The Three Jacquets

Martin Bijkerk and Ger van Ringelenstein served in the late 40s in the Dutch Military service on Java, Indonesia. They met third member Henk van der Lee there, who was a representative and contactman for NIWIN, also serving the interests of cabaret-acts in Indonesia, which by then was still called "Dutch East Indies" by the Dutch. They had their first successes there as part of the AAT-Cabaret on Eastern Java. After being repatriated to Holland Bijkerk and Ringelenstein met again in a holiday-centre in Oostvoorne in the late 50s. In 1958 the comedy trio from Rotterdam with their dull-lille-men act were discovered by Wim Verhagen. In May 1962 their recording career began with an E.P. When their now famous song "'t Autootje" also was released on single medio 1963 it launched their career as a popular television act lasting until around 1967. They came back early 1972 with a few more fine singles, including an energy-crisis version of their first single "We mogen op zondag niet meer rijden met 't autootje" (meaning: "We're not allowed to drive on Sundays with our little car anymore"), which ends that series of singles in the 70s. They made one more comeback in 1980. Then it was over. But is was enjoyable fun while it lasted.