Waldemar Govinda Torenstra (born 29 March 1974) is a Dutch film, television, and stage actor known for both his dramatic range and physical transformations for roles.

Early life and background

Torenstra was born in Amsterdam to parents active in the 1970s hippie movement; he spent parts of his childhood in England and the Betuwe region, graduating high school before studying economics at the

University of Amsterdam The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, ) is a public university, public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 1632 by municipal authorities, it is the fourth-oldest academic institution in the Netherlan ...

. He later switched paths and graduated from the Amsterdam Theater School in 1999.

Career

Torenstra began performing with stage companies like Noord Nederlands Toneel in classics such as *Sympathy for the Devil*, *Othello* (Cassio), and *Lenny Bruce*. In autumn 2006, he led the play *Moordspel*. From 2012–2014, he chaired the jury of ShortCutz Amsterdam, a festival spotlighting local short films. In 2015, he starred as kickboxer Nick Roest in *Vechtershart*, a well-received TV series about redemption and return to the ring. A second season aired in 2017. From 2019, he played young detective Jurre de Cock in *Baantjer: Het Begin*, preparing by losing weight and researching criminal psychology for the 1980s-set series. In 2023 he portrayed Marco Kroon in *De Vuurlinie*, dramatically engaging with themes of trauma and military duty.

Personal life

He lives with partner Sophie Hilbrand; the couple got engaged in December 2018 and have two children. Torenstra is also a beekeeper and advocate for bee protection. In 2022, he spoke publicly about living with severe tinnitus—a condition he balances with exercise and careful scheduling.

Selected filmography

Film

* 2023 – ''De Vuurlinie'' as Marco Kroon * 2022 – ''Zwanger & Co'' * 2019 – ''Amsterdam Vice'' (*Baantjer: Het Begin*) as Jurre de Cock * 2011 – ''Mijn opa de bankrover'' * 2008 – ''Bride Flight'' as Frank * 2008 – ''Zomerhitte'' as Bob Griffioen

Television

* 2022 – ''Vechtershart'' (Season 2) as Nick Roest * 2019 – ''Divorce'' as Joris * 2017 & 2020 – ''Hollands Hoop'' (Seasons 2 & 3) * 2012 – ''Baantjer: Het Begin'' as Jurre de Cock

References

{{Authority control 1974 births Living people Dutch male actors Male actors from Amsterdam 21st-century Dutch male actors