- Jef Contrijn was born on August 21, 1902 in Mechelen, Flanders, Belgium. He was a writer, known for De vrouwen naar het graf (1972). He died on August 11, 1991 in Mechelen, Flanders, Belgium.
- His cultural activities in the occupied country landed him in jail for some time after the war and he lost his position at the public broadcaster. He obtained rehabilitation at the Court of Appeal in Brussels on May 25, 1956.
- He started the School for Puppetry in 1970 and laid the foundation for a puppet theater archive, collection and museum.
- Shortly after the German invasion, Contrijn became an employee of the radio station: Zender Brussel, which was controlled by the occupying forces. He came into contact with Fritz Wortelmann, a German soldier who ended up in Belgium and was the former publisher of the trade magazine "Der Puppenspieler", which was banned when the Nazis rose in 1933. With Wortelmann he founded the Flemish Association of Puppeteers in 1942, with 65 affiliated associations. As leader of that association, Contrijn also became censor for the German occupier.
- He was an actor, but above all secretary of the famous Vlaams Volkstoneel. He later became director of the Flemish television: NIR.
- Jef Contrijn was one of the most important Flemish promoters and practitioners of puppet and figure theatre.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
