Presentator, Journalist
"New Year's Eve program from Diligentia in The Hague. Journalistic presenters suddenly become a bit like theater performers."
Between Christmas and New Year’s, we presented, for several seasons in a row, a year-end review of the news from the theater Diligentia in The Hague. This too was a daring venture—because in front of a full and enthusiastic audience, journalistic presenters suddenly found themselves becoming theater performers.
Het Nederland van Netwerk was a mix of short reports, hilarious clips, and interviews with remarkable guests.
With the help of the brilliant writer Justus van Oel, it had a tone completely different from the more traditional Journaal year-end review.
It was, with a wink, also a statement: a snapshot of the national mindset. The growing "Verpoening" of society. The already widening gap between voter and elected representative. With both laughter and tears, we commented on the self-image of a country basking in contentment and self-importance.
In hindsight, it cast a long shadow ahead—toward the Fortuyn revolution and the later rise of protest parties that would begin to undermine the political landscape. The Netherlands was becoming a different country.
