Gerda Havertong

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]

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

Biography

Early life

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 sung 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

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
  1. "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
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