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Wim Verstappen. Photo by Rob Bogaerts.

Top 10 Little Known Facts about Wim Verstappen

Wim Verstappen was a popular Dutch producer, television director, screenwriter, and film director. He was born on 4^th May 1937 in Gemert, Netherlands, and later passed on July 24^th, 2004.

Wim Verstappen grew up in Curacao and later pursued his studies at the Netherlands Film and Television Academy in 1961. “De minder gelukkige terugkeer van Joszef Katus naar het land van Rembrandt” was the first movie Wim Verstappen ever released.

In 1964 he was incorporated into the editorial staff of the film-named magazine Skoop working hand in hand with Gied Jaspars, Pim de la Parra, and Nicolai van der Heyde.

After many years of working as a film director, he later focused on film rights. He also went ahead and  founded an organization that was meant to secure author’s copyrights.

He was awarded the Dutch Filmmuseum Award in 1992 for his great contribution to the Dutch film industry. Wim Verstappen died in 2004 after struggling with cancer for a long time.

Below are the top ten little-known facts about Wim Verstappen

1. Wim Verstappen Founded the Production Company 鈥淪corpio Films鈥�

Since Wim Verstappen began his career in the Dutch film industry, he spent most of his years as a film director. However, in 1967 he managed to come up with his own production company known as Scorpio Films.

The production company later came to be known as ‘Pim & Wim’ and it was responsible for the explicit film “Blue Movie”. The “Blue Movie” later resulted in the termination of the Dutch film rating system for adults.

Scorpio Films later collapsed and Wim Verstappen directed two films based on novels.

2. Wim Verstappen had a Successful Career

Wim Verstappen rigjht. Photo by Bert Verhoeff.

Wim Verstappen had a very successful career after he pursued his studies at the Netherlands Films and Television Academy. He released his first movie in 1966 which was five years after joining the academy.

“De minder gelukkige terugkeer van Joszef Katus naar het land van Rembrandt” was the first movie he released in 1967.

He also had the privilege of working with some popular film producers such as Gied Jaspars, Pim de la Parra, and Nicolai van der Heyde.

3. He Directed Two Films Based on Novels

 After the termination of the production company that he had founded, he directed two films based on novels. The novels belonged to Simon Vestdijk, Pastorale (1943) and Het verboden bacchanal (1981).

The first film was focused on commercial success which attracted over a million audiences. The second film however flopped just as the other two films that were cast later, De Ratelrat (1987) and De Zwarte Ruiter (1983).

4. Wim Verstappen Founded his Organization

Wim Verstappen. Photo by Bert Verhoeff.

Wim Verstappen founded his organization after the demise of his first production company named Scorpio Films. The organization majorly focused on film rights.

Due to the insecurities of the author’s works, Wim Verstappen was determined to offer the necessary security for the author’s copyrights. This led him to be awarded the Dutch Filmmuseum Award for his massive contribution towards the success of the Dutch Film Industry in 1992.

For his body of work, he also received a Golden Calf in 1995.

5. Wim Verstappen Directed the Blue Movie

The Blue Movie was a German/Dutch film that was cast in 1971 and directed by Wim Verstappen. He also participated in the writing of the movie together with carrying Tefsen, Hugo Metsers, and Charles Gormley.

Being the first movie in Dutch to show some sex scenes it was very controversial at the beginning.

There was also a great challenge concerning its release but Wim Verstappen wrote a letter of defense which claimed the picture was a criticism of society. The film was later given a go-ahead and received the highest number of attended films in Dutch film history.

6. He Produced the Film 鈥淔rank en Eva鈥�

Photo by Avel Chuklanov on

Wim Verstappen produced the film 鈥淔rank en Eva鈥� which was an English movie released with the title Living Apart Together. The movie was released in 1977 in France and managed to record about 193,473 admissions.

The film contains the first performance of Sylvia Kristel who was a very popular Dutch actress and a model that has been featured in about 50 movies.

The film runs for 105 minutes with the starring Lex Goudsmit, Hugo Metsers, and Willeke van Ammelrooy. 

7. The Film 鈥淎licia鈥� was Directed by Wim Verstappen

Alicia was a Dutch erotic film that was released in 1974 and was directed by Wim Verstappen. The entire movie runs for 104 minutes and is based on the original screenplay by Charles Gormley and Wim Verstappen.

Alicia is a young wife who becomes a mother of a beautiful daughter and a son. After being bored by the life of a housewife, she leaves her husband for adventure.

8. Wim Verstappen Directed the Best Foreign Language Film

Wim Verstappen left. Photo by Rob Mieremet.

Wim Verstappen directed the movie 鈥淧astorale 1943鈥� which is a Dutch drama film released in 1978. The movie was selected during the Dutch entry as the Best Foreign Language Film. This occurred during the 51^st Academy Awards but was however not accepted as a nominee.

9. He Wrote the Famous Movie 鈥淕rijpstra & De Gier鈥�

Wim Verstappen is both the writer and the producer of the famous Dutch crime movie named 鈥淕rijpstra & De Gier鈥�. The movie was released in 1979 and was based on the novel series by Jan Willem van de Wetering.

The movie manages reasonable box-office success although it did not receive any critical acclaim.

10. Wim Verstappen is an Award Winning Dutch Film Director

Wim Verstappen has been an award-winning film director, screenwriter, television director, and producer. He won his first award in 1992 for his massive contribution to the success of the Dutch film industry. He also received a Golden Calf for his body of work in 1995.

Wim Verstappen is one of the best producer and film directors of all time for his great works. He has also received awards for his contribution to the Dutch film industry.

He was also the founder of the production company, Scorpio Films which led to the production of the fabulous movie, Blue Movie.