One of the Netherlands’ best known actors, Piet Römer, has died at home at the age of 83.

Römer, who died in his sleep on Monday night, had a 60-year career, appearing in around 20 films, various tv series and over 60 theatre productions, including Aristophanes, Sartre and Pinter. However, he will be remembered for four roles in particular.
For 16 years, until 1984, Römer was chief Zwarte Piet during the festivities surrounding the arrival of Sint Nicolaas in Amsterdam, the city of his birth.
From 1995 until 2006 he attracted 2.5 million viewers per episode with his portrayal of police inspector De Cock in the tv series Baantjer, set in the red light district in Amsterdam and based on true stories.
Older viewers will remember him as Kootje de Beer in the original tv series ‘t Schaap met de vijf Pooten (1969), and even older viewers as the son in the Dutch version of the tv series Steptoe and Son.
Römer died surrounded by his family. His children and grandchildren followed him into the showbusiness world as actors, directors and producers.