Circus Herman Renz

Arnold van der Vegt [nl] decided in the winter of 1911 to start his own circus.

During World War II it was difficult for the circus to survive, and because of the circumstances it was forced to give shows for Nazi Germany.

[1][2] After the death of Arnold van der Vegt, his son Herman Sr. took over management of the circus.

[2][3] In 1980 the Dutch TV producer Joop van den Ende established Circus Bassie & Adriaan.

In 1990 Herman Jr., and his girlfriend Diana, performed for one season with the French circus Achille Zavatta II.

Despite this, Herman wanted to continue the Circus Renz with Diana, and the families of Steijvers and Ronday.

In September 1990 Diana & Herman Renz ended a contract with the Circus Achille Zavatta II.

For the young board of directors it was a big venture, but thanks to a contract with Center Parcs it turned into a large success.

Over a five-year period, the now-married Diana & Herman Renz developed the circus into the largest in the Netherlands and later Benelux.

Worried manager Robert Ronday looked for them and found them dead, poisoned by carbon monoxide.

[2] A week after the burial Herman's mother announced that she wanted to sell the circus for 800,000 Dutch guilders.

Nine-year-old Ronald Blom generated a lot of publicity, appearing on television shows such as the 'TV-Show of Ivo Niehe [nl]', 'Hart van Nederland' and 'Het Jeugdjournaal' (the news for youth).

The Duursma Group restarted Circus Herman Renz with a new series of performances at the Maashorst Fair in Schaijk.