HOESTERNOUMEE
Christel: “Everyday life is often the source of laughter”
In the section Hoesternoumee , Lei Willems sits down with business partners, friends, and colleagues. He asks them about their inspiration, interests, and the present moment: about time and peace of mind, about stepping out of the rat race. About the process of creating beautiful things. It’s not just about business; it’s also about life in the “corona era” and its impact on work, collaboration, and your own identity. About small joys, big joys, but above all about giving meaning to our/your/life. And all of this while enjoying a delicious oyster! Will you join us?
Hoesternoumee was written by Melanie Modderman.
Today on Hoesternoumee, Lei Willems talks with Christel de Laat.
You may know this Brabant native from *De Jopie Parlevliet Show* or *Toren C*. Or from *Het Fijnfisjeniecafé* on Omroep Brabant, where she hosts the annual search for the tastiest Brabant sausage roll. Or perhaps you tune in every week to her radio show *Graat en De Laat* on Omroep Brabant. Lei has known her since the 1990s—how could it be otherwise—from the entertainment industry. The beginning of a wonderful collaboration that we’ll learn much more about in this interview. And take note: there’s bound to be a bit of Brabant dialect in the text, because that’s how Christel immediately sets the tone!
Who is Christel de Laat?
"Trompette de l’amour" is the first amuse-bouche served here at Tribeca restaurant in Heeze. That’s reason enough to ask for a little more background information. Who is Christel, where is she from, and what is her life like?
“I was born and raised in Schijndel, got married fairly young, and had a daughter when I was 22. A few years later, a son. After a hundred and one side jobs,” she says, “ranging from training to be a maternity assistant and a cook’s assistant to working in a mushroom farm, I ended up at the Tunneke through a newspaper ad. They were looking for actors and actresses there. That was actually the start of my career. I spent five years there building up my experience and learned a ton. Especially as the character Nel. During that time, I also had a show on TV8 called Da’s Nel. In it, I cycled through Brabant as Nel, dressed in a farmer’s outfit with clogs, and visited places like markets and restaurants. That show was a huge hit. In 2000, I quietly started my own business, NEL Entertainment.
Lei laughs and says, “ I still remember seeing you on TV8 riding a bike in your red-and-white outfit and thinking, ‘She’s cute!’ And when clients asked who Christel was, I’d point them to that show.” Christel replies immediately, “Short, blonde, chubby!” But for Lei, Christel was the one and only person he loved working with.
What do you enjoy doing most?
Christel: “I wouldn’t have wanted to miss a single moment of those early years. At ’t Tunneke, I really learned to work hard. My colleagues were like family to me back then. Together with Karin Bruers, who taught the classes there, we later took over the whole country. As my alter ego, hostess Betty, I was booked frequently for events that were all the rage at the time. But we also often organized weekend getaways for companies. Another character,‘Wilma, you can also call me Wil,’ was fantastic. I wore a little gray wig and went all out.”
Christel de Laat: “Working for Lei is special, unique, and original!”
Tell us about your adventures?
Christel: “I always enjoyed working for Lei. He basically sold all of my characters. His ideas were always original, unique, and distinctive. You knew you had to work hard, but that everything was taken care of down to the last detail. My characters weren’t conventional, weren’t logical, sometimes were outrageous, but they were incredibly charming and hilariously funny. Lei knew that, and I was happy to adapt to his original concepts.”
Lei: “It all started with Start Bouwen, where Christel came to help me with various projects. We would organize a formal ceremony for the project developer at the construction site. Together with all the guests, we turned it into an event that people talked about for years to come. I wrote a bit about the history of the project, and Christel fleshed it out.”
Christel: “Lei made up all sorts of things. For example, Lei once sent me a script where I had to stand by a construction site wearing a pink wedding dress as a summer fairy. We dug up a treasure chest and searched for time capsules. All sorts of things happened.”
But the role at Polo Brabant was hilarious too. I had to make sure the people serving themselves food from the buffet did so in a civilized manner. It was absolutely side-splittingly funny. No one went too far, and I kept it civil too. But the Blue Note party is at the top of my list! This is kind of our baby. A business party where Liset and I became total bitches as Bea and Betty. Lei didn’t want security at the door, so we got that job. Because at a free party like that, of course everyone wants to get in. From the very first hour, our performance was a success. Checking IDs took a really long time—we did that on purpose; we made a whole big deal out of it. But people with invitations just walked right in. This event is a gem that we still love to make room for in our calendars.”
Christel: “You name it, we’ve done it. I remember a lot! The smells and images in my head, the feelings of certain moments, and the tastes. I can still picture a lot of it. The trip to a castle in the South of France, in particular, is etched in my memory. Lei organized a private party for about sixty guests in the South of France. The details were bizarre. No one knew the itinerary. The guests were given ten commandments, like ‘thou shalt enjoy’ and things like that. Two nuns were sitting in the back of a private plane—they weren’t allowed to say a word—and I was the nun who got to pick up the guests from the airport. After that, they spent two hours traveling in a Deux Chevaux—without air conditioning. Upon arrival, there were drinks and a church service. And in the room was a cassock with an embroidered emblem on it. They had to wear this cassock. What happened there was beyond belief.”
Lei: “Everything was arranged from the Netherlands. The sound technicians, the DJ, and even two nannies. Absolutely everything. Two years later, the same client asked if we’d organize this again for the same group of people. This edition had to surpass the one in France. We took everyone to Belgium. Christel too. It was truly unbelievable!”
Christel: “That same group of sixty loved it, which made it a really close-knit group. France was so exclusive and special; Belgium was perhaps even more magical. As the hostess, Betty, I had to keep everything running smoothly. It was truly extraordinary. A weekend of grueling work, but it really is the most enjoyable job. It is very intense, though. Because you’re the product yourself. I give it my all at moments like that. Sometimes I’m completely wiped out after an evening of being ‘on’ the whole time. But I also realize that I’m only doing a small part of such an event. Lei has to keep an eye on everything at moments like that. That’s really tough.”
How's business going?
“Starting with the 2016/17 theater season, I’ll be performing solo on stage for the first time. So I’ve stopped doing character sketches for events and parties. On stage, I talk openly about the struggles of everyday life, and about eighty percent of the stories are things I’ve actually experienced myself. Of course, I tell them in the funniest way possible, and sometimes I embellish them a bit. My new show is called Hoe dan?! Itfeatures a lot of everyday things that amaze me. For example, I talk about what it’s like to become a grandmother. It’s awesome! It’s relatable and accessible. I wouldn’t want it any other way—and probably couldn’t do it any other way. I am who I am. So when people ask about a character, I tell them these days: I only come as Christel. I am who I am. What you see is what you get. It’s wonderful to be able to be myself and speak in my Brabant dialect on stage.”
2021 was a strange year for everyone, but especially for you—would you like to tell us a little about it?
Christel: “It really has been an incredibly intense year. Something you don’t expect happens. You’re told you’re very sick, that you have uterine cancer, even though you feel fine. That’s very confusing. I didn’t have chemo or radiation. The recovery did take some time, though. That was very life-changing. Fortunately, no metastases were found and the surgery went well. I’m doing well now, but I still have a lot of emotional ups and downs. I used to just keep going, going, going. Now I love taking a break. Pausing for a moment. I also notice that time for myself has become very important.”
And now for the question that’s really on everyone’s mind today: What’s the big deal?
Christel: “I’ve regained my peace of mind and confidence. I’m better at remembering lyrics again, and I’m enjoying the moment more. I’ve become more grateful. I see more beauty and appreciate the slow pace of life. I used to just keep going, and going, and going.”
Christel, thanks for the lovely chat, but how do you actually prefer to eat an oyster?
Christel: “To be completely honest, I don’t eat oysters at all. But I do love good food. As I mentioned, I’m all about the little gems. That’s my connection to oysters. Despite this confession, can I still come along next time?” she asks with a laugh.
Lei: “Sure, we’ll just say we ate a camouflaged oyster!” And that’s where the strength of their partnership lies. It’s original, and nothing is too crazy! They’ve really learned to read and write together.
Christel de Laat is a comedian from Schijndel, Brabant (born 1966). In 1996, she began her career as the character Nel at a Brabant-based party event, where she became the face of the show for four years. During that time, she also hosted a television program called Da's Nel. In addition, she appeared in the television series Toren C and had small guest roles in several films, including New Kids Nitro. In 2014, she performed in Karin Bruers’ Warme Winter Show at 35 theaters in Brabant. The shows were virtually sold out. She decided she also wanted to perform in theaters outside of Brabant. Her third solo theater tour is now a reality. Want more information? Visit www.christeldelaat.nl
Thanks to the hospitality of Tribeca restaurant in Heeze.
