Because of the Cats

Four young lads driving a Polski Fiat 127p on the beach of Noordwijk aan Zee, North Holland.

It may not be the exact same location but it must be around this spot. (FvdB)

From the beach they are driving to the Koningin Astrid Boulevard near number 57, Noordwijk aan Zee, North Holland.

A new parking area has since been created. (FvdB)

Koningin Astrid Boulevard going from 57 to 54, Noordwijk aan Zee. No: 54 is the house used in 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold'.

A few new houses here and there but basically the same after almost 50 years. (FvdB)

Two other fellows on their mopeds arrive at a location where they want to steal a Jaguar. They help an elderly couple out of their car but they don’t lock it for them. Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre) in Utrecht viewed from its northern end.

A clearer foreground provides a better overall view of the location.

It turns out that all six youngsters are involved with the theft of the expensive car. All together they drive to Amsterdam. Highway A4 seen from the overpass at Bennebroekerweg, Rijsenhout, North Holland.

Because of the trees in the background in the screen capture Frank was able to identify the location. This is the main highway between Amsterdam and The Hague. (FvdB)

Van der Valk (Bryan Marshall) visits the couple who's home was raided to investigate the rape of the wife. Apollolaan 191 in Amsterdam.

Visiting the location there is only the one block with such an entrance.

The next morning the police find the stolen Jaguar at Amstel Station, Amsterdam.

Although the location has been reconstructed completely in the recent years this particular part looks almost the same after all the years.

Van der Valk is in the city at an unidentified location.

A train conductor (Helmert Woudenberg) tells Van der Valk that last night he saw six suspicious young men stepping out of the Jaguar and then taking the train to Bloemendaal. Beach of Noordwijk aan Zee.

It is clear that Frank had better weather than Van der Valk. (FvdB)

The six are nowhere to be seen. Arjan Doolaar has identified this as Vuurtorenplein, Noordwijk aan Zee near the fountain Janus.

When Frank was in the neighbourhood of Noordwijk aan Zee he couldn’t resist taking this now shot in the center of this town. (FVDB)

Van der Valk eats in a cafeteria. The Vuurtorenplein used to have several shops. De Pool was possibly at that time at nr. 16 or at nr. 31. The buildings are not used anymore, but continue to rot away until the proprietor can achieve his price.

What was most likely No 31, the location of the café.

In Bloemendaal, North Holland, Van der Valk starts his investigations. Unknown location.

The progress of his journey is supported by the various properties that he passes. Unknown location and not necessarily associated with the other parts of his journey in terms of continuity.

And then. Unknown location and not necessarily associated with the other parts of his journey in terms of continuity.

We pick up with him again in an unidentified lane. Not necessarily associated with the other parts of his journey in terms of continuity.

Van der Valk visits a café in Bloemendaal where he sees Feodora (Alexandra Stewart). The bartender tells him that she will be back the next evening. The Hotel/restaurant Hof van Holland, Voorstraat 79 in Noordwijk. It still exists in a recognisable shape although some changes have been made.

The windows and the street are still the same, the interior is still somewhat old-fashioned.

'The Six' young men, Michel Carnavalet (Mike Eschauzier), Erik Mierle (Anthony Allen), Bert wagenvald (Bert Lippens), Wim Brinkman (erik J. Meijer) and Frank Kieft (Christopher Blake) practice shooting in the dunes watched by Kees van Sonneveld (Nicholas Hoye). This was shot at the dunes of what is nowadays Natuurreservaat Kennemerduinen, North Holland. Location codes are Latitude: 52:24:53.168398999 Longitude:4:33:14,0187589999.

The dunes today.

Van der Valk passes by a location where an accident has just happened. Steve Randall has found it to be Parkweg 16, Bloemendaal.

Best possible angle without trespass.

Van der Valk finds himself at another restaurant. Judging from Fons Rademakers’s Archive it is highly likely that this was Sensei Osawa Restaurant at Keizersgracht 792 in Amsterdam run by Mike Lorsch. Nowadays the building is a residential house.

Van der Valk sees the beautiful woman that he had seen before in the bar in Bloemendaal. Intersection Beethovenstraat and Evert Cornelisstraat, Amsterdam.

This was a piece of cake for Frank to identify, he must have passed the location so many times by bike since his early childhood. (FvdB)

He steps out of his Renault 16 and walks towards her. It turns out that she is an expensive call girl named Feodora. Beethovenstraat 178, Amsterdam.

Another proof that trees do get thicker when time passes by.

Van der Valk has sex with Feodora in her apartment. In the morning he leaves the house via the spiral staicase. A policeman of Bloemendaal awaits him. This scene was shot in the neighbourhood of Havikshorst 2 Amsterdam-Buitenveldert.

The building in the background had undergone some changes but was still recognisable as the one in the capture.

He talks with the local police officer Marcousis (Guido de Moor) in his office. This location was next to the Vuurtorenplein. It probably had the address Vuurtorenplein 43. The property background property has been demolished, see Header Section.

Yes, there is certainly no sign of it now.

Despite the rain, he later meets at a swimming pool with a youth (Frans Mulder) who gives him information. Noorderbad in Zandvoort, North Holland, later known as 'Riche and Bernie’s Beach Club' at Boulevard Barnaart 65 or 67 in Zandvoort.

Being the Summer, Jan thought it a good idea to visit and capture comparative shots of the location in 'operational mode', particularly given the substantial changes that have taken place and make it difficult to equate a comparison. The best shot is not on the staircase itself but just right from it.

Later in the day Van der Valk goes to the café of Jansen (Sebastian Graham Jones) that he runs for youths. Part of Noorderbad / Riche / Bernie’s Beach Club, it was a brick building just below the level of the dunes next to the sea. This building was highly likely used for these scenes. The building was lost by a fire in December 2024.

Due to the fire 24 December 2024 Jan found the ruinous building had now been demolished; a future parking place is now available. At the end the curve in the fence of the terrace can still be seen, but using cheaper plastic.

After spending another night with Feodora he returns to the beach where, in the club, he hears about a group that calls itself ‘The Ravens’, a mysterious group of young people. Noorderbad / Riche / Bernie's Beach Club given the lower level beach terrace. In 2025 the beach club including the ruins of the café and terrace are owned by Prince Bernhard Junior, son of Dutch Princess Margriet, the aunt of our King Willem-Alexander.

Jan had no option but to accept that the fence dominates the same scene now.

He observes some members playing tennis. Here he sees Michel Carnavalet (Michael Eschauzier) and Erik Mierle. He also observes Bert Wagenveld, Wim Brinkman (Erik Meyer), Frank Kieft and Kees van Sonneveld. All members of the 'Ravens'. Observing them, he has a feeling that these are the ones he is looking for. L.T.C. Festina in the Vondelpark, Amsterdam. Jan has been told that the camera was set up on a bench between tennis courts 8 and 7 with court 7 in the background.

Difficult to replicate the exact camera location.

At Bert Wagenveld parents house Van der Valk is able to watch all the youths. Nicolaas Beetslaan 2 in Aerdenhout, North Holland.

A wider view of the house standing behind Van de Valk.

Later he watches Frank Kieft while he shops in a supermarket. Binnenhof 61 Amstelveen where an AH supermarket existed. The supermarket and its surroundings have been extensively renovated during the years since 1973. The buildings have been changed unrecognizably. The AH is at 49 today.

Returning to the swimming pool he sees Kees van Sonneveld and Hannie Troost (Sylvia Kristel) while they play. As Capture 24, Noorderbad in Zandvoort, later known as 'Riche and Bernie’s Beach Club' at Boulevard Barnaart 65 or 67 in Zandvoort.

The original pool has been subdivided into two smaller pools. This Jan says, is the pool where Van der Valk would have sat. It is the pool that is closest to the entrance. Van der Valk would have been sitting right-under in the pool. Notice the remnants of the stairs where the actor in Capture 24 would have been?

In the dark, Van der Valk leaves Feodora’s apartment only to be attacked by a bird. As with Capture 22 the neighbourhood of Havikshorst 65 Amsterdam-Buitenveldert.

The same staircase as Capture 22.

That evening the six break into a house and demolish it completely. A bungalow next to the lighthouse on the Vuurtorenplein. The bungalow had a sharp high roof and has since been demolished. See Header Section.

Kees van Sonneveld gets a present from his mother, diving-equipment. Unknown location.

The next day, Van der Valk returns to the tennis club to have a chat with Marcousis. L.T.C. Festina in the Vondelpark, Amsterdam as Capture 27.

The windows in the clubhouse were changed after 1973.

Wim Brinkman (Erik J. Meijer) is told by his father (Martin van Zundert) that Van der Valk is on his way to ask Wim some questions. Messchaertlaan 3 Huizen, North Holland.

Meanwhile Van der Valk's first visit is to Frank Kieft and his father. Prins Frederiklaan 20 Wassenaar.

And then Erik Mierle. Unknown location.

Followed by Michel Carnavalet and his father. Unknown location, although probably Schulp 3 or Schulp 5 in Amstelveen, North Holland.

Jansen visits Feodora while she has a leisure moment in nature. Unknown location.

The girls (The Cats) are on their bikes. Unknown location.

Van der Valk meets with Jansen at his restaurant. Filmed at the hotel/restaurant Beukenhof (Terweeweg 4 in Oegstgeest, South Holland).

The restaurant has been changed a little but the tree, the Beuk, is still there.

The boys think Kees van Sonneveld talked too much with Van der Valk so chase him into the dunes. The dunes of what is now Natuurreservaat Kennemerduinen, North Holland. Location codes are Latitude: 52:24:54.677878999 Longitude:4:33:30,9902389999. The dunes are no longer used for extracting water for Amsterdam.

In the 50 years since the film was made the sandy roads have been paved with asphalt. The curve in the road remains recognizable. Water in the dunes prevented access to the exact location where the camera had been.

The chase continues. Location codes are Latitude: 52:24:58.406038999 Longitude:4:33:29,4443990000

The same location at ground level, but now with asphalt and genuine traffic.

Hannie Troost and Kees van Sonneveld try to convince Jansen that he did not betray them. Bekslaan 13 Vogelenzang, North Holland, a private residence.

Feodora drives to Jansen’s house when she finds her cats killed. Erik Mierle stops her from entering. Bekslaan 13 Vogelenzang. The building is private. Note: Interior shots were studio based.

Kees manages to escape from his assailants and goes to one of the girls from 'The Cats' , Hannie Troost, and asks for help. The next day, a child playing on the beach finds a drowned man, it is Kees. Van der Valk thinks it is murder. Beach of Zandvoort

Frank had to take this location slightly from a different angle because of all the beach houses. We forgive him for that. (FvdB)

Van der Valk returns to the beach club where 'The Ravens' are and demonstrates to all of them how one should dive. This pool is the Noorderbad in Zandvoort and was built in 1931 as a 50m pool, but was rebuilt as a 25m pool after war damage. Later known as 'Riche and Bernie’s Beach Club' at Boulevard Barnaart 65 or 67 in Zandvoort.

This is a view from the staircase as it was then in the Capture towards sea. Jan provides this shot from the parking where the building used to be until December 2024. Many benches to relax, hardly no water visible.

A repeat of the previous Capture to enable a secondary comparative shot in view of the significant changes that have been made.

Jan took this shot of the second pool in the same direction as the previous comparative.

When he comes out of the water he speaks loudly with an inspector about how good Kees could swim. 'The Ravens’ just look at him but later that day all of them are arrested. Hannie confesses that Kees was murdered during a night swim by 'The Cats' on command from 'The Ravens’ and Jansen.

This is the side of the pool where Van der Valk is preparing to take a dive. As can be seen, part of the pool is covered, where there were lockers in the past, there is now a restaurant. However, looking in the direction of the entrance, the sea is to the left, in front is the pool with the remains of the staircase and behind is the second small pool.

Wim Brinkman is arrested. Unknown location.

Bert Wagenveld is arrested. Nicolaas Beetslaan 2 in Aerdenhout.

A wider shot to compensate for the difficulty in achieving the exact angle.

Similarly, Frank Kieft is arrested. Van Alphenlaan 5 in Aerdenhout.

Best possible shot given the closed gates.

Michel Carnavalet (Michael Eschauzier) taken to the police station. Parkweg 16, Bloemendaal in the back ground.

Also seen in Capture 18.

The boys meet up at the police station. Head Office of Police, Gerard Doulaan 2 in the city of Amstelveen, North Holland.

The staircase is not directly in the entrance but near the inner courtyard of the building.

After a job well done, Van der Valk gets a lift home. Unknown location.

Later Van der Valk visits Mierle Snr when his son Erik is temporarily released. Feodora is also present. Unknown location.

Erik Mierle explains how Jansen was able to get the boys and girls to do what he wanted, it involved training. Unknown location, but either Nauwelaers d’Age, Bloemendaalseweg 152 Overveen, North Holland (fully redeveloped) or Katholieke Akademie Lichamelijke opvoeding Goirseweg 46 in Tilburg, North Brabant. (Demolished).

Erik Mierle's story continues but the location is not necessarily that of the previous capture. Whilst an unknown location this could also be either Nauwelaers d’Age, Bloemendaalseweg 152 Overveen (fully redeveloped) or Katholieke Akademie Lichamelijke opvoeding Goirseweg 46 in Tilburg (Demolished).

Erik is released so that Van der Valk can interrogate him together with his parents. It turns out that they formed a secret society who have revolutionary ideas. The following day Van der Valk visits the location where the rituals took place. Walking through these fields to get to the property at Bekslaan 13 Vogelenzang, entering from the back.

Here Van der Valk meets Jansen, the man behind the scenes who coordinated everything, and gets into a fight with him. All of a sudden a gunshot is heard and the leader is hit by the bullet. It turns out that it was Feodora who fired the shot. Later a raven flies into the room and sits next to the leader.