Mickey Mouse in The Netherlands, 1931

[Daniel van Eijmeren]

DAVID GERSTEIN to ERIK, 31-03-2003:

> The book _Im Reiche der Micky Maus_ (1991), by Mario Dreßler and 
> J. P. Storm, is still available from some Internet booksellers. It 
> explains in detail how a German newspaper published the Mickey strip 
> under license for some while in the early 1930s, and even had their 
> own cartoonist do a Mickey story of their own for a special holiday 
> number. This story, a one- or two-pager as I recall, is reprinted in
> full in the book.
> _Im Reiche_ was originally tied to a 1991 exhibition in Berlin, but
> it remains a great reference book on its own. The early 1930s Mickey
> phenomenon as experienced in Europe is a woefully understudied topic, 
> I think: I know only one similar book, Lasse Åberg's _Musseum_, that 
> tackles the subject; in this case, from a Swedish perspective. 
> I imagine that Italy in particular, home of ten gazillion Disney 
> reference books, must have something similar, but if so I haven't 
> seen it...

The December 24, 1931 Christmas-attachment of Dutch newspaper 
"Leidsch Dagblad" shows a page-full non-Disney illustration which 
includes a running Mickey Mouse as detail. The illustration is signed 
by Herman Nijgh, who studied in Berlin, Germany. Possibly, he had 
Berlin's famous KaDeWe department store in mind.

This information is taken from a reprint in December 22, 2001 Christmas-
attachment of Dutch newspaper "Haarlems Dagblad", "Dagblad van Almere" 
and possibly also "IJmuider Courant". It is part of a memorial by the 
artist's son, Lennaert Nijgh.

Mentioning the artist's son Lennaert Nijgh may not mean anything for 
non-Dutch people, but he is one of the most respected (song)writers here. 
He wrote lyrics for Dutch performers like Boudewijn de Groot ("Het land 
van Maas en Waal") en Rob de Nijs ("Malle Babbe"). Unfortunately, he died 
last year.

I don't know if this 1931 Dutch illustration may be of any importance in 
the European/Dutch Disney history, but I was surprised to see this early 
Mickey appearance. The artist must have seen Mickey Mouse before, at least.
And if he didn't see Mickey in a Dutch publication, then maybe his time in 
Berlin may have been of influence? I'm very curious.

BTW. I have the reprint, but my scanner has flaws in its picture-quality.

--- Daniël

"Onder de groene hemel, in de blauwe zon
speelt het blikken harmonieorkest
in een grote regenton..."