Hundreds of people gathered on Monday morning at the Zonnehuis in Amsterdam‑North to say goodbye to Peter Faber. The actor died on 6 August at the age of 82.
Inside the hall, a flower‑covered coffin stood on the stage. Photos of Faber’s work and private life appeared on a large screen behind it. Many fans carried white roses as a final tribute. Others left letters. No one spoke during the farewell inside, yet outside, people shared memories of the actor with one another.
Faber became widely known in the mid‑1970s with a leading role in the film Max Havelaar, based on the book by Multatuli. Soon after, he appeared in the international war film A Bridge Too Far and in Dutch films such as Soldier of Orange, Ciske the Rat and Schatjes! In the early 1970s, he also co‑founded the theatre collective Het Werkteater.
Fellow actors and students from drama schools attended the farewell, including Danny de Munk. In the 1984 film Ciske de Rat, Faber played Ciske’s father, while De Munk played the title role. They later worked together again in the musical De Jantjes. De Munk said he last saw Faber at a Ciske de Rat reunion. He remembers him as a colourful and positive person who did not take himself too seriously. According to De Munk, Faber stayed true to himself throughout his long career and was never very concerned with recognition.
After the public farewell, a private family service and guests will take place on Monday. Afterwards, Faber will be taken to Zorgvlied Cemetery via a special route through Amsterdam.
@ANP | News Brainport
