Henk Romeijn

by Dr. Iain Corness

You will not meet many people who will confess to sawing their wives in half, but Henk Romeijn admits it with a smile and a laugh that even makes his baby walrus mustache bristle. However, at the time of the confession, his wife was sitting next to him in my office, so they had obviously come together again! Or the two halves had, because Henk is a magician. In more ways than one.
Henk Romeijn (pronounced “Romain”) was born in Holland in a historic town called Haarlen (not to be confused with Harlem in the USA, though Henk can certainly confuse you at times). His father was an electrical engineer, while his mother stayed at home to look after Henk’s two elder sisters and her baby, Henk. I wondered if he had been spoiled, being the youngest, but Henk denied this. “I was not planned, but was not spoiled. We didn’t have much money.”
When he was eight years old, he received a box of magic tricks for his birthday from a relative, and without knowing it, the giver of the gift changed the young Henk’s life forever. He was fascinated by it all, and if the truth were known, probably drove his parents mad, with neither having any interest in magic.
By the time he was 11 years old, he had amassed a large number of tricks, but had no audience to play to, a factor that is necessary for any magician. However, his school decided to put on a ‘young talent’ show and Henk and his box of tricks were on the bill. His act caught the eye of one of the judges, who introduced him to the Haarlen Junior Magic Club. He was very young, but very enthusiastic, and the others in the club provided the audience, and even more importantly, further tricks and tuition.
But with Romeijn Senior being an engineer, thoughts of magic as a profession were soon doused, and Henk was streamed towards a life career as an engineer, and in particular as an instrument engineer. Despite his family background, this proved not to be his true métier, but there were many intervening years before he would be pulling rabbits out of hats as his sole source of financial reward.
As well as his engineering studies, Henk continued with the Haarlen Magic Club, graduating from the Junior Club to the Senior Club. By the time he was 17, he was giving magic shows for children, and by 21, was doing large shows. But on Monday, it was back to the glasses shop where he worked as an optical technician!
To continue to be able to buy enough rabbits for his hats, he moved into technical drafting as his day job, and from there to town planning, but these could not beat the excitement he could enjoy providing an audience with mystery and “oohs” and “ahs” as he produced cards out of thin air. He saw his boss and asked if he could reduce his hours in the town planning office to four days a week, and the die was cast with the agreement. He now had one more day for magic, and the progression to working seven days a week for magic had begun.
With his engineering skills, he was able to manufacture his own equipment, which in turn, brought him to the notice of other professional magicians, who did not have that craftsmanship. He exchanged some equipment for more tricks, building to his repertoire, an absolute must for any professional. “I’m not a magician, I am an entertainer,” said Henk. So like all entertainers he needed enough material to play more than one night in any venue.
His repertoire these days is enormous. He does magic at the tables in bars and restaurants (which includes being able to remove watches and wallets – but he does return them), stage show illusions including the wife-sawing and amazing indoor pyrotechnics, product presentations with memorable magic and still finds the time to do shows for children. “After about four to five years old, children begin to understand the magic,” said Henk.
If you think that by now, his life is one big fun conjuring trick, you would be wrong. To be good at anything takes time and practice, and it is no different for the entertaining magician. He practices for at least two hours every day, to keep his act flawless.
He is always looking for new tricks and attends magic seminars where he gives workshops and also wants to see what new items are available. It was at one of these he met the world famous illusionist David Copperfield, who incidentally bought one of Henk’s tricks.
I did mention sawing his wife in half, and interestingly, he met his wife here in Pattaya some years ago, and then bumped into her again here, running on the beach. Predestined perhaps, but Mrs Romeijn was at that time married to another. “Did you make him disappear?” I asked Henk. “No, he made himself disappear,” said Henk, with a laugh. After her divorce they met up again, and now is an important part of his magic shows, as well as an obviously important part of his life.
Henk Romeijn is a man who has dedicated his life to his magic. However, “magic is for the people,” says Henk, and if you have ever witnessed one of his performances, you can see that he has that ability to involve the audience in his tricks. His personal satisfaction comes not from being able to do a trick, but in seeing the audience’s reaction to his trick, which is generally an incredulous “How did he do that?” The answer is through a lifetime of practicing to perfection. And having the stage presentation to go with it. If you have the chance to see him in action, do not miss it – but keep a tight hold on your watch and wallet. (I checked mine before I let him leave!)