To those of you on the forum who are from the Netherlands - I NEED YOUR HELP!!
I am taking over the Dutch Puppet theatre here in my town.  I would like to have some better resources than what is being given to me.  I figured that some of you from "the old country" as they say here in my little Dutch town, may be able to help me.  However remember that I cannot read or speak Dutch - I only know a few Dutch songs! Anyway, back to my needs. Obviously I need a bit of information on Jan Klaassen and his wife Katrijn. Can you recommend some resources to me, some stories or story lines that I can work with in providing good shows for the children who attend the shows. I appreciate ANY help you can give me!!

Hi there,

I might be able to give a little help, afterall those two also have been @my school when I was young
I don't know much about the stories, but I do remember we always had to help Katrijn with calling Jan Klaassen (everybody would scream over their lungs befor he showed up).
Jan is also the person who asks the public to help with all sorts of things such as keeping your eye on something, and we had to warn him when something would happen to it (which ofcourse would ALWAYS happen)

And I'm not sure if I remember this correctly, but Jan Klaassen would always get a beaten with a rolling pin by Katrijn because he lost something.
Jan Klaassen is a good person with a big heart...just a bit dumb

I don't know if this helps a little, their names in english are "Punch & Judy", maybe this will help you in finding a story?
If you like I can translate the wiki from Jan Klaassen & Katrijn, this is a bit of background history

Yes, I knew that they were basically the Dutch version of Punch and Judy, but I didn't know if there were some specific script/story lines that were unique to the Dutch culture.  I would GREATLY appreciate a translation from wiki. You can email it to me if you like - or post it if others would be interested. Thanks for the bits on audience participation - that is very helpful.  Anything like that is great!  Also specific stories would be helpful - I noticed that on Amazon there was mention of a story about how Jan Klaassen cured the sick King. Are you familiar with that specific story. I hesitate to buy it without a bit more information - Amazon was not very specific, and I don't want to end up buying something that is written in Dutch!! THANKS for any help you can offer!!

Jan Klaasen
From Wikipedia, the encyclopedia

Jan Klaassen (also spelled as Klaasen) is the main character of a puppet play that is widespread in the Netherlands.

Jan Klaassen has the same appearance as originally Pulcinella of the commedia dell'arte, particularly to a high hump and a pointed abdomen.

Jan Klaassen with his wife Katrijn are the main characters in the stories.  Jan often involve the public in the game. So he will ask them to look at a certain object and to call him if anything that happens. That this will end in trouble will be clear in advance. However, all his adventures, have a happy ending.

Jan is in character a not to bright person with a golden heart.

According to the Amsterdam Municipal the puppet figures are based on two old residents of the Jordaan (a subcity of Amsterdam), Jan Klaassen en Katrijn Pieters. They got married in 1686 in the New Church . Katrijn lived in the Tuinstraat, Jan in the Anjelierstraat. She drank and he did not work hard. Jan Klaassen began a puppetshow with which he entertained farmers, citizens and countrypeople with the representation of his marriage, which was missing something quite! Their marriage had, however,so many problems that the reformed church of the Amsterdam municipality in January 21, 1706 ask for an explanation as stated in the protocols."

Others say Jan Klaasen was a trumpeter in the army of Frederick Henry, who later with his wife Katrijn gave puppet shows. This is also song in the song "Jan Klaasen the Trumpeter" Rob de Nijs, which in 1973 was popular. The tomb of this trumpeter is now in Andel designated.


In English, they are called : "Punch & Judy"
The name "Jan Klaasen" is often given to woody and stiff people. "Houten Klaas"  is derived.

I hope this is good english. Good luck!


 

WOW!  THANKS SO MUCH!  I appreciate all the work you have done to help me.  As my son builds the puppets I will have to post pictures so you can see the progress!!  Again THANK YOU!!

Here is the play with Jan Klaassen and the king:

Narrator : It is morning.  It is so early that it's still dark.
Jan Klaassen and Katrijn are still asleep.  If you listen carefully you can hear them snoring.
JK & K  Snore
Narrator The alarm went off
JK & K  Triiiiiiiiiing [Jan punches Katrijn on her head.The alarm goes three times, so punch 3x]
narrator Katrijn wakes up [she lies on her back], she puts her left arm in the air. Then her right arm. She waves to the birds in the air. Then she sits up and waves to the apes [= public]. Jan Klaassen is rolling ... Katrijn taps him on his head. Jan Klaassen takes a few more rolls. Katrijn taps him again ....
JK [jumps up] Whaaaaaaaah ,......... Spiders!
Katrijn No, no, sleepyhead .... It's me.... Katrijntje
JK Oooooh, katrijntje poppedijntje, I was dreaming .....
Katrijn What were you dreaming?
JK I tell you!  Go lie down, close your eyes and listen. I will also be lying down ..... [JK & K lie]
JK  I dreamed of a king .... rich king ..... he lives in a castle .... Look, he is just walks in to the treasuryroom [King is walking in the room].
King It's terrible [2x] How is it possible?
Princess [walks in to the room] Daddy King .... .... is it true what I hear?
King I'm afraid so, my daughter
Princess Is my crown really stolen?
King The clerk was just to the treasuryroom. He ran in to my governmentroom ...  He said:my King, the door of the treasuryroom is open! The crown of the Princess is ....... was stolen .....!
Princess Oh no ..... I'm fainting [princess falls into the arms of the king and together they fall on the ground].
King [rolls away from the princess] Don't faint.... what should I do? King is walking to Jan Klaassen King Hello...Jan Klaassen...this is not good! You tell your dream to Katrijn, but  I do not know what I should do.
JK King....relaxe.....I have an idea! The princess has fainted from grief .... do not worry ... I'm going to solve it. You go to the castle.
King Jan Klaassen, I am confident .... I go to govern. [king off]
JK [direction audience] Yes people ... it is a strange dream. But ..... I know where the crown is.  A crook has stolen and hidden him in the cave of mister Dragon! The solution is easy.  I call on Ms. Dragon ....... [JK calls] Ms. Dragon!
Female Drake [Female Drake gets on the stage] Yes Jan Klaassen, why are you calling me?
JK I wonder ... what does Mr. dragon like .... what is his favorite diner to eat
Female Drake That is a coincidence .... I've just been shopping [she opens her bag which is full with skulls and bones] Here it is.... It is buttercups with cream.
JK Would you call Mr. dragon and give him those buttercups?
Female Drake Of course .... he is always in for buttercups with cream  .....
[female dragon calls] Honey .... Honey, dinnertime!
Dragon [gets on stage] Oh dear ... what a nice dinner, you spoil me. Come here you get a kiss [dragons kissing each other] [then he goes to eat the butter flowers]
Jan Klaassen is insidious and is creeping back again later with the crown of the princess. He gives the crown to  Katrijn who hide it under the blankets.
Dragon Jan Klaassen, I have had a delicious dinner.  That was a good idea of you. Come dragon wife, we go to our dragon's cave, to have some cuddly cuddly. [dragons off]
JK Katrijn give me the crown ... I call on the king ..... King ... come quick!
King Jan Klaassen you've got the crown! .... Princess .... come quick!
Princess [first crying] OOOH ... Daddy ... my crown
King Everyone is happy, everyone is happy .... Music ... we go dancing [Music ...... dancing with all players].
After the music]JK [ Yes people .... this was my dream .... all exciting, but everything ends well.
 -THE END-

Hope you like this story to play with the puppets. It is an original jan klaassen story

Wow!! You are me hero!! I can't thank you enough! I will keep you posted on the progress of this project.  In the mean time if you think of anything else let me know!! MANY puppet hugs!!

Wow!! You are me hero!! I can't thank you enough! I will keep you posted on the progress of this project.  In the mean time if you think of anything else let me know!! MANY puppet hugs!!

I saw this old post.
Do you have enough plays now LJ. Or another help......

I am always open to more ideas - we have been re-writing things to fit our purposes but always open to more ideas!

What do you need ??
If you know the characters of Jan Klaassen en Katrijn you can write your own play. Do you have enough background information  of them ...