Johan en de Alverman (''Johan and the Alverman'') was a

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium ...

children's TV series, broadcast on the BRT (now the VRT) between 1965 and 1966. Together with ''

Captain Zeppos Captain Zeppos ( nl, Kapitein Zeppos) was a Belgian children's television series, which aired in 1964 and 1968. It was based on a script by Lode De Groof. In all, the BRT made three series with a Flemish actor, Senne Rouffaer, in the title role ...

'', it is considered to be one of the classics of Flemish children's television. It was very popular and has been repeated many times. It was also a huge success in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...

, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, Sweden and

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

Concept

The story is set in 1650. A local surgeon, Johan Claeszoons, meets a strange dwarf in the forest who is unable to speak his language. He shares some food with him and the dwarf becomes his friend. He turns out to be an ''alverman'', who was banned from the kingdom of Avalon because he was too curious. He is only allowed to return to his people when he can bring something of use to the entire people of Avalon. His magic flute and his magic ring, ''Fafiforniek'', aid him. Later in the story, Johan meets Rosita, the beautiful daughter of Don Cristobal de Bobadilla, with whom he falls in love, but he has to face the menace of her suitor, the evil Guy de Sénancourt as well as Cristobal, who sends his Native American servant Otorongo after him.

Cast

* Johan Claeszoon:

Frank Aendenboom Frank Aendenboom (24 October 1941 – 31 March 2018) was a Belgian actor. He appeared in more than sixty films since 1960. Selected filmography References External links * 1941 births 2018 deaths Flemish male film actors Actors ...

* De Alverman:

Jef Cassiers Jef is a Dutch-language masculine given name primarily used in Belgium. It is a short form of Jozef/ Josef, used also in Breton. People with the name include: *Jef Billings (born 1945), American figure skating costume designer *Jef Boeke (born 19 ...

* Don Cristobal de Bobadilla:

Cyriel Van Gent Cyriel may refer to: *Cyriel Barbary (1899–2004), the last known Belgian veteran of the First World War * Cyriel Buysse (1859–1932), Flemish naturalist author and playwright * Cyriel Coupe (1918–1998) (pseudonym Anton van Wilderode), Belgian ...

* Rosita de Bobadilla:

Rosemarie Bergmans Rosemary is a name for several plants of the Genus Salvia and Ceratiola. Rosemary may also refer to: Music * "Rosemary", a song by Gomez from their 2000 compilation album ''Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline'' * "Rosemary", a 1961 song composed ...

* Otorongo:

Dolf De Winter Dolf is a Dutch masculine given name, often a short form (hypocorism) of Adolf, which may refer to: * Dolf Brouwers (1912–1997), Dutch comedian, singer, and television actor * Dolf Jansen (born 1963), comedian, presenter of the Radio 2 program ...

* Guy de Sénancourt:

Alex Cassiers Alex is a given name. It can refer to a shortened version of Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis. People Multiple *Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people *Alex Gordon (disambiguation), multiple people *Alex Harris (disambiguation), multiple pe ...

* Oom Willem:

Ward De Ravet Edward Philippe Pierre "Ward" de Ravet (1 June 1924 – 6 March 2013) was a Belgian actor. His wife was Belgian stage and television actress Fanny Winkler. Death Ward de Ravet, as he was universally known, died on 6 March 2013, aged 88. He had ...

* Tante Liezelotje: Fanny Winkler * Ome Ben:

Vic Moeremans Vic (; es, Vic or Pancracio Celdrán (2004). Diccionario de topónimos españoles y sus gentilicios (5ª edición). Madrid: Espasa Calpe. p. 843. ISBN 978-84-670-3054-9. «Vic o Vich (viquense, vigitano, vigatán, ausense, ausetano, ausonense) ...

* Cipolla:

Walter Moeremans Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born ...

* Pietro:

Jos Mahu Jos is a city in the north central region of Nigeria. The city has a population of about 900,000 residents based on the 2006 census. Popularly called "J-Town", it is the administrative capital and largest city of Plateau State. During Britis ...

* Simone:

Chris Lomme Chris is a short form of various names including Christopher, Christian, Christina, Christine, and Christos. Chris is also used as a name in its own right, however it is not as common. People with the given name *Chris Abani (born 1966), Niger ...

* De Baljuw:

Marcel Hendrickx Marcel Hendrickx (21 April 1925 – 15 February 2008) was a Belgian racing cyclist. He rode in the 1949 Tour de France The 1949 Tour de France was the 36th edition of the Tour de France, taking place from 30 June to 24 July. It consisted ...

* Farmer Janus:

Jan Reussens Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Num ...

* Marquis:

Roger Bolders Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...

* Knight servant:

Raymond Bossaerts Raymond is a male given name. It was borrowed into English from French (older French spellings were Reimund and Raimund, whereas the modern English and French spellings are identical). It originated as the Germanic ᚱᚨᚷᛁᚾᛗᚢᚾᛞ ( ...

* Alberic van Avalon:

Robert Maes The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

* Elf: Marilou Mermans * Royal servant:

Jacky Morel Jackie or Jacky may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jackie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters named Jackie or Jacky ** Jackie, current ring name of female professional wrestler Jacqueline Moore ** Jackie Lee (I ...

* Guard'':

Jaak Van Hombeek Jaak is a version of the names Jacob and James in the Estonian language. People named Jaak include: * Jaak Aab (born 1960), Estonian politician * Jaak Aaviksoo (born 1954), Estonian politician and physicists *Jaak Allik (born 1946), Estonian po ...

Background

Originally,

Luc Phillips Luc or LUC may refer to: Places * Luc, Hautes-Pyrénées, France, a commune * Luc, Lozère, France, a commune * Le Luc, France, a commune * Luč, Baranja, Croatia, a settlement People and fictional characters * Luc (given name) * Luc (surname) ...

was to play the Alverman, but he had other commitments, so

replaced him. The actors Aendenboom and Bergmans became a couple in real life during the recordings. The show was recorded in several historical or nature resorts in Belgium, including in

Gaasbeek Gaasbeek is a village in the Belgian municipality of Lennik in Flemish Brabant. It is most known for Gaasbeek Castle Gaasbeek Castle ( nl, Kasteel van Gaasbeek, french: Château de Gaesbeek) is a castle located in Lennik, Flemish Brabant, Bel ...

, the

Caves of Han-sur-Lesse The Caves of Han-sur-Lesse (in French: Grottes de Han-sur-Lesse or simply Grottes de Han) refers to a natural complex of caves in Belgium. A major Belgian tourist attraction (around 250-300,000 visitors per year), the caves are located in Walloni ...

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

Orp-Jauche Orp-Jauche (; nl, Adorp-Geten, ; wa, Oû-Djåce) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2008, Orp-Jauche had a total population of 8,400. The total area is 50.50 km² which gives a po ...

and

Bokrijk The Bokrijk Provincial Domain ( nl, Provinciaal Domein Bokrijk) is a park and museum complex near Genk, Province of Limburg in Belgium. It is known for its open-air museum which displays a large collection of historical buildings from across Flan ...

. The story was also adapted into a series of novels. The theme music, "The Duchess of Brighton" was taken from the film '' The V.I.P.s'' (1962) and composed by

Miklós Rózsa Miklós Rózsa (; April 18, 1907 – July 27, 1995) was a Hungarian-American composer trained in Germany (1925–1931) and active in France (1931–1935), the United Kingdom (1935–1940), and the United States (1940–1995), with extens ...

. The success of ''Johan en de Alverman'' inspired the Dutch children's TV series '' Floris'', which is also a costume drama.

Sources

{{Reflist

External links

* https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0231826/ Flemish television shows Belgian children's television shows Belgian fantasy television series 1965 Belgian television series debuts 1966 Belgian television series endings Television shows adapted into novels Black-and-white Belgian television shows Television shows set in Belgium Fiction set in the 1650s Television series set in the 17th century Television about magic Television about fairies and sprites Native Americans in popular culture Fictional gnomes Television shows based on fairy tales Dutch-language television shows Television characters introduced in 1965 Eén original programming