Beyond cheese and tulips: Dutch stars in Germany

This character based on the stereotypical portrayal of the traditional Dutch countrywoman was created specifically to export cheese to Germany over 50 years ago - and basically every German knows her to this day. If you grew up in Germany in the 70s, the simple mention of her name makes you sing her famous advertising jingle - a song that stays stuck in your head forever.

Families gathered in front of their TV on Saturday nights to feverishly watch contestants of the game show "Am laufenden Band" (1974-1979), invented and hosted by the popular Dutch entertainer Rudi Carrell. The concept: Remember all objects going down a conveyor belt. Those who forgot that car between the mixer and the hairdryer were bound to be disappointed - those were the prizes to be won.

"Big Brother," "The Voice of Germany" or "Joko und Klaas" - the most successful German TV entertainment shows can all be attributed to the production company Endemol Shine and its subsidiaries. Jon de Mol founded the company in 1994 with Joop van der Ende. From 1992 to 2000, Jon's sister Linda hosted - with her charming Dutch accent - a popular German show called "Traumhochzeit" (Dream Wedding).

"I talk like Rudi Carrell, and I look like Linda de Mol," is how the Dutch magician described himself. Hans Klok speaks fluent German, which has won him numerous fans in Germany. But he feels at home everywhere around the world. His tours lead him through Europe and Asia. In Las Vegas, he even had his own show and a world famous assistant: Pamela Anderson.

Her pseudonym sounds very Dutch indeed, but Enie van de Meiklokjes was born in Potsdam, Germany; the former music television host doesn't really have any connection to Holland. The real name of the strident host who now tackles baking on air, is Doreen Grochowski.

"Mama, but you will not cry over your boy / Mama, fate will unite us again," sang child star Heintje into the microphone in 1967, enchanting countless German women who wished to have him as a son, son-in-law, or grandson. The child star also starred in several TV sitcoms watched by millions.

"Tell me, where do you come from? From Smurfland!" That's the home of the clever blue characters called The Smurfs (French original: "schtroumpfs"), who find creative ways to fight the wicked magician Gargamel. The Belgian comics series was created by Peyo in 1958; 20 years later, Dutch artist Father Abraham, alias of Pierre Kartner, who produced the successful "Smurf Song" ('t Smurfenlied).

In the 90s, there was hardly a child who hadn't seen the TV show "Mini Playback Show" hosted by Marijke Amado. In it, kids slipped into the garb of their pop idols and performed a pop song in front of a jury - an early version of the now-frequent on-air singing competitions. At the end of each broadcast came the now-legendary song: "They were all winners, even though only one of them could win..."

A jack-of-all-trades, the Dutch celebrity Harry Wijnvoord hosted the entertainment and marketing TV show "The Price is Hot" - the German take on "The Price is Right," in which contestants had to estimate prices of products used in everyday life. He went on to host infomercials and now shills for Dutch fruits and vegetables as well as mobile homes.

When Dutch Queen Beatrix officially visited Germany in April 1991, German comedian Hape Kerkeling got the idea to disguise himself as the queen and invite himself to a "yummy lunch" at Bellevue Castle, the seat of the German President. Although nobody would let him in, his TV performance has never been forgotten.

When Johannes "Jopie" Heesters died on Christmas Eve 2011 at 108, he was the world's oldest living actor still on stage. In a career that lasted 90 years, he became best known for his role of Count Danilo in the operetta by Franz Léhar "Jetzt geh' ich ins Maxim" ('Now I go to the Maxim'). He enjoyed great popularity in Germany, even among the Nazis, for which the Dutch never forgave him.

While married, they were the most glamorous couple of the Bundesliga: The professional soccer player Rafael van der Vaart (he played for the HSV) and his wife Sylvie Meis, model and hostess. He shot 45 goals in 152 Bundesliga games – and produced countless headlines in the yellow press on just about everything from cancer to divorce (which came in 2013) and assorted new love affairs.