Aart Staartjes, the actor known as Meneer Aart (Mr. Aart) on the Dutch version of Sesame Street, called Sesamstraat, has died in a traffic accident at the age of 81. The accident occurred on Friday, January 10, 2020, according to multiple Dutch news sites.
The cause of death was injuries he suffered in the traffic accident in Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands. The accident involved a car and the moped Staartjes was riding.
A Google translation of the Dutch police tweet reporting Staartjes’ death reads:
“On the Harlingerstraatweg #Leeuwarden A serious accident occurred between 2:15 PM and a car this afternoon. A person was taken seriously injured to a hospital. The police have started an investigation into the cause of this accident.”
Op de Harlingerstraatweg in #Leeuwarden heeft vanmiddag rond 14.15 uur een ernstig ongeluk plaatsgevonden tussen een brommobiel en een auto. Een persoon is ernstig gewond overgebracht naar een ziekenhuis. De politie is een onderzoek gestart naar de toedracht van dit ongeluk.
— Politie Fryslân (@polfryslan) January 10, 2020
“The driver of the moped car is an 81-year-old man from #Dronryp. #Leeuwarden.”
De bestuurder van de brommobiel betreft een 81-jarige man uit #Dronryp. #Leeuwarden
— Politie Fryslân (@polfryslan) January 10, 2020
The 81-year-old driver of the moped was later confirmed to be Staartjes.
Tributes pour in on Twitter
Many Twitter fans who grew up watching the beloved actor on Sesamstraat, a spin-off of the U.S. children’s show Sesame Street, have been paying tribute on Twitter. The hashtag #AartStaartjes has been trending on the social media platform.
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Legendary Dutch actor Aart Staartjes passed away due to injuries by car accidentHe has been a major influence for a lot of people as he played "The old grumpy beighbour" in the dutch version of #Sesamestreet called #Sesamstraat for ever 40 years! 1984 #AartStaartjesBedankt pic.twitter.com/Gpf2fJXvca
— Crypto Debby ?? #??? (@CryptoDebby) January 12, 2020
Legend. #AartStaartjes #sesamstraat pic.twitter.com/GNflXb3H2t
— jazz (@gebakkebanaan) January 12, 2020
Today we lost one of the members of our Dutch Sesame Street Family. Meneer "Aart Staartjes"
Generations grew up with him in Sesamstraat but also with tons of other childrens programs here in The Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/y0mt4J2O2U
— Demy (@DD__Crew) January 12, 2020
R.I.P Meneer Aart…! A TV hero from my youth has passed… ??? #AartStaartjes pic.twitter.com/iRZp5V7oDA
— Soraya (@SorayaKerkhove) January 12, 2020
I grew up with De Film van Ome Willem en De Stratemakers Op Zee Show. A sad day when one of your childhood tv heroes dies. #AartStaartjes
— Connie Versteeg (@Doubledutchie) January 12, 2020
Aart Staartjes bio
According to his bio on IMDb, Aart Staartjes was born in March 1938, in Nieuwendam, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands. He was an actor, director and TV presenter.
He was known for his roles in TV shows such as De film van ome Willem and J.J. de Bom voorheen: De kindervriend, according to IMDb.
He played Meneer Aart in the TV movie Open huis in Sesamstraat and voiced Old Vincent in the Dutch movie, The Rotterdam Bombing (2012). His movie credits also included Spaak and Bloody Marie.
Aart made his debut on Sesamstraat in 1984.
A biography of Aart Staartjes by Sietse van der Hoek was published in 2002.
Aart Starrtjes leaves behind his wife, Hanna, and three children from a previous marriage.