Petrus Lambertus Wilhelmus (Peter) Reijnders (24 July 1900 – 1974) was a Dutch

photographer A photographer (the Greek language, Greek φῶς (''phos''), meaning "light", and γραφή (''graphê''), meaning "drawing, writing", together meaning "drawing with light") is a person who makes photographs. Duties and types of photographe ...

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

and

inventor An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an ...

. He is best known for his crucial role in founding the theme park

Efteling Efteling () is a fantasy-themed amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands. The attractions reflect elements from ancient myths and legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore. The park was opened on May 31, 1952. It evolved from a nature ...

. Peter Reijnders was born in 1900 in

's-Hertogenbosch s-Hertogenbosch (), colloquially known as Den Bosch (), is a city and municipality in the Netherlands with a population of 157,486. It is the capital of the province of North Brabant and its fourth largest by population. The city is south of th ...

as the son of a coffee- and tobacco trader family. After making a film in 1927 about his own marriage with Helena Perquin, he devoted himself to photography and films. He also invented many small novelties that are popular with

Philips Electronics Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), commonly shortened to Philips, is a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, it has been mostly headquartered in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarters i ...

. He made a number of films in the period 1927-1954, some of which gained national prizes.

Efteling

At a family gathering in 1951, Reijnders was asked by his father-in-law, mayor Van der Heijden, to investigate the possibilities for making the just-established

Naturepark more attractive. Inspired by a temporary fairy tale exhibition in Eindhoven, Reijnders knew whom to ask for the design: painter

Anton Pieck Anton Franciscus Pieck (19 April 1895 – 24 November 1987) was a Dutch painter, artist and graphic artist. Hiworksare noted for their nostalgic or fairy tale-like character and are widely popular, appearing regularly on cards and calendars. He i ...

. Reijnders and Pieck were pivotal for the original Fairy Tale Forest, the foundation of the current Efteling themepark. Reijnders was responsible for the many creative and revolutionary technological innovations. With his wires, motors, balloons and water he made the fairy tales come to life, without ever exposing the technology to the visitor. His last visit to Efteling was in 1972, when the park received the

Pomme d'Or The Pomme d'Or (french: golden apple) is a prize for excellence in the tourism industry awarded by FIJET, the European association of professional travel writers and journalists. It is awarded yearly to an organization, location or person for reco ...

, the highest award in the European tourist industry.

Filmography

Peter Reijnders directed at least 58 films, below is a small selection of noteworthy titles. * Onze 'T'-Rouwdag (1927) * Camera Avontuur (1933), first prize Nationale Kinowedstrijd, second prize Concours International. * Stormy Weather (1934), first prize Nationale Kinowedstrijd. * Ships that pass in the night (1935), first prize Nationale Kinowedstrijd. * Eindhoven Journaal (1935) * Happy and Contented (1935) * Thriller (1937), first prize Nationale Kinowedstrijd. * Bevrijding Eindhoven (1944) * Het Meisje en de Pop (1947) * In Brabant groeit een Stad (1947–1954) * Officiële Opening Van Doorne's Automobielfabriek (1950) * De Efteling in het Hart van Brabant (1956/1958 en 1971) * Beginjaren TH Eindhoven (1956–1958)

Sources

* Smit, Rob (1990) ''Peter Reijnders 1900-1974''. Eindhoven: SST Producties. * Vanden Diepstraten, H. (2002) ''De Efteling. Kroniek van een Sprookje''. Baarn: Tirion Uitgevers. {{DEFAULTSORT:Reijnders, Peter 1900 births 1974 deaths 20th-century Dutch inventors Dutch film directors Eindhoven University of Technology alumni People from 's-Hertogenbosch 20th-century Dutch photographers