World events attract audiences
After film’s breakthrough in the Netherlands with the coronation films, there were a number of other subjects that captivated audiences. First there was the news about the young queen: her engagement, her wedding and the official yearly visitations to the nation’s capital and other cities. Besides this, there were two world events that gripped the public in 1899: the trial of the alleged French traitor Alfred Dreyfus, and the Second Boer War in South Africa. Both events were followed anxiously and with great interest, and recordings from France and South Africa were enthusiastically received. Dutch audiences always chose the side of the courageous Boer in the battle against the English.
The events in South Africa around 1900 would continue as the Boer leader Paul Kruger travelled to the Netherlands via Marseille. He would stay for two years in the Netherlands and received visits from his generals De Wet, Botha and De la Reij, among others. Films were made of Kruger as well as the visitations from his generals.
Besides these figures, there were naturally other big stars of early film: the many anonymous residents of cities and villages who shone in the numerous local films.