Media reactions to Pretpark Hennie

Two years ago, in May 2024, I took the plunge and arranged to meet Hennie van der Most at the amusement park he was building in Rotterdam. I could never have imagined then how this story would end. From the very first moment, I was struck by Hennie’s enormous passion, imagination and tireless drive to create something unique. Together with the Captains team and director Max Ploeg, I hoped to make a film about the opening of his park. But as time passed, it became clear that dream was moving further out of reach. The site is no longer in his hands, and his company has also gone bankrupt. That is precisely why I hope the responses to the film show him how many people admire his life’s work, creativity and perseverance. Since last Wednesday, viewers across the Netherlands have been able to watch our film ‘Pretpark Hennie’ on BNNVARA and TV Rijnmond. The responses from the press and the public have been extraordinary. Almost every review sees the documentary as more than a story about a failed amusement park: it is a tragic, human portrait of an entrepreneur who kept dreaming against the odds. De Telegraaf describes the documentary as “fascinating tragedy” and says the final scene “hits hard”. The film is also described as one of the most fascinating documentaries of the year. De Volkskrant writes that “viewers quickly see that amusement park Rivoli will never open, but Hennie van der Most keeps daydreaming”, calling the film “funny, moving and full of beautiful scenes”. According to the newspaper, it could even become a cult film. Trouw compares the project to Hennie’s “Waterloo” and describes how the images ultimately tell the story of the rise and fall of an entrepreneur once known as visionary and fearless. Other articles describe him as a remarkable entrepreneur who saw opportunities where others saw only problems. Personally, I am especially proud that we made a film that observes without judgement. A film that leaves room for both admiration and sadness. About dreams, stubbornness, entrepreneurship, the passing of time and the thin line between vision and obsession. Thank you to everyone who watched and sent such thoughtful responses. Watch the film on NPO START.