Wim Kan
Encyclopedia
Willem Cornelis "Wim" Kan (January 15, 1911 - September 8, 1983) was a Dutch
cabaret
artist. Together with Toon Hermans
and Wim Sonneveld
, he is considered to be one of the Great Three of Dutch cabaret.
In 1933 Wim Kan married cabaret star Corry Vonk and in 1936 together they established the ABC Cabaret, which soon became one of the most successful Dutch cabaret groups, in which several artists debuted who later became famous.
In 1940 the ABC Cabaret was touring the Dutch East Indies
, and because of the German invasion could not return to the Netherlands. After the Japanese conquest of the Dutch East Indies, Wim Kan and his wife were deported to camps at the Burma Railway. Because of his experiences at these camps he later agitated against Hirohito
's visit to the Netherlands in 1971.
Wim Kan is possibly best known as the originator of the tradition of the so-called "Oudejaarsconferences". These are performances of political cabaret on (or around) New Year's Eve
, discussing the events of the past year. Wim Kan made the first oudejaarsconference in 1954, broadcasted through radio. His first televised oudejaarsconference was in 1973, scoring an audience measurement
of 75% and record appreciations rating of 8.8 (out of 10). Although he actually made only 5 television conferences (1973, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982), they made such an impact that many people remember it as a yearly tradition. Many politicians had worries about what Wim Kan would say about them, but it was considered that the worst thing that could happen to them was that they were not mentioned at all - this was taken as a sign that a politician's career was over.
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...
cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
artist. Together with Toon Hermans
Toon Hermans
Antoine G. T. "Toon" Hermans was a noted Dutch comedian, singer and writer. He was born in Sittard, now part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen....
and Wim Sonneveld
Wim Sonneveld
Willem 'Wim' Sonneveld was a Dutch cabaret artist and singer. Together with Toon Hermans and Wim Kan, he is considered to be one of the 'Great Three' of Dutch cabaret. Sonneveld is generally viewed as a Dutch cultural icon for his work and legacy in theatre, musicals and music...
, he is considered to be one of the Great Three of Dutch cabaret.
In 1933 Wim Kan married cabaret star Corry Vonk and in 1936 together they established the ABC Cabaret, which soon became one of the most successful Dutch cabaret groups, in which several artists debuted who later became famous.
In 1940 the ABC Cabaret was touring the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, and because of the German invasion could not return to the Netherlands. After the Japanese conquest of the Dutch East Indies, Wim Kan and his wife were deported to camps at the Burma Railway. Because of his experiences at these camps he later agitated against Hirohito
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
's visit to the Netherlands in 1971.
Wim Kan is possibly best known as the originator of the tradition of the so-called "Oudejaarsconferences". These are performances of political cabaret on (or around) New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, discussing the events of the past year. Wim Kan made the first oudejaarsconference in 1954, broadcasted through radio. His first televised oudejaarsconference was in 1973, scoring an audience measurement
Audience measurement
Audience measurement measures how many people are in an audience, usually in relation to radio listenership and television viewership, but also in relation to newspaper and magazine readership and, increasingly, web traffic on websites...
of 75% and record appreciations rating of 8.8 (out of 10). Although he actually made only 5 television conferences (1973, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982), they made such an impact that many people remember it as a yearly tradition. Many politicians had worries about what Wim Kan would say about them, but it was considered that the worst thing that could happen to them was that they were not mentioned at all - this was taken as a sign that a politician's career was over.