Most of Cor-rupt’s customers were in their 20s and 30s. The age at which a lot of people started to have children. So, we saw a steady increase in the number of children and, although it was not the custom in the Netherlands to take children to your local, things like a picnic or games on Sunday afternoons were very suitable for children. There wasn’t really a policy or an idea about whether or not to admit children. When children came with their parents, they were more than welcome. Sebastiaan played the pinball, Tanja joined the brunch, and at the fifth anniversary we had a children’s program with a puppetshow, birthday cakes, lemonade and a children’s quiz.
But the most important thing, of course, was Sint Nicolaas. Every year Cor played Sinterklaas at the British School of Amsterdam. Afterwards he arrived in full uniform at the bar to the delight of the customers and himself. Gradually, however, it became a children’s party. Guests always took their children and whispered to Cor small events which he used as Sinterklaas. All the kids were very impressed.
That sometimes took some doing. There were now some older children belonging to ‘non – believers’. They had to be told not to say anything to the little ones. This included Connor’s twins. After a detailed instruction from their father, Cor repeated “As almost adults, you must be brave and kind and not say anything to the little ones.” The twins nodded gravely and adhered to the agreement in an exemplary fashion.
And then Saint Nicholas came in and asked them to come forward. “I hear you don’t believe in me, anymore, is that right”? he asked in a very low voice. “Ooh no, ooh no” they said “you are really real”!! ” Good”, said Sinterklaas, “you made me a bit worried.”
One hour later Cor came into the bar as himself and they immediately ran at him. “You were totally wrong and so was Daddy and it’s so stupid that you just left when Sinterklaas came into the bar so you could have seen him yourself, you silly man!”
Sinterklaas at The British School of Amsterdam:
In 1982 Cor came to the British School in the Heinzestraat, to introduce many of the children there to the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas. Cor and Michael Warren were both dressed for the part, Michael in traditional Zwarte Piet costume and Cor in his Archbishop of Miras outfit. There are no photographs of this very lively event as, sadly, my husband’s camera did not wind the film properly on to the spool! I had many parents offer their services but assured them, there would be photos on display after the event. Mmm a lot of very humble pie to be eaten!
We had decorated the hall in Sinterklaas paintings and banners. The children had learned and sang several Sinterklaas liedjes and a book containing a bit of mischief about each child was duly read aloud by Cor. Piet caused his usual mayhem with strooigoed. All was going according to plan till Cor asked the children what had happened to Miss Whitton? Great shouts of “She’s here, she’s behind you, there she is! She’s married now and called Mrs Duffy!”
Quick as a flash Cor replied, “Oh that’s a shame, I was going to ask to marry her myself” There was a stunned silence from the children, then some muffled laughter from the older children.
One small child came to me later, patted me on the leg and told me it was a shame because I would have been a lovely Mrs Klaas.
This was one of many Sinterklaas celebrations at the school, but my last and most memorable as I left Amsterdam in June 1983. Cor’s reputation as Sinterklaas was such, that he was invited back on many, many occasions.
(Linda D)