Jordaan in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Tante (“Aunt”) Leen

Tante Leen Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 18, 2024

1. Tante Leen Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

De carrière van Tante Leen (1912-1992) begon op 43-jarige leeftijd. Tot die tijd werkte ze als schoonmaakster en garnalenpelster. Ze werd ontdekt in een talentenjacht waarin de beste stem van de Jordaan werd gezocht. Daarin behaalde ze de tweede plaats, achter Johnny Jordaan. Vanaf dat moment luidde haar bijnaam de nachtegaal van de Willemsstraat.

Tante Leen (haar werkelijke naam was Helena Kok-Polder, later Helena Jansen-Polder) trad vaak op samen met Johnny Jordaan. Haar grootste hit had ze met het nummer Oh, Johnny dat aan hem gericht is. Vanaf 1960 dreef ze met haar tweede echtgenoot een café aan de Nieuwendijk. In 1968 werd ze uitgenodigd om Nederland te vertegenwoordigen op het Eurovisiesongfestival, maar ze sloeg de uitnodiging af. Zij beëindigde haar zangcarrière in 1975 en bracht de laatste jaren van haar leven door in een verzorgingshuis.

Beeldhouwer: Kees Verkade 1994

(English translation:)
The career of Tante (“Aunt”) Leen (1912-1992) started at the age of 43. Until then she worked as a cleaner and shrimp peeler. She was discovered in

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a talent show looking for the best voice in the Jordaan. She took second place, behind Johnny Jordaan. From that moment on, her nickname was “The Nightingale of Willemsstraat”.

Tante Leen (her real name was Helena Kok-Polder, later Helena Jansen-Polder) often performed together with Johnny Jordaan. She had her biggest hit with the song Oh, Johnny, which was addressed to him. From 1960 she ran a café on the Nieuwendijk with her second husband. In 1968 she was invited to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest, but she declined the invitation. She ended her singing career in 1975 and spent the last years of her life in a nursing home.

Sculptor: Kees Verkade 1994

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is March 2, 1955.

Location. 52° 22.209′ N, 4° 52.933′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Jordaan. It is at the intersection of Johnny Jordaanplein and Elandsgracht on Johnny Jordaanplein. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1016 HJ, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Manke Nelis (here, next to this marker); Johnny Jordaan (here, next to this marker); Duo Jan & Mien (here, next to this marker);

Tante (“Aunt”) Leen Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 18, 2024

2. Tante (“Aunt”) Leen Marker - wide view

Tante Leen’s marker is visible on the rear of the second plinth and statue from the right.

Johnny Meijer (here, next to this marker); Hooft, Coster, Vondel (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Tobias van Leeuwen (about 150 meters away); Rachel van Leeuwen - Cohen de Lara (about 150 meters away); Elias Juda van Leeuwen (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Also see . . .
1. Tante Leen (Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief, in Dutch).

Excerpt (in translation): Tante Leen (1912-1992) was Amsterdam's best-known interpreter of song. Her real name was Helena Kok-Polder. This cleaning lady and shrimp peeler only performed for the first time when she was 43. Visitors to the café where she worked had registered her for a talent show for Jordaan singers. She came in second. From that moment on, her nickname was 'The Nightingale of the Willemsstraat'.

(Submitted on March 18, 2024.)

2. Tante Leen - Oh Johnny (YouTube, 3:06). Tante Leen’s most popular song, set to some nice, short video clips of Amsterdam’s Jordaan neighborhood. (Submitted on March 18, 2024.)

3. Tante Leen and Johnny Jordaan - Potpourri (YouTube, 4:04). Tante Leen and Johnny Jordaan

Tante Leen bust image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 18, 2024

3. Tante Leen bust

perform a short medley together in a bar. (Submitted on March 18, 2024.)

Tante (“Aunt”) Leen bust, along with Johnny Jordaan and others image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 18, 2024

4. Tante (“Aunt”) Leen bust, along with Johnny Jordaan and others

Tante Leen and Johnny Jordaan were discovered at the same talent show, on March 2, 1955. Tante Leen came in second, Johnny Jordaan first. Afterwards, Tante Leen often performed with Johnny Jordaan. Her biggest hit 'Oh Johnny' is also about him. Johnny responded with his Tante Leen, Tante Leen, Tante Leen, ik ga een liedje voor je zingen (“Tante Leen, Tante Leen, Tante Leen, I'm Going to Sing You a Song”). - Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 18, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.