Â鶹APP

Kees Manders, Part number 921-1208-by Joost Evers / Anefo-

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Kees Manders

Kees Manders, a Dutch Zanger, cabaret owner, and owner of a nightclub, was born in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands, on October 16, 1913, and died in Amsterdam on March 21, 1979.

He was the brother of actor Meriyem Manders and the father of Tom Manders, better known as “Dorus.”The Godmother was one of Kees’s works as a writer (1977).

Manders used to perform as a street singer at festivals and fairs when he was younger. He was also commonly spotted in cafes and small cabarets.

He started working on radio in Belgium and Luxembourg after the Second World War and released many songs as a singer.

He gained notoriety for his songwriting, particularly for the song “Amsterdam weeps,” which was performed by Rika Jansen.

He owned a number of nightclubs on Amsterdam’s Thorbeckeplein, earning the moniker “The Emperor of Thorbeckeplein.”

Manders got active in the film industry in the final years of his life, producing the 1977 drama De Godmother.

He began devoting himself to painting more and more, and he also penned his autobiography, “Kees Manders.” Here are 10 fascinating facts about Kees Manders.

1. Manders used to regularly perform as a street singer

Kees Manders to Â鶹APP, Part no 904-7449-by Daan Noske / Anefo-

Manders started off as a street performer.  He continued to play in fairs, cafes, and small cabarets before being given a job opportunity at the Carr theater in Amsterdam.

Over the course of five years, he produced numerous revues and variety shows there, earning himself a reputation as a vocalist and conference organizer.

2. He engaged in combat with RNI proprietors

 Plans for a Dutch service to take the place of the German programs were made public in the 1970s. RNI shut down on August 18, due to issues with the transmitter coils.

The station’s proprietors, Meister and Bollier went over to Kees Manders, a former executive of Radio Veronica, and requested him to sell airtime.

The two Swiss executives were incensed when Mr. Manders told the Dutch press that he was now the Commercial Director of RNI’s Dutch service because these discussions had taken place in secrecy.

They declared that they were not a party to Mr. Manders’ contract. The case was heard in court, and the judge ruled in their favor. The station did not engage Mr. Manders.

He didn’t like this choice very much, therefore he made the option to act independently.

On August 29, in the late afternoon, RNI’s residence, the mv Mebo II, was approached by two boats, the Huski and the Viking, both owned by Mr. Heerema.

About thirty men, a lady, and a child were also on board with Mr. Manders and Mr. Heerema.

Mr. Manders was given permission to board the transmitting ship after asking to speak with the Mebo II’s captain. He sought to tow the Mebo II into port and claimed that he was now the owner of the ship. 

3. He wrote a number of songs

Manders began his career as a busker. He continued to play in fairs, cafes, and small cabarets before being given a job opportunity at the Carr theater in Amsterdam.

Over the course of five years, he produced numerous revues and variety shows there, earning himself a reputation as a vocalist and conference organizer.

Kees Mander’s, album was titled Harry de Groot Orchestra-De Peetmoeder.

He released several singles and EPs, including Hup, Hup, Hup, Al Weer Een Goaltje / Tingeling, Tingeling, Neeltje / Zeg Mij, Wilde Ruiter/Blonde Margriet, O, Wat Kun Je Liegen, and B.B. De Premier (Barend Biesheuvel).

Het Mooiste Moment In Mijn Leven / De Gondelier, Manana / Volendam,Gooi De Hele Boel Maar Stuk / Bella Bella B̩la, Ieder Mens Heeft Zijn Roman / Beppie, and Kees Manders Met Het Odeon-Amusements-Orkest РDe Huwelijks-samba / Volendam.

Als Wij Gaan Trouwen / Want Als Je Lacht Dan Her Je Kuiltjes In Je Wangen, and Het Roosje In De Prairie / De Bellen Van Mijn Schoonmama. 

4. He was active in the film world

Manders got active in the film industry in the final years of his life, producing the 1977 drama De Godmother.

He co-wrote and directed the 1977 motion picture De godmother with Tom Manders Jr.,(a son of his brother Tom alias Dorus).

According to critics, this is the worst Dutch movie ever produced. The election film from the previous year triumphed.

By the way, there is only one tape left with this movie, making it practically impossible to watch it anymore.

5. Manders was nicknamed ‘The Emperor of Thorbeckeplein’

Reception in Moulin Rouge nightclub of the new gramophone record company Wo, Item number 914-4900-by Hugo van Gelderen / Anefo-

Once he was back in the Netherlands, he began the nightclub’s construction.

He quickly amassed a number of these clubs on Amsterdam’s Thorbeckeplein, earning the moniker “The Emperor of Thorbeckeplein.”

6. He got into an intimate relationship with Rika Jansen

Rika Jansen and Kees Manders left for America with the Rotterdam, Item number 917-0568-by Eric Koch for Anefo-

Manders gained notoriety for his songwriting, which includes the song “Amsterdam weeps,” which was performed by Rika Jansen.

In Manders’ revue, Jansen first appeared as an acrobat before switching to singing. She sang a number of Manders songs as Zwarte Riek.

Manders and Jansen began dating and spent years living together, even after Manders had to take it easy after suffering a heart attack in the late 1960s and moving to Fuengirola, Spain. They disbanded in 1974.

7. He was a jack of all trades

Manders was a farmer, a plasterer, a street singer, a novelist, a painter, a conference performer, and a chanson writer.

He was also a revue producer, a propagandist, a record producer, a show business manager, a nightclub owner, and a film producer, as he stated in his obituary.

8. His net worth by the time of his death

From 1978–1979, his net worth had been steadily increasing. So, what was Kees Manders’ current market value at the age of 66?

The majority of Kees Manders’ income came from his career as a writer. Additionally, he ran nightclubs. His assets, money, salary, and estimated net worth ranged from $1 million to $5 million.

9. He was Tom Manders’ brother

10-19-1957 14748 Kees and Tom Manders (4158878804)-by IISG-

Tom was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 9, 1957, to the late Manfred and Irene (Van De Walle) Manders.

He was the grandfather of actress Meriyem Manders and the brother of Tom Manders, better known as “Dorus.”

Tom Manders’ major works include The Godmother (1977), which he co-wrote with Kees Manders, Pompy de Robodoll (1987), and Rufus (1975).

10. He died of a Heart attack

Manders suffered from a heart attack in the late 1960s when he moved to Fuengirola, Spain.

During his final years, he became involved in the film industry, producing the 1977 drama De Godmother.

He put more and more effort into writing his autobiography, “Kees Manders” and passed away in March 1979.

Kees Manders was a well-known author, Dutch singer, comedian, and nightclub proprietor.