Op zoek naar Mary Poppins (Looking for Mary Poppins) is a 2009 talent show-themed television series produced by the AVRO in the Netherlands and broadcast on AVRO. It premiered in late August 2009. The show searched for a new, unknown lead to play Mary Poppins in a Dutch production of the Dutch musical Mary Poppins.
It was the third Dutch talent show to be produced by the AVRO/Willem Nijholt, after Op zoek naar Evita which aired in 2007 and Op zoek naar Joseph which aired in 2008. Op zoek naar Zorro aired in late 2010, Op zoek naar Annie aired in 2012, Op zoek naar Maria aired in 2021 and Op zoek naar Danny & Sandy aired in late 2022.
The show was hosted by Frits Sissing with Willem Nijholt again overseeing the programme.
In the final, on 24 January, Noortje Herlaar was announced as the winner of the series.
Format
Expert panel To assess and train the potential Marys and judge them during the live shows, an expert panel was chosen. The panel included: Willem Nijholt – actor and singer. Thom Hoffman – actor and photographer Erwin van Lambaart – managing director of Joop van den Ende theatre Pia Douwes – musical theatre actress who is very successful in Europe
Weekly format The show opens with a group number by the Marys. Each Mary then performs a song, with feedback provided by the panel and Nijholt. The public votes for the contestant they wish to keep in the show. After the results of the public vote have been processed, the two Marys with the fewest votes enter a "sing-off". Nijholt then chooses which Mary from the "sing-off" to save each week. The eliminated Mary has her umbrella and coat stripped off by the surviving Mary and then takes the lead in their sing-out medley of "Een klein schepje suiker (A Spoonful of Sugar)" and "Alles kan (Anything Can Happen)".
Finalists Eleven potential Marys made it through the audition rounds and performed during the live shows.
Finalist Age & Date of Birth * Coat colour Status Eefje Thomassen 27 (6 June 1982) Light pink Eliminated 1st in week 1 Suzanne de Heij 28 (27 March 1981) Lilac Eliminated 2nd in week 1 Bente van den Brand 26 (8 November 1983) Orange Eliminated 3rd in week 2 Angenita van der Mee 22 (26 April 1987) Dark pink Eliminated 4th in week 3 Simone Breukink 22 (9 November 1987) Lime green Eliminated 5th in week 4 Carmen Danen 21 (9 April 1988) Red Eliminated 6th in week 5 Willemijn de Vries 24 (28 July 1985) Blue Eliminated 7th in week 6 Irene Borst 26 (7 November 1983) Green Eliminated 8th in week 7 Rosalie de Jong 24 (15 March 1985) Purple Third place Sophie Veldhuizen 26 (6 March 1983) Pale Blue Second place Noortje Herlaar 24 (22 April 1985) Yellow Winner * at the start of the contest
Results summary + Results summary PlaceContestantWeek 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6Week 7Final Part 1 Part 2 1 NoortjeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe Winner 2SophieSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe Second place 3RosalieSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe Bottom 2 Third place 4IreneSafe Bottom 2Safe Bottom 2 Safe Safe Bottom 2 Eliminated Eliminated 5Willemijn Safe Safe Safe Safe Bottom 2 Bottom 2 Eliminated Eliminated 6Carmen Bottom 2 Safe Safe Safe Safe Eliminated Eliminated 7Simone Safe Safe Safe Safe Eliminated Eliminated 8Angenita Safe Safe Bottom 2 Eliminated Eliminated 9Bente Safe Safe Eliminated Eliminated 10SuzanneSafe Eliminated Eliminated 11Eefje Eliminated Eliminated
Live shows
Week one (6 December) Eefje was the first Mary to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday followed by Suzanne who was the second Mary to be eliminated.
The show performances were:
Group performances: Opening number: "Hier ben ik dan (I Just Arrived)" with Freek Bartels from the musical Copacabana Group number 1: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" Group number 2: "Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder" & "We zullen doorgaan" as a tribute to the late Ramses Shaffy Individual performances (in order of performance): Noortje & Carmen: "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" by Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand Bente & Simone: "Ik ken hem te goed (I Know Him So Well)" from the musical Chess Eefje, Sophie & Suzanne: "Ik ben een vrouw (I Am a Woman)" from the musical 3 Musketiers Angenita & Willemijn: "Pak maar m‘n hand" by Nick & Simon Irene & Rosalie: "Tell Him" by Céline Dion & Barbra Streisand Jury's favourite Mary Poppins: Erwin van Lambaart: Sophie Pia Douwes: Irene Thom Hoffman: Noortje Sing-off: In the first show, Eefje and Carmen were in the sing-off. They sang "Zonder jou" (by Simone Kleinsma & Paul de Leeuw). Willem Nijholt chose to save Carmen and vote Eefje off. In the second show, the bottom two were Irene and Suzanne. In the sing-off, they sang "Laat me niet alleen (Ne me quitte pas)" (by Jacques Brel). Irene was saved by Nijholt and Suzanne was voted off.
Week two (13 December) Bente was the third Mary to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday
The show performances were: Group performances: Opening number: "We're All in This Together" from the film High School Musical Group number 1: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" Group number 2: "Starmaker" from the film Fame Individual performances (in order of performance): Willemijn: "Ik voel me heerlijk (I Feel Pretty)" from the musical West Side Story Carmen: "My All" by Mariah Carey Sophie: "The Boy Does Nothing" by Alesha Dixon Irene: "Denk aan mij (Think of Me)" from the musical The Phantom of the Opera Rosalie: "Nu dat jij er bent" by Trijntje Oosterhuis Angenita: "Dingen waar ik zo van hou (My Favorite Things)" from the musical The Sound of Music Simone: "Geef me liefde (Love Me Tender)" from the musical All Shook Up Bente: "Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry Noortje: "Tot jij mijn liefde voelt (To Make You Feel My Love)" by Van Dik Hout Jury's favourite Mary Poppins: Erwin van Lambaart: Simone Pia Douwes: Simone Thom Hoffman: Noortje Sing-off: Bente and Angenita were in the sing-off. They sang "Er is een plaats voor ons (Somewhere)" (from the musical West Side Story). Willem Nijholt chose to save Angenita and vote Bente off.
Week three (20 December) Angenita was the fourth Mary to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday.
The show performances were: Group performances: Opening number: "Sleigh Ride" by The Ronettes Group number 1: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" Group number 2: "I Will Follow Him" from the film Sister Act Individual performances (in order of performance): Irene: "Why Couldn't It Be Christmas Every Day?" by Bianca Ryan Sophie: "Wat is mijn hart" by Marco Borsato Angenita: "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Mariah Carey Noortje: "Kom Terug En Dans Met Mij (I Could Have Danced All Night)" from the musical My Fair Lady Willemijn: "Winter Wonderland" by Amy Grant Rosalie: "Cheek to Cheek" by Jane Monheit Carmen: "Dat zegt het hart (A Change in Me)" from the musical Beauty and the Beast Simone: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey Jury's favourite Mary Poppins: Erwin van Lambaart: Simone Pia Douwes: Rosalie Thom Hoffman: Sophie Sing-off: Irene and Angenita were in the sing-off. They sang "Nog een kans" (by Vera Mann). Willem Nijholt chose to save Irene and vote Angenita off.
Week four (27 December) Simone was the fifth Mary to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday
The show performances were: Group performances: Opening number: "Come Fly with Me" by Frank Sinatra Group number 1: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" Group number 2: "Love Me Just a Little Bit More" by Dolly Dots Individual performances (in order of performance): Simone: "Ik leef niet meer voor jou" by Marco Borsato Irene: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 Noortje: "I'm the Greatest Star" from the musical Funny Girl Rosalie: "Appels op de tafelsprei" by Toon Hermans & Mathilde Santing Willemijn: "Hij kan niet zonder mij (As Long as He Needs Me)" from the musical Oliver! Sophie: "Fields of Gold" by Eva Cassidy Carmen: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from the film Moulin Rouge Jury's favourite Mary Poppins: Erwin van Lambaart: Rosalie Pia Douwes: Noortje Thom Hoffman: Irene Sing-off: Willemijn and Simone were in the sing-off. They sang "Telkens weer" (by Willeke Alberti). Willem Nijholt chose to save Willemijn and vote Simone off.
Week five (3 January) Carmen was the sixth Mary to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday.
The show performances were: Group performances: Opening number: "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé Knowles Group number 1: "A Spoonful of Sugar" featuring the children, who will play as Jane and Michael Banks in the upcoming Dutch production of Mary Poppins Group number 2: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" Group number 3: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" from the musical Jersey Boys Individual performances (in order of performance): Sophie: "Als ze mij zo zouwen zien" ("If My Friends Could See Me Now") from the musical Sweet Charity Noortje: "Almaz" (Dutch version) by Karin Bloemen Rosalie: "Het gaat beginnen" ("Something's Coming") from the musical West Side Story Willemijn: "Don't Rain on My Parade" from the musical Funny Girl Carmen: "Wacht nog wat" by Paul de Leeuw Irene: "Meidengrut" ("Little Girls") from the musical Annie Jury's favourite Mary Poppins: Erwin van Lambaart: Noortje Pia Douwes: Irene (but revealed that her other favourite was Noortje, but was positive about Irene) Thom Hoffman: Sophie Sing-off: Carmen and Willemijn were in the sing-off. They sang "Laat het op een zondag zijn (Tell Me on a Sunday)" (from the musical of the same name). Willem Nijholt chose to save Willemijn and vote Carmen off.
Week six (10 January) Week six was the quarter-final stage of the series.
Willemijn was the seventh Mary to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday.
The show performances were: Group performances: Opening number: "Fame" from the film Fame Group number 1: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" Group number 2: "I Say A Little Prayer" by Aretha Franklin Individual performances (in order of performance): Round 1: Willemijn: "Lief zijn voor mamma (When You're Good to Mama)" from the musical Chicago Rosalie: "Zeur niet" from the musical Heerlijk duurt het langst Irene: "Vincent (Dutch version)" by Don McLean Sophie: "De nachten in Parijs" from the musical Irma la Douce Noortje: "Zin in een feessie" from the musical De Stunt Round 2: Willemijn: "I Will Survive" from the musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert – the Musical Rosalie: "Mijn pakkie an (My Strongest Suit)" from the musical Aida Irene: "Hopeloos verlang ik naar jou (Hopelessy Devoted to You)" from the musical Grease Sophie: "Get Happy" by Judy Garland Noortje: "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin Jury's favourite Mary Poppins: Erwin van Lambaart: Noortje Pia Douwes: Rosalie Thom Hoffman: Noortje Sing-off: Willemijn and Irene were in the sing-off. They sang "Vluchten kan niet meer" (from the musical En nu naar bed). Willem Nijholt chose to save Irene and vote Willemijn off.
Week seven (17 January) Week seven was the semi-final stage of the series.
Irene was the eighth Mary to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday – the last time Nijholt has any say in the vote.
The show performances were: Group performances: Opening number: "Could It Be Magic" by Barry Manilow Group number 1: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" Group number 2: "Chim Chim Cher-ee (Rooftop Duet)" featuring William Spaaij, who will play as Bert in the upcoming Dutch production of Mary Poppins Individual performances (in order of performance): Round 1: Irene: "Heel alleen (On My Own)" from the musical Les Misérables Noortje: "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston Sophie: "Out Here on My Own" from the film Fame Rosalie: "Doe iets (Show Me)" from the musical My Fair Lady Round 2: Irene: "Stuff Like That There" from the film For the Boys Noortje: "Jaloezie" by Adèle Bloemendaal Sophie: "Mens durf te leven" by Wende Snijders Rosalie: "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway Jury's favourite Mary Poppins: Erwin van Lambaart: Noortje Pia Douwes: Sophie Thom Hoffman: Irene Sing-off: