How do you go from a boy in love in front of the TV to an obsessed stalker? In a new documentary, experts, psychologists and friends shed light on the behavior of Gert van der Graaf from Steenwijksmoer, ‘the notorious stalker’ of ABBA singer Agnetha Fältskog. Van der Graaf himself will also speak.
The doings of Van der Graaf are analyzed in the 85-minute Prime Video documentary. At the age of eight, the Drent becomes fascinated by singer Agnetha. Her eyes catch him during ABBA’s performance with Waterloo at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. “They were brilliant,” he says in the documentary Take a chance. “I fell hopelessly in love with her.”
Van der Graaf’s obsession continues. He begins to believe that he is in a relationship with the Swedish. He buys a house in Sweden to be close to Agnetha. And all the effort eventually leads to the realization of his dream: the two get into a relationship. When the relationship is broken, the dark side of Van de Graaf becomes visible. He starts stalking Agnetha with phone calls, letters and unwanted visits.
The Swedish court sentences Van der Graaf, he has to leave the country for two years. The feeling for Agnetha does not diminish after the conviction, in fact: Van der Graaf goes wrong again.
Van der Graaf still has feelings for Agnetha. “I miss her terribly. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t think of her,” he says in the documentary, which will be released on May 19.