Like it or not Rotterdam remains the skateboarding capital of the Netherlands, the most impactful (besides the 103 video) videos come from the harbor city and many of the best skateboarders moved to the west to be more included in the daily wear and tear of the Dutch skate industry. It is my personal belief that even though Rotterdam is the capital, the South has produced the best talent when it comes to riding a shred stick. The beauty of a melting pot is that it draws in and brings together people, as it did Rachid Addou and Jimmy de Kok. Both names have been known to us for over 10 years and both have put a lot of work in when it comes to progressing the scene in the Netherlands. Now with “Remote Control” that on-the-board contribution will come to an end. But not without a bang! Enjoy Rachid & Jimmy for one final time, and replay it later when you want to go out and skate.
Photos by the legendary Hugo Snelooper.
Interview & Intro by Roland Hoogwater.
R: Rachid Addou.
J: Jimmy de Kok.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Rachid Addou, I am 33 years old, and am living in Rotterdam. Actually, I was born in Deventer but I have been in Rotterdam for like 10 years.
My name is Jimmy de Kok, 31 years old and I have been living in Rotterdam for 4 years, I moved there from Tilburg.
How did this project start, and who started it?
R: When Jimmy moved to Rotterdam the thing kinda started, we would see each other around town at parties. We already knew each other from filming for the 103 video back in the day. So that lead to us deciding to go and skate together more often.
We actually just started when the pandemic happened. Which meant that you could only go outside with two people (together) at one time. So we went together and filmed each other, many of the spots in Rotterdam were new to Jimmy which motivated him and in turn motivated me.
Rachid it seems like you have been filming for many years now what drove you to not only skate but film and what do you enjoy about filming?
R: Even back in the Mr. Fisheye days, I would pick up the camera and film things here and there, it has been part of my skateboard experience for the longest. I noticed during those days that I like to document and make my own things besides being in front of the lens.
Jimmy did you always film or did you get into it for this project?
J: After the 103 video dropped I was really motivated to document a younger generation of skaters in Tilburg. So when I turned 16 I bought my own VX1000 and started working on what would become the Free Booze For Rollers video.
Jimmy, we first saw you in the 103 video, we saw some clips here and there but where have you been? laying low?
J: Well between my 16th and 26th I was busy making the above-mentioned video and in the meanwhile, I spent a lot of time with my band called The Black Marble Selection.
Actually, the whole band skates and is in the FBFR video. Besides that, I am a part of a couple of other bands that I am still currently a part of, one of them called Iguana Death Cult.
How long did it take for this project to be filmed?
R: We filmed a year in total… Actually, Jimmy’s part was filmed in 6-months after which he tore his ACL for the 3rd time (in his life). The doctors told him that this will be the end of his skating career, so this is not only the ender part of the video but the last part of his life.
I saw that Rob’s footage was from his Emerica days, how long ago was that filmed?
R: Rob (Maatman) is also from Deventer, we grew up together and he happened to live in Rotterdam for a while as well. So, back in those days, we would just be out filming for fun. I still had that footy so I wanted to use it. It is always sick to film with Rob
What came first the title of the video or the opening scene (with the woman in front of the TV)?
R: There is a good story to this! So, the video was coming along nicely until our Sony TRV-900 broke. It turned out the problem was the record button! After some studying, we found out that the only solution (available to us) was to use the remote control that comes with the camera (laughs). Normally people don’t use those but we had to! You even see the remote in the video here and there.
The scenes with the woman in front of the TV came later. Fun fact, that is actually the first commercial for a television set with remote control. Once we found that we knew what the title of the video was going to be.
Did you guys consciously go out and film certain people or was it more like you both had parts and the rest of the footage was gathered on those missions?
J: We were always on the road together, the people that we included in the video were our friends that came along for a mission or two. People that wanted to have fun and skate!
In what state would you guys say the Dutch skate scene is in nowadays?
J: We can tell the skaters in Rotterdam have been very productive as of recent. During the premiere night, two other videos were shown. Spare Time and Fantasia Obscura so we as a city are doing our part. Besides that Sneep & Marc Bolhuis are still on the grind.
Will we see another video by you guys?
J: Nope, after this video we are officially retiring.
How do you feel growing older and skating?
R: Your responsibilities change.
Your body becomes heavier.
The injuries get more intense.
Still, we will be looking back on our time with great fondness! And we will still be looking at skating but from the sidelines. S/O to the sideline crew
We have love for skateculture 