Tante Leen was born Helena Kok-Polder in 1912 in Amsterdam. At the age of 43, while working at a café cleaning and peeling shrimp, her coworkers signed her up for the Jordaan talent competition. Though she finished second to Johnny Jordaan, the pseudonym for Johannes Hendricus van Musscher, she became a renowned Dutch folk singer, frequently pairing up with Jordaan and backed by accordion wizard Jan Schallig. Her nostalgic, working-class anthems earned her great fame, particularly the playful response song “Oh, Johnny” aimed at her friendly rival Jordaan. By 1960, Tante Leen was such a beloved icon that she opened her café, where adoring crowds came every evening to hear her soulful voice live on stage. Though honored with an invitation to represent the Netherlands at the 1968 Eurovision Contest, Tante Leen preferred keeping to her local community roots. She finally retired in 1975, leaving behind a treasured legacy as a star who found her voice and touched the souls of everyday Dutch people with her heartfelt lyrics. Leen passed away in 1992. Two years after Johnny Jordaan passed away, in 1991, the Johnny Jordaanplein, also known as Johnny Jordaan Square, and his bust were dedicated in his honor. After a few years, statues of Tante Leen, Johnny Meyer, Manke Nelis, and Jan & Mien were added. All were sculpted by the Dutch artist Kees Verkade. Tante Leen statue is one of the few statues of women in Amsterdam and the only one that honors a female musician. Read more...