He is a "lovable vagabond", and his character as well as the TV show "present a comforting image of a simple rural past".

[1] His wanderings, during which he typically got in trouble but always found a happy ending, evoked romanticism and adventure.

[3] Regular characters included, besides Swiebertje, the police officer Bromsnor (Lou Geels), housekeeper Saartje (Riek Schagen), and shopkeeper Malle Pietje (Piet Ekel).

[4] The vagabond 'Swiebertje' as well as the old-fashioned constable 'Bromsnor' and rag-and-bone man 'Malle Pietje' have grown to become household eponyms in the Dutch language.

He returned to the Netherlands, and to the stage, and later made peace with the character, saying that Swiebertje derived its popularity from his everyman-qualities.