Toon Hermans

Antoine Gerard Theodore " Toon " Hermans ( born December 17, 1916 in Sittard, † April 22, 2000 in Nieuwegein ) was a Dutch cabaret artist, singer, painter and poet. Together with Wim Sonneveld and Wim Kan to count him among the "Big Three" of Dutch cabaret.

Work

Toon Hermans in 1932 premiere with its first own cabaret show in the theater of Limburg. He was Nationally famous in the 1950s and 1960s with his "One Man Shows", especially when they were broadcast on television since 1958. By 1997 there were twelve of them spending. Herman also wrote many popular songs, for himself and for other artists. Its sung by him carnival song " Mien waar is mijn feestneus " was in 1968 for four weeks, number one in the Dutch charts. He described himself as a " clown ". His sense of humor was more down to earth, rough and little political.

The fact that Herman was gifted as a painter, became known only after his death. 2006 his paintings were exhibited at the Kunsthal Rotterdam. His heirs were pictures of him in 2007 at Christie's auction in Amsterdam, as it was not able to initiate its own museum. 600,000 euros were for a good cause - the Toon Hermans Houses - together.

Social Commitment

After his wife was Rietje died of cancer in 1990, Toon Hermans dedicated for people with cancer. In several Dutch cities, he opened " Toon Hermanns houses" for cancer patients and their families.

Awards

Throughout his career, Toon Hermans received numerous awards, the first was in 1934 the first prize at the "Cabaret of Onbekenden ". He was chosen by an international jury for best entertainers in Europe in 1968. Several times Hermans was elected to the Netherlands as the most popular artist of the year, in 2000 the " Nederlandse Artiest van de eeuw " (Dutch: Dutch artists of the century ). In 1965 he became a Knight of the Order of Orange -Nassau, a few years later an officer of the Order. The devout Catholic, received two papal awards, including the Medal "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ". In Belgium he was awarded the Order of Leopold II.

Toon Hermans was an honorary citizen of his home town of Sittard.

Memory

In the Schauspielhaus of Sittard, a bronze statue by Toon Hermans was unveiled in 2003. When in 2004 the Dutch TV station KRO a vote on the greatest Dutchman was performed Toon Hermans debuted at number 22

2004 Herman van Veen wrote this poem: "When I went to Sittard, I thought: If I Toon Hermans had not seen I would then become, what am I now? A Hermans without s Toon - a model for fun, State Secretary van Onzin, God clown.