After a pilot episode entitled Sesamplein ("Sesame Square") which was released in 1974, Sesamstraat began broadcasting in 1976.

At the time, there were only two Muppets and three live actors (Piet Hendriks, Sien Diels, and Annet van Heusden).

Piet owned a hobby and crafts workshop and a camper which he would drive around The Netherlands and Belgium for live trips.

Sien owned a grocery store, where the exchange of knowledge and happenings were as important as the selling of products.

For the second season, a realistic town square was built inside the studio, which slowly evolved into a more abstracted, colourful town, featuring Pino's nest, Sien's store, a workshop, two houses, an apartment building, a trailer and a treehouse.

On January 7, 2000, Prime Minister Wim Kok read the daily story "Er staat een olifantje in het gras..." (There is a little elephant standing in the grass) for the Muppet residents before they went to sleep.

Other celebrities that have made guest appearances include Freek de Jonge (comedian), Ruud Gullit (professional soccer player), André van Duin (comedian), Mary Dresselhuys (actress), Hans Dagelet (actor), Kees van Kooten (writer), Brigitte Kaandorp (comedian), Sonja Barend (show host) and Janine Kastelijn (Youth Winner for Reading in 2000).

In 1992, a 30-minute film, Sesamstraat en Melkweg, was produced for the Artis Zoo Planetarium in Amsterdam.

The set became completely abstract, with toy block-like buildings, broccoli for trees, and a tower with a giant light-up clock.

Starting in September 2006, Sesamstraat expanded to 30 minutes and began airing three times a day.

Several famous Dutch singers performed duets with the Sesamstraat characters Pino, Tommie, Ieniemienie and Purk.

On June 28, 2019, The NTR made public that they had to economize again and decided to stop producing the series for the following two years.

Pino is one of the most important Muppets in the children's program, and has been a part of the central cast since the show started airing in 1976.

Pino has had many different performers through the years, including Dirk Grijspeirt (1976), Theo Joling (1977), Bert Plagman (1979), Erik J. Meijer (1980) and Leo Dijkgraaf (1984).

Like Pino, Tommie has had a few different performers, including Stef van der Linden in 1976 and Martin Pragt in 1978.

Ienie is famous for her giggle, as well as her signature movements like scrunching her nose when she's angry or raising her shoulders when she's confused.

Even though the viewers had no problems with her, the producers found her too feminine for a show that dealt with female emancipation, so she disappeared after a year.

The Dutch word "Troel" means "dear" or "sweetheart" in a more informal, sometimes even negative way.

The actual puppet was based on a drawing by Sesamstraat actor and mime artist Hakim Traïda.

Before the taping of the special, Sesamstraat organised a press convention about Purk's 'birth', hosted by Tommie and Ieniemienie.