Veteran Dutch Actor Robert Jan Peters on Life, The Hague, and a Bittersweet ‘Frozen’ Encounter
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Published: October 26, 2023
A Life Rooted in Indonesia
Robert Jan Peters, a familiar face to Dutch television audiences for nearly fifteen years – frequently enough recognized, he notes, as the man wiht ”that mustache doesn’t really sit well” from numerous commercials - was born on August 31, 1948, in Bandung, the former Dutch East indies. He fondly remembers his birthplace as “the most beautiful city in the world,the Paris of Java,” adding a playful “with OE please” - a reference likely known to those familiar with Dutch colonial history.
The Hague: Beauty and Discomfort
Currently residing in Scheveningen, Peters holds a simple preference for the most beautiful spot in The Hague: “My own terrace.” Though, his observations aren’t always idyllic. He expresses a poignant discomfort with a scene he witnesses regularly at the back of the Circustheater.
“For two years now,girls of about six years old have been shivering in princess dresses at the artist entrance,as they want an autograph or selfie with an actor from Frozen. But there is now a sign stating how far they can go and that bothers me. What a mess, as without those children there would be no Frozen at all.”
This observation highlights a complex feeling – a recognition of the joy Frozen brings, tempered by concern for the children’s experience and the imposition of boundaries.
Simple Pleasures and a Past Connection
Peters has moved on from a favorite pub,but maintains a connection to the arts through regular visits to the coffee shop at the Mauritshuis museum,where he previously volunteered. When asked about his diet, he admits to a conscious effort to eat healthily.
“Well, I’m trying to lose a little weight. So I stick to salads with vegetables or one hundred percent vegetable. But every now and then I like to have a different variation on a piece of toast with a glass of wine.”
A Timely Philosophy
Underpinning his life and work is a simple, yet powerful motto: “The time to live is now.”
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