Created by Willem Zijlstra
“Every day is Valentine’s Day!”
As one does…
But hey, he’s a millionaire–he can do what he wants. Even if he’s flying in the face of the rules of this site–he does make trouble his business, but as a hobby. (So sue me).
One of his hobbies–he also collects art, fences, drives race cars, etc. But his main pastime, it seems, is chasing down criminals and other miscreants, against a background of fortunate coincidences, fine wines, comic misadventures, sartorial splendor, scrumptious meals, elegant women, luxury hotels, and beautiful automobiles.
But forged art, stolen jewels, murdered friends (and friends of friends)–those are what keeps him ticking.
A genuine bon vivant, he has extensive knowledge of seemingly everything and seems to know everyone. There are definitely touches of James Bond here (particularly in the extravagant opening sequences of each episode, with the unflappable and always impeccable Valentijn in the midst of some dangerous predicament, only to be interrupted by a call for help). But the real inspiration has to be Roger Moore’s star turn as Leslie Charters’ Simon Templar in television’s The Saint.
There’s the same anything-goes charisma at work; a kind of smug confidence at work, and no matter the prediciament, we know the bad guys will be bad, the women will be beautiful and Valentijn will prove triumphant over both. Naturally, in keeping with that whole sixties detective/spy vibe, the love scenes and the violence are handled discreetly. And tastefully.
In the first series, he becomes involved with Public Prosecutor Suze Geleijnse, who initially finds his “assistance” with her cases annoying, but soon relents when she realizes how useful he can be. Plus there’s the low-level sexual buzz between them (Will they? Won’t they?) that can’t be denied.
Alas, by the second series, Suze is replaced by Public Prosecutor Floor van Nijevelt, but throughout he’s assisted by his faithful butler, accomplice and friend Leo Copps. He’s supposedly the concierge at the Hague’s swanky Hotel Des Indes where Valentijn lives, but it’s hard to believe Leo has time for anyone else. Over the course of the series he supplies getaway cars, rare wines, women’s lingerie (always a perfect fit), weapons, antiquities (both real and faked) and hot air balloons.
Despite the deliberately over-the-top trappings, but this isn’t quite the sixties–there’s an oh-so-modern underlying narrative thread weaving its way through the series (all the good shows have them now). Namely: where did Valentijn come from?
He knows he was an unnamed orphaned left at an Abbey in south Holland, and raised by Father Bentinck, a kindly priest at a Catholic boarding school (with whom he keeps in touch, and from whom he took his last name). He knows he benefitted from a hefty trust fund, and that he received an exemplary education. But how did he get there? And who were his parents?
Sure, he’s living the dream, and his life is full of exciting adventures and beautiful things, but who is he, really? And so his hunt for answers winds its way through the series, with him eventually tracking down his childhood nanny, and the made-for-television movie that followed the two series had him “definitely” confronting his past.
Sure, it’s all an escapist fantasy, and the parade of enticing women could easily make it a cheesefest, except… it’s not. It’s just fun, an easy-going but smart romp relying on a great cast, clever writing and a subtle wink-wink humor that goes down easy at the end of a long, hard day.
Perhaps with a couple of Grolsch Premium Lagers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The series was conceived by producer and director Willem Zijlstra, who had approached up-and-coming actor Daan Schuurmans about the idea during a party. There story goes that Schuurmans loved the idea, but felt that he was too young to do it at that time, so they waited ten years or so.
TELEVISION
- HEER & MEESTER
(English title: Lord & Master)
(2014–2016)
20 episodes
Created by
Idea by Willem Zijlstra
Writers: Eva Aben, Bert Bouma, Wim Hoen, Robert Jan Overeem, Lex Passchier, Bennie Roeters
Directors: Pollo de Pimentel, Marc Willard, Willem Zijlstra, Pieter Walther Boer
Starring Daan Schuurmans as VALENTIJN RIXTUS BENTINCK
With Hubert Fermin as Leo Coops
Sytske van der Ster as Suze Geleijnse (Series One)
Sophie van Winden as Floor van Nijevelt Guljé (Series Two)
Ferdi Stofmeel as Richard Frensdorf
Mark Rietman as Harald de Vries
Jules Croiset as Pater Bentinck
Guy Clemens as Victor Eleveld
Robert de Hoog as Danny Torenaar- SERIES ONE | Watch it now!
“Fabergé” (January 11, 2014) - “Eenmaal Andermaal” (January 18, 2014)
- “Huize Boschrust” (January 25, 2014)
- “Rook” (February 1, 2014)
- “Kwestie van Chemie (Chemie)” (February 8, 2014)
- “Stradivarius” (February 15, 2014)
- “De Debutante” (February 22, 2014)
- “De Jacht” (March 1, 2014)
- “Het Schotse Stuk” (March 8, 2014)
- “Last Hole” (March 15, 2014)
- SERIES TWO | Watch it now!
“De Klap (VIP)” (January 28, 2016) - “Diamantroof” (February 4, 2016)
- “De Parfumeur” (February 11, 2016)
- “De Dokter” (February 18, 2016) (
- “Blufpoker” (February 25, 2016)
- “Spoken Bestaan Niet” (March 3, 2016)
- “Ontvoerd” (March 10, 2016)
- “Chevalier” (March 17, 2016)
- “Haute Cuisine (Je Bent Wat Je Eet)” (March 24, 2016)
- “Oog om Oog” (March 31, 2016)
- SERIES ONE | Watch it now!
- HEER & MEESTER DE FILM
(2018)
Television movie
Created by Willem Zijlstra
Screenplay by Mischa Alexander
Directed by Pollo de Pimentel
Produced by Willem Zijlstra
Aired: December 29, 2018
Starring Daan Schuurmans as VALENTIJN RIXTUS BENTINCK
With Sophie van Winden as Floor van Nijevelt Guljé
Hubert Fermin as Leo Coops
Ferdi Stofmeel as Richard Frensdorf
and Mark Rietman as Harald de Vries
Also starring Akin Aysla, Karel Deruwe, Dirk Roofthooft, Robert de Hoog, Damian Hollander, Bram Doeleman
RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE
- Allmen (2017-19, Universum Film)
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
