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Gerda Havertong

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Gerda Havertong
Havertong opens a centre for people with dementia in Paramaribo, Surinam in February 2020
Born (1946-10-23) 23 October 1946 (age 78)
NationalityDutch
Occupation(s)Actress
Storyteller
Presenter
Years active1976–present
Known forPlaying Gerda / Peetje in Sesamstraat

Gerda Alexandra Havertong (Paramaribo, Surinam - 23 October 1946) is a Dutch-Surinamese actress, television presenter, actress and singer. She is well known for being a recurring character in Sesamstraat, the Dutch version of Sesame Street, since 1984.[1]

Biography

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Early life

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Havertong was born in 1946 in Paramaribo, Surinam when it was still a Dutch colony. In 1966 Havertong moved to The Hague, the Netherlands. She studied to become a schoolteacher at the University of Amsterdam and graduated 1974.[2] After her studies she worked as a preschool teacher in Amsterdam. During her time in Amsterdam she played in amateur theatre groups.

In 1975 Havertong returned to Surinam with her husband. In 1977 she sang a song in the Sranan Tongo language in the television series Kon hesi baka - Kom gauw terug.[3] She also joined the Doe-theater troupe in Paramaribo.[4]

Professional career

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In 1979 Havertong returned to the Netherlands and started her professional career as an actress. In 1984 she appeared for the first time in the 2.500th episode of Sesamstraat.[1] In 1988 and 1989 she acted in the Dutch educational show Het Klokhuis, where she also sang the theme tune.[5]

In 1987 Havertong spoke out against the character of Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) in an episode of Sesamstraat, more than thirty years before this became a large public debate in the Netherlands.[6]

In 1999 Havertong founded Stichting Wiesje (Wiesje Foundation), a foundation that helps people in Surinam who suffer from dementia, as a remembrance for her mother who suffered from the disease. In 2020 the foundation opened a centre for dementia patients in Paramaribo.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sesamstraat is jarig - B&G Wiki". wiki.beeldengeluid.nl. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Gevonden in Delpher - Vrije Stem: onafhankelijk weekblad voor Suriname". www.delpher.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  3. ^ Kon hesi baka - Kom gauw terug (Family), Interkerkelijke Omroep Nederland (IKON), 14 December 1977, retrieved 23 September 2022
  4. ^ "Lafoe a no sjen (Lachen is geen schande) - Doe Theater - 1977-01-08". TheaterEncyclopedie (in Dutch). 7 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Het Klokhuis-televisievormgeving - B&G Wiki". wiki.beeldengeluid.nl. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  6. ^ "'Hey, Zwarte Piet' of 'waar is je pietenpak?', zo kwetsend zijn die 'grapjes'". nos.nl (in Dutch). 19 November 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  7. ^ 28 02 2020 Stichting Wiesje opent Kennis en Dagcentrum, retrieved 23 September 2022