Jantje Koopmans

Dutch Singer/Entertainer. Born on the 21st February, 1924 in Waspik. He started playing the accordion from age 8. He finally became better known in The Netherlands in the middle of the 1980's with his hit 'Rode Rozen', a re-recording of a song he had been performing for years. Retired in 1990, and passed away on the 17th of March, 2013. One of his better known songs, Ik Ben Gestopt Met Roken (I Quit Smoking), was played during mr. Koopmans' funeral service. Trivia: Although it is unclear what his connnection with the city of Assen is, the centre of Assen has a square named after mr. Koopmans, the Koopmansplein.