Heintje was born on 12th of August at Kerkrade, Bleijerheijde in The Netherlands.
1965
The nine-year-old Heintje learned a lot from the jukebox-music of Robertino. A friend of his father, a bar keeper, took Heintje under his wing and arranged for him to perform in the Limburg's coalmine district. During a talent contest in the town of Schaesberg he sang that beautiful song "Mama" for all the mothers in the world. By coincidence, Willy Alberti was there and he was very impressed with Heintje's singing and promised him a golden future.
Addy Kleijngeld, a producer at the CNR record company, received a tip about a boy with a special voice in Bleijerheide. Addy went, with his accordion, to the café of Heintje's parents. Heintje was playing soccer when his mother called him, to greet "the man from the record-company". Addy asked Heintje to sing a song. After a rendition of "O sole mio", Addy said : "You can go back to play soccer. I've heard enough !". From then on, Addy picked-up Heintje every week, to rehearse at his home in Helmond.
After prepared 12 songs, Addy was ready to produce the first record. He promised Heintje to fulfill his wish, namely a pony, if he turned out his best work. After they taped the first song, Addy told Heintje he had earned a leg. Then the second leg, the tail, and finally the head. Heintje was in seventh heaven. He received his first pony, which he also named Addy.
The record was successful in Holland, and Addy went to his friend, the German producer Wolfgang Roloff. Together they produced a number of records in German, English and Afrikaans. With one exception, ALL the songs of Heintje are composed by Addy Kleijngeld and W. Roloff, and lyrics by Hans Hee (sometimes they used pen-names). Addy became Heintje's manager, and took care of contracts for the movies and for the TV show in America. Together with Heintje he went to Paris for TV appearance and accompanied him on all the German tours.
Addy and his wife Annie were always there to take care of Heintje.