Joke Bruijs

Joke Bruijs (14 January 1952 – 16 September 2025) was a Dutch actress, singer and cabaret artist. She performed with big bands, recorded songs, and appeared in films and Dutch television. She was referred to as the "First Lady of Rotterdam".

Career In 1966, Bruijs joined a pop group, The Spitfires, who were based in Rotterdam.

In 1970, she competed in the National Song Contest, performing the song "Okido" and placing fourth.

She worked with singer and actor Gerard Cox,

In 2009, she began appearing in the long-running Dutch soap opera Goede tijden, slechte tijden. She returned to perform on the show in 2010 and 2011. On screen she plays the mother of characters Rik and Danny de Jong before her character left for Canada. Her character returned to the story in 2018.

She sang on tour with The Ramblers. The performed together in the 1960s on Dutch radio.

Personal life and death Bruijs was married to the singer Gerard Cox; they remained good friends.

Bruijs died on 16 September 2025, at the age of 73. Her death occurred three days after the death of her former husband, Gerard Cox.

Honours and awards In 2003, Rotterdam presented her with an Erasmus Pin.

After fifty years as a performer, Bruijs was celebrated with a concert at De Doelen on 7 May 2017, that featured North Sea Symphonic Bigbad Orchestra.