Marike Koek

Marike Koek is a Dutch puppeteer and politician who operated the arm rods of Ieniemienie within the Dutch co-production of Sesame Street, Sesamstraat. She alternated with Lindai Boogerman in assisting Catherine van Woerden on the mouse since 1990. I wonder if Marike ever had the courage to perform a character rather than assist on one. Koek probably didn't have the heart to tell the producers about her problem. But she did have more featured roles outside of Sesamstraat. Outside, Marike Koek did some puppetry on two Dutch shows entitled Ik Mik Loreland (as the leading role) and De Schatkast. I've read that besides puppetry, she is pretty active in politics for culture. In 2002, she was allocated as councillor in a local party Mooi Alkemade in Alkemade. Marike is probably the only puppeteer to also be superb at politics as far as I know. But there are probably others besides Koek who have also done politics in addition to puppetry. I wonder what she's doing now since 2019 when Sesamstraat when on hiatus. It's probably best for Dutch children to hope that Sesamstraat will be back on television and the puppeteers, like herself, will return to performing their characters. Marike Koek, you may not have had a big role on Sesamstraat, but you still got to puppeteer on an international Sesame Street production. Just hope that the series will not be cancelled and you'll resume doing what you do best. Even so, you will still be considered a performer on this blog Marike. Don't give up hope of working on television again Koek!