THe HISTORY

At the end of February, for the occasion of Herman’s 40^th anniversary in show business, a special postage stamp, portraying Herman as a four year old boy, was issued.  The profit of the twenty-five thousand postage stamp booklets went to the Herman van Veen Foundation.

On the 10^th of September the art exhibition “Herman van Veen - Der Maler” was opened in Detmold, Germany.
“From one day to the next, all of a sudden I started painting at the age of 60. I did not study for it, nor asked anyone’s advice. Perhaps I continued with what my father was never able to become: a painter. He was a graphic designer but, in the little free time that he had, he enjoyed wood carving as well as making paper mosaic paintings. I bought canvas, paint, spray cans, brushes, pallet knifes, socks and a T-shirt and got started. Catching light in colour, as if saving snow. From within the heart, intoxicated, again and again.”

Since February, “Bakkerij Design”, the department for graphic design within the arts, was set up within “Harlekijn Holland”  under the artistic guidance of Letja Verstijnen (employed at Harlekijn since May 1997). 

Herman van Veen directed Lori Spee in The First Lady. This musical theatre production was written by Herman and Lori and was based on the life of Jacqueline Kennedy. The songs were written by Lori and released on CD (Harlekijn Records 304 016-2). The performance was seen in the Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium), South Africa, England, Scotland (Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2004) and the United States of America.

“At Harlekijn one finds a group of wonderful and kind people all working together to inspire each other. Harlekijn is close to my heart.”

Nineteen poems were visualised in the movie “Poem” by producer Ralf Schmerberg. Herman featured in the poem “Sophie” by Hans Arp, wherein he portrays a man returning to his house which was destroyed by fire. The film was awarded the Audience Award San Francisco 2004.

On the 2^nd of December, Nard Reijnders, leaves the permanent accompaniment of Herman as he decides to focus more on composing and musical arrangement.

At the Cannes film festival, the film “Le conte du ventre plein” was shown for the first time. It was written and directed by the legendary Anglo-American Melvin van Peebles. Herman played the role of Jan and also sang the title song with Jessye Norman. Harlekijn Holland was co-producer.

During November, Herman was presented his 100^th Album by minister Wijers of Economic Affairs in the Royal Theatre Carré. At that time, he had sold more than 12 million albums.

On the 17^th February Herman van Veen met Nelson Mandela. This meeting came about as a result of the poem, “Wie was die man” (Who was that man?) (1986), which Herman wrote while the ANC leader was still on Robben Island.

I walk up and down,

up and down,

and I think each time,

each time

again:
five bars,

four walls,

fifty centimeters thick,

three meters

from wall to wall,

four steps

from one side to the other.

Who was the architect?

How many nights

did he spend drawing?

How often
did his wife bring him tea?

Who was that man?

To celebrate his 25 year long contract with Polydor, he released the CD “You take my breath away” – a homage to a few colleagues for whom Herman has great admiration: John Lennon, Jacques Brel, Eric Clapton, Queen etc. The cover was a look alike of the painting “de Nachtwacht” (The Night Watch) on which those, who were involved in the project, were portrayed.

Together with Erik van der Wurff, Herman wrote the music for the Opera “Pol” at the occasion of the opening of the new RO-Theatre in Rotterdam. The text and directing was done by Jos Thie and Antoine Uitdehaag. In the leading roles were: Huub van der Lubbe, Ramses Shaffy, Marjol Flore, Lex Goudsmit and Ryan van den Akker, who was also the voice of Alfred Jodocus Kwak.

For the Columbine Foundation, Roger Hendriks and Herman van Veen together, wrote the fairy tale “Donkerlokje en het Land van Licht” (Darklocks and the Land of Light). It’s motto: “If you tread on an ant, be aware it could be a dwarf.” Illustrations were done by Luuk Poorthuis. The book was published in the Netherlands (La Rivière Voorhoeve) and in Flanders, (Belgium) (Pelckmans Publisher).

Harlekijn creates space so that artists can be themselves, allowing unrestricted performance. When it brings you face to face with an art form such as a performance, a book, a painting or a film, it could happen that a spark leaps from heart to heart. It is as if you are looking into a mirror where you just might see an age old soul, alive, just like yourself. I firmly believe in the power of those senses, that heart, that soul. In other words - in art. I share the view of the poet who wrote: “Kunst kan niet schaden” (Art is not harmful).

Roger Hendriks (age-old harlequin)

The Belgian artist ZAK, alias Jacques Moeraert, drew the strip figure “Hermanus” for the book “De zaal is er” (The audience is there). Later, the idea was developed further by Jan Bart Dieperink and has now become “Mister U” (2007).

On the 29^th October the biggest peace rally ever, was held on the “Malieveld” in The Hague. 550 000 demonstrators protested against 572 cruise and Pershing nuclear missiles which US President Reagan wanted to position in Europe. Together with Irene van Lippe-Biesterfeld, Herman pleaded for a missile free world.

“De bom valt nooit” (The bomb never falls) reaches the hit parade. The single, with the text translated by Georges Moustaki, is also released in France: “La Bombe va pas tomber”.

Nard Reijnders – clarinettist, saxophonist, composer and arranger from the Limburg region, became the permanent accompanist of Herman van Veen and continued in this position for 18 years.

“At Harlekijn everything evolves purely around quality and content.”
Nard Reijnders

Herman Finkers makes his début with his LP “Vinger in de bips” (Finger in the backside), Harlekijn 2925 553.

Although Herman recorded two English songs on his LP “Morgen” (Tomorrow) in 1970, his first complete English album, “Fourteen songs”, were produced in 1980 by Polydor.

The first Christmas album, "Kerstliederen" (Christmas carols) with Herman and Ton Koopman, was produced in December. A year later the album was produced in German, “Weihnachtslieder”, followed by a French album.

In years to come, Harlekijn always produced something for Christmas. This included television programmes: “Een andere keer misschien” (Maybe another time) (1995), “Dat gebeurt elke dag” (That happens every day) (1998), “De timmerman en het meisje” (The carpenter and the girl) (2001), “Herman van Veen vertelt samen met gitariste Edith Leerkes van kerst - Goeie Genade” (Herman, together with guitar player Edith Leerkes, talks about Chirstmas – Good Grace) (2007); Family theatre productions such as: “Verboden te lachen” (Forbidden to laugh) by Alfred J. Kwak in the “Leidse Schouwburg” 2002 and “Lachen verboten” (Forbidden to laugh) by Alfred J. Kwak in the “Theater am Kurfürstendamm” in Berlin, 2003; Christmas shows in churches (Flanders (Belgium), Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands); Albums in different languages and the book “Kerstboek voor Tondo” (Christmas book for Tondo) of which the proceeds went to the Colombine project - “De moeders van Tondo” (The mothers of Tondo). During the winter of 2008 Herman van Veen’s Christmas book “De koe zei Boe, de ezel Balk, het schaap toen Bla” (The cow said Moo, the donkey Bray, the sheep then Bla) was published by Kok with illustrations by Alja from the Brabant region. 

Rob Munnik arranged the lighting for the first time at one of Herman’s shows. With the exception of a few years, he has been doing so ever since.

Due to an unstable financial balance, Ron van Eeden, on recommendation by the AMRO-Bank, was employed. He stayed with Harlekijn until 2001.

The strength of Harlekijn is that we never do anything purely from a commercial point of view. We always consider Colombine as well as the Herman van Veen Foundation. It's like a cross-pollination with one another. Because if it is good for Colombine, it is good for Harlekijn and vica versa.

On the 14^th March Barry Hay (Golden Earring) presented Herman with 7 gold records. During the theatre season of 77/78 Herman auctioned 5 of these records, the American way. The proceeds were for the benefit of the “Verloskoffer-Actie” (Deliverycase-action), a joined action between Unicef and the Colombine Foundation. A foundation established with the purpose of: extending humanitarian help in the broadest sense of the word. 

With the assistance of the American director Niels Miller, Herman wrote and directed “Jukebox 2008”.

A popular drama, lasting a whole evening, which portrayed life in a working-class neighbourhood. In the leading roles were: Hetty Blok, Trudy Labij, Bram van der Vlugt, Marlous Fluitsma, Theo Pont, Michiel Kerbosch, Dirk Celis, Cor Witschge, Frits Hassoldt, Fransjes Gelderblom and Caroline van den Berg. It became a success overnight, and was performed a hundred times. The movie director Jos Stelling, inspired by Jukebox, made the film “De Pretenders”. 

The first episode of the children’s television series “Eenentwintig van een kwartje” (Twenty one of a 25c coin) was broadcasted. The series was written by Herman van Veen and Marlous Fluitsma and was produced for the NOT foundation. It was the first of many series to follow, such as: “De wonderlijke avonturen van Herman van Veen” (The amazing adventures of Herman van Veen) (1979), “Herman en de zes” (Herman and the six) (1980), “De clowns” (The clowns) (1987), “Alfred Jodocus Kwak” (1988/1989 until the present time) and “BB de Beer” (BB the Bear) (1993). Currently (2009) work is being done on “Mister U”. 

Hauser Orkater produced their first LP under the Harlekijn Label. As the LP is only available at Harlekijn Holland, and not through retail, it does not have a catalogue number.

Taken from a letter to a journalist, Herman wrote:

With regards to Hauser Orkater, we, at Harlekijn, heard of them - good people from somewhere in the North Holland region. A good friend, Maks van Tuil, watched their show. Due to his enthusiasm, I decided to attend as well. What an hilarious show. The performance was held in a high school, somewhere on the outskirts of Utrecht. Constantly, while trying to catch my breath, I continued watching this crazy rock and roll within an absurd tale without any embarrassment from the players..

For example, during the performance they wore tights without any underwear, whereby their private parts were in visible discomfort. For the first years, we tried to guide them with what we knew. Together we produced an LP “Hauser Orkater op avontuur” (Hauser Orkater on adventure) but also did other things such as playing football.

We produced the LP together. I even helped with glueing the covers. Harlekijn was, and still is an organisation that gets involved with interesting people in the arts. If you want to know more, there is a site, but more so a book “Het gewicht van spel” (The importance of playing). Kiki will send you a copy, and you will surely find something useful in it.

In my opinion, Hauser Orkater belongs to the most interesting enterprises regarding musical theatre. What they do was and still is unique. That they would go their own way, was always the idea. We just gave each other a helping hand along the way.

Nice to know, that a book might be published. If you have any other questions, I will try and answer them.

Herman van Veen

Harlekijn is considered to be the “warme bakker” (the fresh bakery) of the Dutch culture.

Harlekijn Records was established, an authentic Dutch recordlabel. At the head was Adriaan Verstijnen. Many LP’s were produced for: Ton Koopman, the “Amsterdams Barok Orkest” (Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra), Johnny van Doorn - de selfkicker, Rijnbert de Leeuw, Joost Nuissl, Loeki Knol, Harry Sacksioni, Tini Mathot, Toyohiko Satoh, Erik van der Wurff, Hauser Orkater, and many more.

Hans van der Linden becomes the sound engineer at the shows and has been doing so ever since.

“A good sound engineer has the skill to amplify what is happening on stage as inaudibly as possible, so that the emotion is left intact. This can only be accomplished when one can truly empathize with what is happening on the stage.

The “black” posters of Herman van Veen were thought to spoil the image of Leiden. He was summoned to remove them immediately or face charges which could lead to a fine or jail sentence of up to 30 days.

During the broadcast of a programme by Mies Bouwman, Van Veen asked the following question: “Wat vermag het koninklijk huis deze dag eigenlijk nog? (What does the Royal family still achieve nowadays?) This created a storm in a tea cup. It was a bad incident, according to “Het Parool”.

On behalf of the KRO, Wim Ibo presented Herman with the silver "Carrière – trap” (Career - stepladder).

Van Veen’s “Groene boekje” (The little green book) was published by Andries Blitz publishers. The following comments were made by Simon Carmiggelt in a “Kronkel” (Warp; the title of Mr. Carmiggelt's columns) (Het Parool, January 1968):

I copied “Mijn straat” (My street) for you because I consider it such a wonderful, original and flexible way in which Herman van Veen uses the Dutch language. It does not only happen when he is on stage, but also while he is writing in his blue poetry album, those ideas which come to him. For example, about the weather, he writes: “Het is een bij uitstek Brahmse namiddag hoewel ik door die Bachbries vanmorgen even van mijn apropos werd afgebracht, als de wind iets afneemt, ik durf het haast niet te hopen, dan loopt het op een Chopinavond uit”. (It is like a late Brahms afternoon, although I was thrown off balance by the Bach-breeze this morning, should the wind die down, I should not hope for

It is often a somewhat melancholic harlequin that controls this compilation. What is he aiming for on paper? Listen:

“I claim a little bit of light for myself,

a very small beam,

more than enough is left over.

I gather some bits and pieces

and light them

so I can roast

some warmth light brown

in my tiny frying pan

to paint some freckels with it

on the autum.”

On the initiative of Peter Lohr, Herman van Veen, Laurens van Rooyen, Erik van der Wurff and Tonnie Koning made their first appearance in the “Stadsschouwburg” in Haarlem.

“I always strive towards the limit, I will not settle for less. Not only does it refines one but it also becomes addictive. Once we wanted to help the world, and that is still our aim. Our songs contain a message that will last for years to come. We search for depth and not for the way of least resistance.

Herman sings specific melodic lyrics which suits my style of music, and my way of melodic thinking is determined by his way of singing. Sometimes I believe that Herman and I were meant to meet each other.

Erik van der Wurff