From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Soldier of Orange (musical)

Soldier of Orange (Dutch: Soldaat van Oranje) is a Dutch musical production, based on the true story of resistance hero Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. In the 1970s, he wrote his experiences during World War II down in a book and director Paul Verhoeven made it into a 1977 film, starring actor Rutger Hauer.

The musical premiered on 30 October 2010, in a theatre that was purpose-built for the production: the TheaterHangaar on the former Valkenburg air base in Katwijk (in an old hangar). Queen Beatrix attended the premiere together with Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema's widow, Karin. Soldier of Orange is produced by NEW Productions, which is a subsidiary of investment company Amerborgh Nederland.

In the autumn of 2020, an English version of Soldier of Orange was set to premier in a newly build Royal Docks Theatre near London City Airport but the plans were postponed in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started.

In June 2024, it was announced that the show would be revised (with a few changes and additions in the plot, and changes in the stage effects). The original version held its final performance on 14 July 2024. The new version held try-outs from 3-7 September, and premiered on 11 September.

On 26 January 2026, the producers announced that the show would have its final performance on 12 July 2026, after almost 16 years and 4,000 performances.

Plot

Student Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema and his friends are carefree, until the Germans invade the Netherlands in the early days of May 1940. The war changes everything. They can no longer take friendship and love for granted. Everybody has to make choices. Fight for the country and for freedom? Focus on studying and deny what's going on? Or join the enemy?

The book of Hazelhoff Roelfzema, with the title Cave of the Rattlesnake (Dutch: Het hol van de ratelslang), was published in 1970. It reappeared a year later under the title Soldier of Orange. Paul Verhoeven created a film version in 1977. Rutger Hauer played the character Erik Lanshoff, based on the resistance hero.

Soldier of Orange – The Musical brings the true story to the theatre. After World War II starts, Erik decides to flee to Britain. He smuggles transmitting equipment to the Netherlands and, as a pilot, is involved in bombing Germany. He becomes adjutant for Queen Wilhelmina and receives the Military William Order ('Militaire Willems-Orde'), the highest royal honour in the Netherlands, for his contribution to the resistance movement.

Background

Producer Fred Boot obtained the rights to turn the story into a musical in 2005, after meeting Hazelhoff Roelfzema the year before.

Scriptwriter Edwin de Vries wrote the musical script. American duo Tom Harriman and Pamela Philips Oland was responsible for composition and lyrics. Dutch actor and composer Frans van Deursen translated the lyrics from English into Dutch. In 2008, Boot asked theatre producer Robin de Levita to join him. Director Theu Boermans joined the team in 2009.

Location

The show takes place in a former flight hangar, that is converted into a theatre. The location of the so-called TheaterHangaar is former military airport Valkenburg between Wassenaar, Katwijk and Leiden, a suitable, historical place. A foyer with a bar and restaurant is placed in front of the hangar.

SceneAround

Producer Robin de Levita invented a new theatrical performance solution for Soldier of Orange – The Musical: a rotating auditorium in the center of a venue with 1100 seats. He named it SceneAround. The auditorium is placed on a turntable. The audience rotates from scenery to scenery, accompanied by 180 degree projections on panel screens around the auditorium. Both the auditorium and the screens are motorized and automated. The set is built around the auditorium. Almost every scenery has its own set. There is even a ‘sea’ and the runway of the airport is also part of the set.

Dakota

Queen Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands with a Dakota. The Dakota C-47 was made available for the musical by a Dutch museum and was taken to Valkenburg in August 2010. Shortly after midnight, the plane got stuck in an overpass. It was too damaged to have it repaired on time for the premiere. The Dakota PH-ALR ‘Reiger’ from 1939 that's being used in the production now, was delivered on 23 September 2010.

Cast

Part	Cast I: 2010/2011	Cast II: 2011/2012	Cast III: 2012	Cast IV: 2012/2013	Cast V: 2013	Cast VI: 2013/2014	Cast VII:	Cast VIII:	Cast IX:	Cast X: 2015	Cast XI: 2016	Cast XII: 2016	Cast XIII: 2017	Cast XIV: 2017	Cast XV: 2018	Cast XVI: 2018	Cast XVII: 2019 (From January 2019)	Cast XVIII: 2019 (From August 2019)	Cast XIX: 2020 (From February 2020)	Cast XX: 2020 (From September 2020)
Cast XXI: 2021/2022 (From 1 October 2021 ’til 10 July 2022)	Cast XXIII: 2023	Cast XXV: 2024
Matteo van der Grijn	Julian Looman	Dragan Bakema	Matteo van der Grijn, Robbert van den Bergh(alternate)	Matteo van der Grijn, Jord Knotter(alternate)	Matteo van der Grijn, Stefan Rokebrand(alternate)	Stefan Rokebrand, Dorian Bindels(alternate)	Dorian Bindels, Niels Gooijer(alternate)	Dorian Bindels,	Dorian Bindels,	Valentijn Benard	Valentijn Benard, Jonathan Demoor(alternate)	Sebas Berman (aug-sep), Theo Martijn Wever, Alex van Bergen	Theo Martijn Wever, Alex van Bergen	Alex van Bergen, Valentijn Benard	Alex van Bergen, Theo Martijn Wever	Alex van Bergen, Alexander Schuitema	Alex van Bergen, Alexander Schuitema, Jonathan Demoor	Alexander Schuitema, Milan Sekeris	Jonathan Demoor, Dirk van den Brand
Loes Haverkort,	Linde van den Heuvel	Bente van den Brand	Loes Haverkort,	Merel Baldé,	Merel Baldé,	Linde van den Heuvel,	Eva van der Post	Willemien Dijkstra	Cathalijne de Sonnaville	Diana van Die
Catherine ten Bruggencate,	Anne-Wil Blankers,	Trudy de Jong, Marisa van Eyle,	Catherine ten Bruggencate, Myranda Jongeling,	Catherine ten Bruggencate, Myranda Jongeling, Sylvia Poorta, Marisa van Eyle	Juul Vrijdag, Jacqueline Blom,	Juul Vrijdag, Jacqueline Blom, Sylvia Poorta,	Anne-Wil Blankers, Olga Zuiderhoek, Juul Vrijdag, Myranda Jongeling	Gusta Geleijnse, Myranda Jongeling	Juul Vrijdag, Olga Zuiderhoek, Gusta Geleijnse,	Gusta Geleijnse,	Henriëtte Tol, Myranda Jongeling, Sylvia Poorta	Juul Vrijdag, Debbie Korper	Henriëtte Tol, Myranda Jongeling	Debbie Korper, Wivineke van Groningen	Henriëtte Tol, Gusta Geleijnse	Henriëtte Tol, Wivineke van Groningen	Henriëtte Tol (until November 2019),	Debbie Korper, Barbara Pouwels	Sylvia Poorta, Barbara Pouwels, Henriette Tol	Debbie Korper, Barbara Pouwels
Oren Schrijver	Reinier Demeijer	Robbert van den Bergh,	Robbert van den Bergh,	Maarten Heijmans	Kevin Schoonderbeek	Thomas Cammaert	Ayal Oost	Thomas Cammaert, Ayal Oost	Jonathan Demoor	Roel Dirven	Lars Mak	Thijs Miedema	Bart van Veldhoven	Stefan de Kogel
Boy Ooteman	Thijs Steenkamp,	Thijs Steenkamp	Thijs Steenkamp,	Boy Ooteman	Zjon Smaal	Sjoerd Oomen	Dennis Willekens	Marcel Harteveld	Ludo van der Winkel	Jim Leijen
Tijn Docter	Xander van Vledder	Harpert Michielsen	Xander van Vledder	Kevin Schoonderbeek	Anne Prakke	Anne Prakke,	Anne Prakke	Joost Claes	Kevin Schoonderbeek	Ruben Brinkman	Jelle de Jong	Beau Schneider	Folkert van Diggelen	Alex van Bergen, Folkert van Diggelen(alternate)	Alex van Bergen, Folkert van Diggelen
Jorrit Ruijs	Reinier Schimmel	Rutger Bulsing	Rutger Bulsing,	Jorrit Ruijs	Roel Dirven	Roel Dirven,	Roel Dirven	Sjoerd Spruijt	Matthijs Pater	Eli ter Hart
Kes Blans	Joey Schalker	Joey Schalker,	Rutger Bulsing	Daan Colijn	Alex van Bergen	Tomer Pawlicki	Marijn Klaver	Jasper van Hofwegen	Johnny Barendsen	Danny Westerweel	Ruben Kuppens	Jochem Smit	Eli Rietveld	Hayo de Kruif
Ad-Just Bouwman	Raymond Paardekooper	Noël S. Keulen	Guido de Wijs	Johnny Barendsen	Valentijn van Hall	Johnny Barendsen	Ewout Heijbroek
Anne Lamsvelt	Christine de Boer	Christine de Boer,	Christine de Boer,	Karolien Torensma,	Sophie Schut	Sophie Höppener	Mirtele Snabilie	Lotta Sophie Bakker	Margo Verhoeven	Marle Martens	Lisse Knaappen	Julia Lammerts	Dagmar Rijff
Nico de Vries,	Bart de Vries,	Bart de Vries,	Bart de Vries	René van Zinnicq Bergmann,	Nico de Vries, Maarten Wansink	René van Zinnicq Bergmann,	Mark Rietman,	Nico de Vries,	Hajo Bruins,	Peter Tuinman,	Hajo Bruins,	Raymond Paardekooper	Raymond Paardekooper, Peter Tuinman	Raymond Paardekooper, Paul R. Kooij, Nico de Vries	Peter Tuinman, Raymond Paardekooper	Reinier Bulder, Peter Bolhuis	Raymond Paardekooper, Genio de Groot	Raymond Paardekooper, Peter Bolhuis	Raymond Paardekooper, Genio de Groot	Tijn Docter, Raymond Paardekooper
Margreet Boersbroek	Melissa Drost	Melissa Drost,	Jennifer van Brenk	Vérie Thijssen	Sandra Jonkman	Cathalijne de Sonnaville	Dominique de Bont	Charlotte van der Plas

References

http://www.avinteractive.co.uk/features/29801/case-study-dutch-masters
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-14115345/A-wheel-musical-treat-Dutch.html
http://wingsofliberation.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=244&lang=en
http://fohonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5019&Itemid=1
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2010/11/01/koninklijke-premiere-soldaat-van-oranje

References

"Wat wordt er vernieuwd? - Soldaat van Oranje".
(26 January 2026). "Curtain set to fall on Soldaat van Oranje musical after 16 years".

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

theatre-in-the-netherlands dutch-musicals 2010-musicals musicals-set-in-the-netherlands musicals-based-on-films musicals-based-on-novels musicals-about-world-war-ii musicals-set-in-the-1930s musicals-set-in-the-1940s cultural-depictions-of-spies cultural-depictions-of-soldiers cultural-depictions-of-dutch-people cultural-depictions-of-wilhelmina-of-the-netherlands

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Soldier of Orange (musical) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report