Simone Kleinsma is one of the most recognizable figures in Dutch musical theater and television. Born in Amsterdam in 1958, she has built a career spanning theater, musicals, television, film and music. She is particularly associated with the long-running comedy series Kees & Co, as well as acclaimed musical roles in productions such as Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, Sister Act, Sweeney Todd and De Hospita.
As of September 2026, Simone Kleinsma is 68 years old. She continues to work in theater and television, demonstrating that her career has extended far beyond the role that originally made her a household name. Her recent work includes the theater production Vooruit, while her next major musical project, Vlieg Met Me Mee, is scheduled to begin later in 2026.
Here is a closer look at Simone Kleinsma’s age, background, career, partner, family, health-related questions, net worth and latest projects.
Who Is Simone Kleinsma?
Simone Kleinsma is a Dutch actress, singer and musical theater performer. She was born on May 8, 1958, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Her professional career has included stage musicals, comedy, television presenting, film roles and recording work.
Although American audiences may not immediately recognize her name, Kleinsma has played a significant role in Dutch entertainment for decades. In the Netherlands, she is particularly known for her work in musical theater and for playing Kees Heistee in Kees & Co.
Her career is notable because she has successfully moved between several entertainment formats. Rather than becoming identified with only one television role or one musical, she has continued appearing on stage and screen throughout different periods of her career.
How Old Is Simone Kleinsma?
Simone Kleinsma was born on May 8, 1958.
That makes her 68 years old in 2026. She was born in Amsterdam and began developing her performing career at a relatively young age.
Her age has increasingly become part of the public conversation because she has continued performing demanding theater roles well into her sixties. In a 2024 interview reported by RTL Boulevard, Kleinsma said that she noticed physical changes associated with getting older but had no intention of automatically giving up her career. She mentioned physical discomfort, including knee problems and stiffness, while emphasizing that she still felt mentally energetic.
Early Life and Education
Kleinsma was born and raised in Amsterdam. She later trained at the Academie voor Kleinkunst, an important institution in Dutch performing arts.
Her early talent was recognized during her training. The André Veltkamp Beurs foundation at the Amsterdam University of the Arts records Kleinsma among the laureates of the Pisuisse Prize, receiving the honor in 1978.
Her education helped establish the foundation for a career that would combine singing, acting, comedy and theater.
This combination became one of her defining strengths. She was not limited to being a dramatic actress or a singer. Instead, she developed into a versatile performer who could move between comedy, musical theater and more emotionally demanding roles.
Simone Kleinsma’s Career Beginnings
Kleinsma entered professional entertainment during a period when Dutch musical theater and television were expanding rapidly.
Her early career included work in theater and musical productions, eventually leading to larger roles and greater recognition. She also developed a career as a singer, releasing albums and performing solo shows.
Her stage work became especially important because musical theater allowed her to combine several of her strengths at once: acting, singing, timing and character work.
Over the years, she appeared in numerous productions, including Chicago, Fosse, Mamma Mia!, Next to Normal, Sister Act, Sunset Boulevard, Hello, Dolly!, Sweeney Todd, De Hospita and several personal theater programs.
Her Breakthrough With Kees & Co
For many Dutch television viewers, Simone Kleinsma is inseparable from Kees & Co.
The sitcom originally began in 1997 and centered on Kees Heistee, a woman dealing with the everyday situations of family life. Kleinsma played the title character and became the central face of the series.
IMDb lists her as Kees Heistee across 111 episodes of the series. The show ultimately ran from 1997 to 2020, including a later revival.
The original series ran from 1997 to 2006. A revival later brought the character back to television, with the new series premiering on RTL 4 in 2019. RTL reported that the revival won the 2019 Gouden Boemerang for best comeback.
The importance of Kees & Co to Kleinsma’s career is easy to understand. It introduced her to a television audience on a regular basis while complementing her established theater career.
Simone Kleinsma’s Most Important Musicals
Musical theater remains one of the strongest parts of Kleinsma’s professional identity.
She has appeared in many productions, but several stand out because of their roles, awards or cultural impact.
Mamma Mia!
Kleinsma played Donna in the Dutch production of Mamma Mia!. The role became one of the major milestones of her musical career.
She received the John Kraaijkamp Musical Award for Best Female Leading Role for her performance as Donna in 2004.
Sunset Boulevard
Another major role came in Sunset Boulevard, in which Kleinsma played Norma Desmond.
Her performance was highly recognized. She won a John Kraaijkamp Musical Award in 2009 for the role and also received the Flemish Musical Award for the same performance.
The role demonstrated a different side of her abilities because Norma Desmond requires both theatrical intensity and considerable emotional range.
Sister Act
Kleinsma also appeared as Mother Superior in the Dutch production of Sister Act. Musical industry coverage reported that she performed the role more than 350 times.
The production combined comedy, music and character acting, areas in which Kleinsma had already established considerable experience.
Sweeney Todd
In the 2023 production of Sweeney Todd, Kleinsma played Mrs. Lovett, opposite Hans Peter Janssens as Sweeney Todd.
The production was based on the Stephen Sondheim musical, with Kleinsma taking on one of its most recognizable characters. Theaterkrant’s production information confirms her role as Mrs. Lovett.
De Hospita
De Hospita was particularly significant because the production was created to celebrate Kleinsma’s 65th anniversary year.
She played Madeleine Coutard, a former revue star who becomes involved with a younger generation after students move into her Amsterdam home. Paul Groot played her longtime friend and former costume designer.
The musical toured in 2023 and 2024 and became one of her most visible recent theater projects.
Simone Kleinsma on Television
Although theater has remained central to her career, television has played an equally important role.
Her best-known television credit is Kees & Co, but she has appeared in other television productions and entertainment programs as well.
She has also appeared in programs such as Baantjer, The Passion, Klassiekers met Kleinsma and other television projects. Her film and television credits include productions such as Toscaanse Bruiloft, Verliefd op Ibiza and Dorst.
Her television career illustrates why she has remained relevant beyond the musical theater community. She has been able to connect with audiences through comedy, music, drama and interview-based programming.
What Is Klassiekers met Kleinsma?
Klassiekers met Kleinsma is a television program centered on Dutch-language songs and the history of Dutch kleinkunst.
Kleinsma invites fellow performers and discusses songs that have become part of Dutch cultural memory. The conversations explore why particular songs matter, what makes them memorable and how they affected the artists who performed them.
The program has developed into a natural extension of her own career. Kleinsma is not simply presenting the music. She is also part of the same artistic tradition being discussed.
The fourth season featured guests including Claudia de Breij, Tania Kross, Frans Mulder and Herman van Veen.
What Is Vooruit?
Vooruit is a theater production starring Simone Kleinsma and Paul Groot.
The production premiered in October 2025 and continued through the 2025–2026 theater season. Its final scheduled performance was April 4, 2026.
The show draws heavily on Kleinsma’s memories of Amsterdam and her childhood. One central location is the garage and gas station her father operated in Amsterdam during the 1960s.
Rather than being a conventional biography on stage, Vooruit uses memories, photographs, stories and music to connect Kleinsma’s past with her perspective on the present and future.
Paul Groot joined her as her stage partner after their successful collaboration in De Hospita.
Simone Kleinsma and Guus Verstraete
Simone Kleinsma was married to Guus Verstraete Jr., a Dutch television director.
The couple married on June 5, 1990. Verstraete worked extensively in Dutch television and theater and directed numerous major entertainment productions.
Their marriage lasted until Verstraete’s death in 2017.
He died on March 3, 2017, at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack following an operation. Kleinsma has spoken publicly about how difficult his death was and how grief continues to affect her.
In 2025, she publicly remembered him on the anniversary of his death. Her comments have made clear that losing her husband remains an important part of her personal story.
Did Simone Kleinsma Have Children?
Simone Kleinsma and Guus Verstraete did not have a living child together.
Kleinsma has spoken publicly about the loss of a stillborn daughter, Teuntje, in 1998. She has described motherhood and the loss as deeply personal experiences.
She has also spoken about being a bonus grandmother to Verstraete’s grandchildren. RTL reported that she has six grandchildren through Guus’s family.
Because this part of her life involves personal grief, it is more appropriate to discuss it factually and respectfully rather than treat it as celebrity gossip.
Simone Kleinsma’s Health and Aging
Searches for “Simone Kleinsma ziek” can be misleading because they may suggest a serious illness when the publicly documented information does not support such a conclusion.
There have been documented occasions when she was temporarily unwell. In March 2020, for example, she had irritated vocal cords and was advised by an ear, nose and throat specialist to rest before the premiere of Hello, Dolly!. She recovered in time to perform the premiere.
She has also experienced physical issues associated with aging. In 2015, she underwent surgery for a hip replacement, explaining that she had a tendency toward wear and tear.
More recently, she has talked openly about stiffness and knee problems.
There is no reliable basis for presenting an unsupported serious illness as a current diagnosis. The safer and more accurate description is that Kleinsma has discussed ordinary physical challenges associated with aging while continuing to work.
Simone Kleinsma Net Worth
The exact net worth of Simone Kleinsma is not publicly verified.
Some celebrity websites publish estimates. One currently lists her estimated wealth at approximately €5 million, but the page does not provide transparent financial documentation that would allow the figure to be independently verified.
For that reason, €5 million should not be presented as a confirmed fact.
It is reasonable to say that Kleinsma has had a long and commercially successful career involving theater productions, television, music and other entertainment work. Those activities can generate substantial income, but her assets, investments, property holdings and current earnings are not publicly documented in a way that supports a precise net-worth calculation.
Therefore, the most responsible answer to “What is Simone Kleinsma’s net worth?” is:
Her exact net worth is unknown. Online estimates exist, including figures around €5 million, but these should be treated as unverified estimates rather than confirmed financial data.
Awards and Achievements
Kleinsma’s career has earned substantial recognition in Dutch entertainment.
Among her documented honors and nominations are:
- Pisuisse Prize, associated with her training at the Academie voor Kleinkunst
- Academy Award/Gouden Beeld for comedy acting for Kees & Co
- Gouden Harp
- John Kraaijkamp Musical Award for Mamma Mia!
- John Kraaijkamp Musical Award for Sunset Boulevard
- Special theater recognition for Simone: Songs from the Heart
- Holland Casino Oeuvre Award
Her major awards reflect both sides of her career: television comedy and musical theater.
She was also nominated for the Annie M.G. Schmidt Prize in connection with the song “Wonderlijk”, which she performed. The nomination was for the 2016 theater season.
Simone Kleinsma’s Music Career
Kleinsma’s work extends beyond acting.
She has released solo recordings and albums connected with her theater work. Her recorded projects include Een Deel Van Mij, Met Open Ogen, Songs from the Heart, Songbook and Simone!.
She also achieved notable success in the Dutch music charts.
Her duet with Paul de Leeuw, “Zonder Jou,” reached No. 3 on the Dutch Top 40 and remained in the chart for 16 weeks.
This part of her career is sometimes overshadowed by her acting and musical theater work, but singing has always been central to her professional identity.
Simone Kleinsma’s Current and Upcoming Projects
Kleinsma’s career remains active in 2026.
One of her most significant upcoming projects is Vlieg Met Me Mee, a new Dutch musical featuring Kleinsma alongside Brigitte Heitzer and Lisa Schol.
The production focuses on three generations of women who unexpectedly find themselves living under the same roof. The musical uses songs associated with Paul de Leeuw and is scheduled to tour more than 40 theaters beginning in late 2026.
The production represents another interesting stage in Kleinsma’s career. Instead of simply revisiting earlier successes, she continues taking part in new Dutch musical productions.
Why Simone Kleinsma Remains Important in Dutch Entertainment
Kleinsma’s longevity is one of the most striking parts of her career.
She has worked successfully in several areas that often require different performance skills. Kees & Co demanded television comedy and character work, while musicals such as Sunset Boulevard and Sweeney Todd required dramatic acting and vocal performance.
Her television program Klassiekers met Kleinsma also shows how her career has developed from performer to cultural interpreter. She is now able to discuss the history of Dutch theater songs with the same industry experience that comes from having spent decades performing them.
Her continued theater work also demonstrates that she has not treated age as an automatic reason to leave the stage.
Instead, her recent projects have increasingly incorporated reflection, memory and personal experience alongside traditional entertainment.
Simone Kleinsma Career at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Simone Kleinsma |
| Born | May 8, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Age in 2026 | 68 |
| Profession | Actress, singer, musical theater performer |
| Best-known TV role | Kees Heistee in Kees & Co |
| Former husband | Guus Verstraete Jr. |
| Major musical roles | Donna, Norma Desmond, Mother Superior, Mrs. Lovett, Madeleine Coutard |
| Notable musicals | Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, Sister Act, Sweeney Todd, De Hospita |
| Recent theater | Vooruit |
| Upcoming musical | Vlieg Met Me Mee |
| Television program | Klassiekers met Kleinsma |
| Exact net worth | Not publicly verified |
Final Takeaway
Simone Kleinsma is much more than the actress behind Kees & Co. She has built a multi-decade career across Dutch television, musical theater, music and live performance.
At 68, she remains professionally active. Her recent Vooruit production and upcoming Vlieg Met Me Mee demonstrate that she continues to develop new work rather than relying solely on past achievements.
Her personal story also includes major loss, particularly the death of her husband Guus Verstraete and the loss of their stillborn daughter. These experiences have influenced some of her later work and public conversations about aging, grief and continuing with life.
For readers researching Simone Kleinsma’s age, career, partner, children, musicals or net worth, the most important distinction is between well-documented facts and entertainment-site estimates. Her birth date, career credits, awards and major productions are well documented, while her precise current wealth is not publicly established.
Frequently Asked Questions About Simone Kleinsma
How old is Simone Kleinsma?
Simone Kleinsma was born on May 8, 1958, in Amsterdam. She is 68 years old in 2026.
What is Simone Kleinsma best known for?
She is best known for playing Kees Heistee in the Dutch television comedy series Kees & Co. She is also highly regarded for her extensive career in Dutch musical theater.
Who was Simone Kleinsma’s husband?
Her husband was Dutch television director Guus Verstraete Jr. They married in 1990, and he died in 2017.
Did Simone Kleinsma have children?
Kleinsma and Guus Verstraete did not have a living child together. She has publicly spoken about the loss of their stillborn daughter, Teuntje, in 1998. She has also been a bonus grandmother to Guus’s grandchildren.
What musicals has Simone Kleinsma appeared in?
Among her best-known musical roles are Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, Sister Act, Hello, Dolly!, Sweeney Todd and De Hospita.
What is Simone Kleinsma doing now?
Her recent theater project was Vooruit, performed with Paul Groot during the 2025–2026 theater season. She is also scheduled to appear in the new musical Vlieg Met Me Mee, which begins touring in late 2026.
What is Simone Kleinsma’s net worth?
Her exact net worth is not publicly verified. Some celebrity websites estimate her wealth at around €5 million, but that figure should be treated as an unverified estimate rather than a confirmed amount.
Is Simone Kleinsma seriously ill?
There is no reliable evidence in the sources reviewed that supports presenting her as currently suffering from a specific serious illness. She has discussed physical problems associated with aging, including knee discomfort and stiffness, and she has experienced temporary health issues during her career.
See also: Marianne Timmer
