Rik is Aart's nephew. He is clumsy and a bit less mature than the other adults - even the Muppets manage to outsmart him at times! Rik loves to invent things. He is also fond of snacking, sleeping, and pulling pranks. Rik was added to the cast in a Sinterklaas special in 1992 as Aart's dumb nephew who almost messed up the party. He became a regular cast member in the next season. The actor left Sesamstraat in 2007 due to a conflict with the NPS. Hoogendoorn also performs in comedy series for adults, and in stage shows.