Dutch cabaret star Youp van ‘t Hek has ended his career with a performance at a chock-full Carré theatre in Amsterdam, saying he had taken the decision in “full control of his faculties” and that “there is, after all, a date on a pack of milk”. 

The 70-year-old’s last show was his 276th solo performance. During his career he has put together 28 different shows, including 10 New Year “conferences”, a traditional part of the December 31 celebrations in the Netherlands. 

He began his farewell tour, entitled “The last round” in October 2021, but coronavirus measures led to some shows being cancelled and he was unable to end on his birthday on February 28 as planned. 

Van ‘t Hek is regarded as one of the last of the old guard of Dutch cabaret performers – a mix of comedy, song and theatre commenting on the state of the world, often by telling one long story with numerous asides.

In 2020, his famous song about a boy whose pet rabbit is served up for Christmas dinner was covered by American singer Todd Rundgren.

Van ‘t Hek wrote Flappie 40 years ago for his sister’s cabaret group and went on to include it in his own cabaret show when it became a huge and enduring success. ‘It has not left the radio since’, the comedian told the Volkskrant.

Dutch News carried translated versions of Van ‘t Heck’s columns for the Volkskrant newspaper in 2012.