I remember first encountering the stuff Toon Hermans made when I took my grandma to an exposition about him. She was suffering from alzheimers and only a shell of herself. When they showed his songs she started singing them and for a brief moment she was back. Since then he has a special place in my heart.

Though there is stand-up comedy in the Netherlands, there is also a rich tradition of what we call 'cabaret'. The performer(s) usually have an evening-filling show, usually around a certain theme and also with music and singing. Some performers go for plain pretenseless entertainment, others also tackle social, cultural or global issues and want you to leave the theatre thinking. They usually do a theatre-tour throughout the country for one or two years which sometimes ends with a TV-registration. Then off to write a new show. As a 'cabaretier' you have really arrived when you are invited to write and perform the New Years Eve show on TV (or when you sell out the Amsterdam 'Carré' theatre a few nights in a row...).

The GREATEST comedians the Netherlands has ever had.. born in my hometown Sittard... The man could go on and on about nothing really and make everybody laugh... Today most comedians must insult something or somebody to get people to laugh.. but this man never insulted anybody.. never hurt anybody's feelings.. he just made fun of everyday situations ! He could stand on stage with a stupid look on his face and make everybody laugh... A LEGEND !

Thanks for the shout out Highly. Always happy to help, just...... well you know..!

Yeah, Toon was 1 of the great 3 entertainers. He was a master in facial expression and timing. Thanks for showing.👍👍

This man was a legend, never will forget him. I never saw him live but saw all his tv shows! His carreer was very long starting as a youngster in 1932 and his last show was in 1996,

Yes you could say this is "old school"...variety. Toon is one of three grandmasters of the dutch one man show theater. As far back in time since the "50's. His sense of comedy was timeless, no swearing, no insulting comments on anyone just telling stories about himself and situations he got into in such a way that was recognisable by the audience. He could do mime, sing a song tell a story effortless and had a comedic timing that was unique.

He's not only a great comedian, he also wrote beautiful poems.

this man is a true legend !! even though the material is old, you can't call yourself dutch if you never heard of him 😉 there's a great video called "snieklaas" but unfortunately I can't find one with English subtitles

I hope you do some more Toon. He has written such gorgeous songs. The simplicity in words with so much impact. One of my favorites is Lente me, which he wrote when his wife passed away. It is incredibly beautiful and touching. Another amazing one is Als de liefde niet bestond (If love did not exist).

It´s great that someone brougth Toon to your attention! I watched your reactions to Andre van Duin, and just a few days ago I was thinking, if you like him, you wil also like Toon. And you did 🙂Toon was a legend in the Netherlands. I love your Dutch journey! Greetings from the Netherlands!

Hello from the Netherlands Highly . Toon Hermans in legendary . and VERY VERY important to the history of Dutch Television. you should know that in his time in the Netherlands there were only two television channels Ned1 and Ned2 because as the lyrics of a song are "Hilversum 3 did not exist yet" all television in the Netherlands comes from Hilversum hence. this Toon Hermans has been the source of inspiration for many people and TV programs. Toon was also a great example for André van duin . thanks for the video Highly

Most people only knew him as a comedian, but he was also a poet and painter.

Weee, he’s from my town. His legacy is still alive, in my province, there are several “Toon Hermanshuizen” (huizen=houses), where people dealing with cancer can go to for questions , emotional support, share their pain and sadness. And they get to (if they want) be creative to relax.

one of the greatest comedians The Netherlands ever had

One of the greats! 'Wat ruist er door het struikgewas' is one to watch as well!

When my dad spots a dead pigeon he often refers to this sketch by (incorrectly) quoting "Duif is dood, meneer." Also a funny coincidence: my dad's first name is Herman.

Yes Toon Hermans a great Theater Man. My God, on Saturday night you stayed home for it. My parents loved this. That dry humor😅 It was quiet on the street. He was also a Singer and a good Painter. He also made Beautiful Poems from a few sentences. Toon Hermans We will never forget!!!

Toon Hermans is a legend. He could just walk on to the stage, stand around doing and saying nothing, and still people would laugh. He could fill the largest theaters easily, I myself have stood in line once, waiting to buy tickets, for at least 3 hours. The manager of one of the largest and most respectable theaters in the Netherlands, the Theater Carré in Amsterdam, once showed Toon a number of wet seats after the show. They were wet because people had peed their pants laughing!

When Toon was on tv, everybody stayed at home to watch. I was pretty rare there was a big show on tv but IF there was, man, that was it. We stayed at home, we had drinks and snacks etc. It was really special.

Toon Hermans, he was briliant in his timing, he could do so muchj with very little material. He could keep his audiance crying from laugh just telling about a chair where his sister has been sitting the night bfore. Or let his audiance wait for his technician who has to píck up a tennisreacket from his car. He was brilliant and timeless.

You might not have noticed, but what makes it really funny is that he speaks dutch with a german accent.

Similar but even better sketch: Wat ruist er door het struikgewas.

He was indeed one of the best artists that ever stood on the Dutch stage. My parents never managed to see him live, because all the tickets had already been sold to the elite in advance. Fortunately there was the television, which we already had, and so we could see his performance in our living room together with even less fortunate neighbors. By the way, he speaks here with a German-Dutch accent, which increases the hilarity, but is lost here due to the translation.

Another genius❤. From Limburg.. and he also wrote poems 😁. Lots of stuff from him to be seen👍

My mom every time she always says the part with the pigeon and is still stuck in my head some times 😂❤ love you moms!!!

I might try to introduce you to another side of Toon Hermans: some of his songs are amazingly beautiful. I´ll try to provide you with a rhyming translation.

He was really the best. AND a great author of poetry too!

ah the legend. bro u watch some proper dutch nostalgia... super cool

Toon Hermans is an absolute legend, 1 of the great 3 , with the other two being Wim Kan and Wim Sonneveld. if someone can translate it for you, then you should watch Snieklaas ( saint nick ) and what ruist er door het struikgewas ( what's blowing through the bushes ) as well.

He was a poet too. 'Je hebt iemand nodig, stil en oprecht, die als het er op aankomt voor je bidt en voor je vecht. Pas, als je iemand hebt die met je lacht EN met je grient, dan pas kun je zeggen: "ik heb een vriend". You nee someone, silent and honest, who when needed, will pray for you and fight. Only then, when you have someone who laughs with you AND cries, only THEN you can say :'I have a friend".

This was way back in 1967...I loved it!

I really respect you for showing interest in Dutch comedy while it has to be so remote for you. Thanks for the video!

Sinterklaas met Toon Hermans

What is also very funny is that he talks Dutch with a thick German accent. He once told years later, that he wrote this act because of a genuine audition by an old man with a worn down show suit. He also had an act where everything unintentionally went wrong. He said it was very sad, but still also very funny. Tragedy and comedy sometimes go together.

This comedian had as one of the first a career outside the Netherlands, mostly in German speaking places and Belgium. He even did some Broadway performances.

The grief and human suffering behind the fragile surface of variety . . . Little hardship, great theatre . . .

thx Inge for the translation, thx Highly for the shout outs and the reaction to this piece of dutch TV history, grts from a dutch cheesehead in Germany ....

Enjoying your stuff, man. And this one proves you gotta take a little taste of everything that's laid out in your path, free, begging to be gobbled up. If you don't, you 'ain't ever gonna get the full flavour. I just made that up! Hooray! Keep punting them out, old chap, you rock.

lol, while the Dutch shapeshifters most resemble Chinese in trade spirit, they can behave very American as well.

My dad was born in Germany in 1943 but knows how to speak Dutch almost perfectly. To this day he keeps calling every pigeon he sees a doif instead of a duif, because of this genius act xD Out of the blue he will say: "De doif is dood xD" Makes me laugh every time.

a legend. such a dry humor. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

The funniest thing about this is that he speaks in a german accent

this was before my time , but this guy i love him

Nostalgie, nice

@HXC!,ToonHermans was even actualy the Netherlands first openly gay performer/celebrate & that in the late 1950’e & early 1960’s!

nice

Hi Highly, Absolutely amazing that you come up with this, What old fuck gave you this stuff? This is legendary in Holland. Thank you for this. I haven't seen this for 45 years. 👍💖

Verry solid egg!! hahaha

Toon Hermans was also into poetry by the way, and here is one we have written on a tile in the toilet that you might appreciate (First English translation than Dutch original text): friend you need someone quiet and sincere who when it comes down to it pray for you or fight for you only if you have someone who laughs with you and grins with you only then can you say: I have a friend if you have someone who shares everything with you the table and the bed one that never gets bored if you have someone who heals all your worries do you know what that means do you know what's wrong with that? you need someone quiet and sincere who when it comes down to it pray for you or fight for you only if you have someone who laughs with you and grins with you only then can you say: I have a friend only if you have someone who laughs with you and grins with you only then can you say: i have a friend vriend je hebt iemand nodig stil en oprecht die als het erop aan komt voor je bidt of voor je vecht pas als je iemand hebt die met je lacht en met je grient dan pas kun je zeggen: 'k heb een vriend als je iemand hebt die alles met je deelt de tafel en het bed één die nooit verveelt als je iemand hebt die al je zorgen heelt weet je wat dat zeggen wil weet je wat dat scheelt? je hebt iemand nodig stil en oprecht die als het erop aan komt voor je bidt of voor je vecht pas als je iemand hebt die met je lacht en met je grient dan pas kun je zeggen: 'k heb een vriend pas als je iemand hebt die met je lacht en met je grient dan pas mag je zeggen: ik heb 'n vriend

@Highly Combustible Reacts Thank you so much for pronouncing "Hermans" correctly instead of "Hurmans" or "Hairmens". :D

The “incompetent magician” shtick reminds me of Tommy Cooper.

I always thought a lot would get lost in translation!

Toon Hermans was old school indeed, you can see that from the tempo of his act, which is lower than that of Andre van Duin, but Toon shure could be hilarious too. One of his tricks was too deliberately slow down to up the anticipation and let his very expressive (and fabulous timing) face do the talking. There is very famous act of his where he pretends to be a pompuous manager of some company, reading out a list of names on a roll call, very leasurely, taking his time for each (funny) name, untill the audience are litteraly wetting themselves with laughter... I dont know if there is an English translation of that.

This guy is from my home town

Into old school comedy that reminds you of Abbott and Costello, huh? Somebody should subtitle some Gaston & Leo material for you, then.

You have to react to DAVE ALLEN

If you like this, you have to see a "klucht" or two.

as debutant he has a german accent .. ................. after the war............................

Maby you must look snip and snap forse a time

REACT VIDEOS TOMORROWLAND “3 ARE LEGEND 2015”

Toon Hermans, one of the funniest not funny people in the industry, in any language.

Great content. I'm learning Dutch history :) My advice for you: You drink poission when you watch these videos. What is wrong to drink water instead of this shit? This it the only thing what's bothering me watching your videos.

Stop watching comedy you don't understand. Subtitles don't do the trick here.