Wat Zien Ik
Date: 1971
Director: Paul Vetrhoeven
Production Company: Rob Houwer Productions
Stars: Ronnie Bierman, Sylvia de Leur, Piet Römer, Bernard Droog, Eric van Ingen, Wim Kouwenhoven, Jules Hamel, Helmert Woudenberg
Location(s): Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Eindhoven
Region(s): Netherlands
Storyline:
Greet and Nel are two female prostitute friends living on different floors of the same canal house at the Prinsengracht, Amsterdam in the 1970’s. They have to make a choice between love and work.
Additional Information:
Screen captures and uncredited “now” shots by Frank van den Berg uploaded by Richard Lovejoy.
The Dutch title ‘Wat Zien Ik’ is Amsterdam slang expressing a sensation of mild surprise, roughly translating to ‘What have we here?.
This wasn’t director Paul Verhoeven’s and screenwriter Gerard Soeteman’s preferred project to work on. Verhoeven had hoped to do an adaptation of a major Dutch literary work, rather than an anecdotal novel about prostitution. However, Soeteman convinced him that they could make something acceptable out of it, and that they simply needed the work. Soeteman’s instincts turned out correct, as the movie became a success, and it opened the way for their next project, the critically acclaimed and commercially successful literary adaptation Turks Fruit (1973) also on Reelstreets.
The film was also known as Any Special Way, Diary of a Hooker, Was Sehe ich.
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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 17 Feb 2022
We see a man (Helmert Woudenberg) arrive by plane at the airport and he rushes in a taxi to Amsterdam. Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam
Although much has changed over the years on the Schiphol airport, from this point of view it still looks like the early 70’s
- Capture 2
- 17 Feb 2022
With high speed the taxi drives at Museumplein, Amsterdam
The road turned into grass and an ugly building appeared on the left. This is part of the Van Gogh museum.
- Capture 3
- 17 Feb 2022
The taxi drives too fast over the intersection Prinsengracht and Reguliersgracht, Amsterdam
Can someone please remove these boats so Frank can take a descent photo?
- Capture 4
- 17 Feb 2022
With squeaky brakes, the taxi reaches its final destination. It turns out he is a customer of the prostitute Greet (Ronnie Bierman) Prinsengracht 778, Amsterdam
Not much has changed here over the years.
- Capture 5
- 17 Feb 2022
Later that day Greet is driving around in her beautiful Fiat 850 Spider through Amsterdam. Intersection Keizersgracht and Leidsestraat, Amsterdam
Back in the '70's a road like any other road, but these days it is a pedestrian zone.
- Capture 6
- 17 Feb 2022
Greet made a lot of money and she is going shopping. Rokin in the direction of the Dam, Amsterdam
It looks like that in the 70’s it was much more crowded here.
- Capture 7
- 17 Feb 2022
Later that evening another customer (Ton Lensink) arrives in a Rolls Royce and pays a visit to Greet while Nel (Sylvia de Leur) has a fight with her pimp Sjaak (Jules Hamel). Prinsengracht 778, Amsterdam
Day and night.
- Capture 8
- 17 Feb 2022
In a nightclub Greet meets Piet (Piet Römer) and they feel attracted to each other and the next day Greet and Piet go out in the city. Prinsengracht 778, Amsterdam
Now this was confusing for Frank; Where did the stairs go? It must have been removed because for sure this is the right location but there is no stairs anywhere.
- Capture 9
- 17 Feb 2022
As usual Greet and Nel go shopping. Intersection Keizersgracht and Leliegracht, Amsterdam
Even the forbidden to drive sign is still there.
- Capture 10
- 17 Feb 2022
Sjaak arrives at the whorehouse and because of that Greet and Nel take a walk. Prinsengracht and looking at Amstelveld, Amsterdam
It is obvious that there were less trees in 1971.
- Capture 11
- 17 Feb 2022
Greet and Nel have a good time hopping through the park. Fredericksplein, Amsterdam
The park is still there and looks almost the same as 50 years ago.
- Capture 12
- 17 Feb 2022
A customer (Jan Verhoeven) is crazy about chickens and brings a trunk full of feathers. After he gets thrown out of the building they throw all the feathers outside. Prinsengracht 778, Amsterdam
The feathers were finally gone when Frank arrived.
- Capture 13
- 17 Feb 2022
Greet and Nel are doing what they are good at: shopping. Plein 1960, Amstelveen
This mall in Amstelveen used to be called: Plein 1960. Nowadays it is called Stadshart (City heart).
- Capture 14
- 17 Feb 2022
Here they meet a market vendor named Bob de Vries (Bernard Droog) who instantly falls for Nel and the feeling is mutual. Plein 1960, Amstelveen
The current indoor mall used to be an open air mall in the 70’s. The only thing that can still be recognised is the balcony on top left outside.
- Capture 15
- 'Now' required
Greet meets Bob and shows him the way to Nel, and to her surprise he asks Nel to marry him so that she can come over to the city of Eindhoven to live with him. Unknown location.
- Capture 16
- 17 Feb 2022
Nel is having another fight with her pimp Sjaak and this time he almost kills her. Reasons enough for Nel to go to Bob in Eindhoven. Prinsengracht 778, Amsterdam
We simply hope these plant pots on the first floor will not fall down!
- Capture 17
- 'Now' required
Nel packs her suitcase and takes the train to Eindhoven. Central Station, Amsterdam
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
Weeks later Greet decides to pay a visit to Nel to see how’s she is doing. Eindhoven, in the background can be seen the Sint Catherinachurch.
- Capture 19
- 'Now' required
Nel now lives in a brand new neighbourhood in Eindhoven and Bob shows Greet a wedding ring that he bought for Nel and he asks Greet if she will help her to convince that she should marry him. Unknown location.
- Capture 20
- 'Now' required
Greet invited Nel to go to Amsterdam for a couple of days and Nel and Greet drive back to Amsterdam. Once in Amsterdam they start to party but all of a sudden Nel collapses and it turns out that she is pregnant. Unknown location.
- Capture 21
- 17 Feb 2022
Bob is driving to Amsterdam to marry Nel. Prinsengracht 778, Amsterdam and looking at Amstelveld, Amsterdam
No groom when Frank was there. He looked but couldn’t find him.
- Capture 22
- 17 Feb 2022
While they drive to the city hall for the ceremony they spot Sjaak who is not amused to see that Nel will marry someone else. Fredericksplein and looking in the direction of Weteringschans, Amsterdam
When you look at the huge tree, you have got to come to the conclusion that some trees do grow fast!
- Capture 23
- 17 Feb 2022
Sjaak jumps in his car and follows the bride-to-be. Fredericksplein and looking in the direction of Weteringschans, Amsterdam
No blue oldsmobile here.
- Capture 24
- 17 Feb 2022
At he city hall Greet, Bob and Nel arrive and all the other prostitutes welcome them. Oudezijds Voorburgwal 195, Amsterdam
The funny thing is, that it is indeed the (former) city hall of Amsterdam. The outside can be seen in the movie: 'Turks Fruit', Capture 8.
- Capture 25
- 17 Feb 2022
All the girls sing that they are girls of the clothing workshop instead of what they really are, prostitutes. Bob has no clue. Sjaak arrives at high speed at the city hall and he is angry but all the girls stop him and tie him up. Oudezijds Voorburgwal 195, Amsterdam
Looking closely at the background can be seen ‘Stadhuis Garage’ (City hall garage). Now that location can also be seen in the movie: 'Puppet on a Chain', Capture 11.
- Capture 26
- 17 Feb 2022
Nel and Greet have an emotional goodbye and then Nel and Bob take a taxi to Eindhoven and a complete new kind of life will start for Nel. For all a moment of joy and sadness at the same time. Prinsengracht 778, Amsterdam
No farewell, no prostitutes, no party when Frank was here on a quiet Sunday morning.