Jan Klaassen wordt Verwer (Jan Klaassen becomes a house painter) is one of the texts relating Jan Klaassen’s adventures in Jan Klaassen's leven en heldendaden (Life and heroic deeds of Jan Klaassen; pp.13-15), which was published under the pseudonym Tijl Uilenspiegel in 1880. This play is a “joyous tragedy” (vroollijk treurspel). Jan Klaassen is the traditional hero of hand-puppet street shows in the Netherlands. He appeared in the second half of the 18th century and most likely derives from the figure of Polichinelle.

Jan Klaassen’s mother takes him to a house painter so that he can start an apprenticeship with him. The mother explains that Jan is difficult and “too honest”. The painter replies that if he causes trouble, he will spank him. Before working, Jan really wants to eat and drink, but the painter gives him a spanking . Because his back takes on all kinds of colours after this beating, Jan believes that he can learn something from this painter.