Dutch railway network, and contains three stations:- Hilversum railway stationHilversum railway stationHilversum is a railway station in Hilversum, the Netherlands. It is located approximately southeast of Amsterdam. It is on the Amsterdam - Hilversum - Amersfoort main line, with a branch to Utrecht. There are two other stations in Hilversum: Hilversum Noord to the north, and Hilversum Sportpark to...
- Hilversum Noord railway stationHilversum Noord railway stationHilversum Noord is a railway station in the town of Hilversum, the Netherlands. Opened on 24 May 1974, Hilversum Noord is located on the Amsterdam–Zutphen railway - also called the Gooilijn - north of the town centre, serving Media Park, where most Dutch television and radio broadcasters are located...
- Hilversum Sportpark railway stationHilversum Sportpark railway stationHilversum Sportpark is a railway station in Hilversum, The Netherlands. It lies south of Hilversum town centre. The station was opened in 1874 and is on the Hilversum - Utrecht railway line...
The best links are from Hilversum railway station, as this is an Intercity station.
Local government
The municipal council of Hilversum in 2010 consists of 37 seats, which are divided as followed:- D66Democrats 66Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
– 8 seats - VVDPeople's Party for Freedom and DemocracyThe People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
– 7 seats - PvdALabour Party (Netherlands)The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
– 6 seats - CDAChristian Democratic AppealThe Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
– 3 seats - SPSocialist Party (Netherlands)The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
– 3 seats - GroenLinks – 3 seats
- Hart voor Hilversum – 3 seats
- ChristenUnie – 2 seats
- Leefbaar Hilversum – 2 seats
Born in Hilversum
Notable people born in Hilversum:- Joop den UylJoop den UylJohannes Marten den Uijl, known as Joop den Uyl was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from May 11, 1973 until December 19, 1977....
(1919–1987), prime minister - Henk HermsenHenk HermsenHendrik Willem Hermsen is a former water polo player from The Netherlands, who competed in two Summer Olympics for his native country. In 1960 he finished in eighth position with the Dutch Men's Team. Four years later in Tokyo he once again came in eighth with the Holland squad...
(1937), water polo player - John GerretsenJohn GerretsenJohn Philip Gerretsen is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and a Minister in the Cabinet of Premier Dalton McGuinty.-Early life:...
(1942), politician - André HermsenAndré HermsenAndréas Hermsen is a former water polo player from The Netherlands, who finished in seventh position with the Dutch Men's Team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. His brothers Henk and Wim also played for the Dutch National Team and competed at the Summer Olympics.-References:*...
(1942), water polo player - Evert KroonEvert KroonEvert Gerrit Kroon is a former water polo goalkeeper from The Netherlands, who participated in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1968. After two seven place finishes Kroon won the bronze medal with the Dutch Men's Water Polo Team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada...
(1946), water polo goalkeeper - Dick DiamondeDick DiamondeDick Diamonde ) was the bassist with Australian rock group, The Easybeats....
(1947), bassist - Wim HermsenWim HermsenWillem Hermsen is a former water polo player from The Netherlands, who finished in seventh position with the Dutch Men's Water Polo Team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich...
(1947), water polo player - Bartha KnoppersBartha KnoppersBartha Maria Knoppers, is a Canadian lawyer and an expert on the ethical aspects of genetics, genomics and biotechnology....
(1951), lawyer - Erland Van Lidth de JeudeErland Van Lidth De JeudeErland van Lidth de Jeude was a Dutch-born actor who appeared in several Hollywood films, as well as being a wrestler, an opera singer bass-baritone, and also worked with computers. While his large size Erland van Lidth de Jeude (June 3, 1953 - September 23, 1987) was a Dutch-born actor who...
(1953–1987), actor,wrestler and opera singer - Ton van KloosterTon van KloosterAnton Willem van Klooster is a former freestyle swimmer from the Netherlands, who competed for his native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. There he was eliminated in the heats of the 400m and 1500m Freestyle...
(1954), freestyle swimmer and swimming coach - Nico LandeweerdNico LandeweerdNicolaas Albertus Adrianus Landeweerd is a former water polo player from the Netherlands, who participated in three Summer Olympics. At his debut, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, he won the bronze medal with the Dutch team. In 1980 and 1984 Landeweerd finished in sixth position with the...
(1954), water polo player - Andy HoepelmanAndy HoepelmanIlja Mohandas "Andy" Hoepelman , is a former Olympic water polo player and current medical professor. He won an Olympic bronze medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics as part of the Dutch men's team...
(1955), water polo player - John de Mol (1955), media tycoon
- Dick NieuwenhuizenDick NieuwenhuizenTheodorus Anton Nieuwenhuizen is a former water polo player from the Netherlands, who participated in two Summer Olympics. On both occasions, at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he finished in sixth position with the Dutch National Men's Team...
(1957), water polo player and coach - Ton Bollebakker (1958), draughts player
- Ellen BontjeEllen BontjePetronella Theodora Maria Bontje is an equestrian from The Netherlands, who won the silver medal in the Team Dressage Event at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She did so alongside Anky van Grunsven, Coby van Baalen, and Arjen Teeuwissen...
(1958), equestrian - Hansje BunschotenHansje BunschotenHansje Bunschoten is a former freestyle swimmer from the Netherlands, who competed for her native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany...
(1958), swimmer and TV-presenter - Arjen Anthony LucassenArjen Anthony LucassenArjen Anthony "Oswold Jr." Lucassen is a progressive metal/rock composer, singer and musician from the Netherlands, best known for his long-running progressive opera project titled Ayreon....
(1960), musician and composer - André RouvoetAndré RouvoetAndré Rouvoet is a former Dutch politician of the ChristianUnion . First as a member of the RPF until the party merged with the Reformed Political League to form the ChristianUnion. He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from May 17, 1994 until February 22, 2007...
(1962), politician - Reggie de JongReggie de JongRegina Constance de Jong is a former freestyle swimmer from The Netherlands, who competed for her native country at the in 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union....
(1964), freestyle swimmer - Koos IssardKoos IssardJacobus "Koos" Issard is a former water polo player from the Netherlands, who finished in ninth position with the Dutch team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Four years later, Issard was a member of the squad that was tenth in the final rankings in Atlanta, Georgia.-References:*...
(1971), water polo player - Dave LuzaDave LuzaDave Luza , is a Dutch improvcomedian.Dave is one of the members of Op Sterk Water, the improv comedy collective that introduced impro comedy in the Netherlands in the year 2000, and founder of its German counterpart Ma´Ma´Lässig...
(1974), Improv Comedian, Actor - Kelly van der VeerKelly van der VeerKelly van der Veer is a Dutch television personality, singer and actress. She is regarded the most prominent transsexual person in the Netherlands and rose to fame after competing in Big Brother - The Battle, a Dutch version of the Big Brother-format.-Early life:During her childhood, Van der Veer...
(1980), Big BrotherBig Brother (TV series)Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
contestant, singer, famous transsexual - Gijsbert HaanGijsbert HaanGijsbert Haan or alternate spelling Gysbert Haan was the leader in the 1857 Secession of Dutch-Americans from the Reformed Church in America, and the creator of the Christian Reformed Church in the United States and Canada...
(1801), founder of the Christian Reformed Church in America - Geertje WielemaGeertje WielemaGeertje Wielema was a freestyle and backstroke swimmer from the Netherlands, who won the silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in the women's 100m backstroke. In 1954 she was named Holland's first female Sportspersonality of the Year. She was born in Hilversum and died in Almere.-References:...
(1934–2009) swimmer & Olympic athlete
Sources
- Statistics have been taken from the SDU Staatscourant