Was offered to direct a sequel to
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), but he passed on the opportunity, as he preferred to do
Amsterdamned (1988) first. He later admitted that he should have postponed the latter film. Was also approached to make a film with
Jean-Claude Van Damme, but declined because he had just founded his own movie studio and couldn't leave the Netherlands so soon. He later regretted both decisions, calling them the reason why he didn't have a Hollywood career.