Jackie & Oopjen

Twelve-year-old Jackie has made the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam her second home, since her mother Mouna works there as one of its conservators. Jackie is wandering the museum’s famous corridors after hours – as she could often be found doing. One particular night during a special exhibition on Rembrandt’s acclaimed portraits of Marten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, a remarkable thing occurs. Passing the two famous images, Oopjen’s eyes appear to be following Jackie down the hall. This is an ordinary assumption to make, especially with Rembrandt’s mastery of the paint. But this really was no optical illusion, as Oopjen suddenly appears in front of Jackie on her way out. Jackie, however, isn’t interested to talk as she thinks this woman is just another one of those actresses hired by the museum to promote the exhibition. Yet Jackie soon discovers that she’s the real deal and Oopjen explains that her reason for stepping out of the portrait was that she thought Jackie was her long lost sister, Aeltje – the resemblance, apparently, is uncanny. Upon realising it isn’t her sister Aeltje, Oopjen breaks down in tears, unable to see any way out of her predicament. Jackie, however, is not one to despair very easily and has proven herself quite adept at solving other people’s problems. Without telling her mother she decides to take Oopjen home, so the two can go looking for the missing portrait of Oopjen’s sister. But how on earth is she going to keep Oopjes hidden from her mother. And more importantly, how is she going to get Oopjen back into her painting.