I was working in make-up at the football department of the NOS, an excellent time to avoid any illusions. She used her nails instead of a comb, which she said made me even more nonchalant. I didn’t know if I wanted that.
A few meters away, outgoing minister David van Weel (VVD) took his seat, he is eight years younger and heads two ministries. Foreign Affairs and Asylum and Migration. He said nothing and endured everything in silence. He had his hair short in such a way that it always looked the same. No comb came through and there was no need for nails.
“It’s going to be winter again, I’ll put a cream on it,” he was told.
Then: “And another dollop just to be sure.”
“And another one.”
Some people’s skin is more affected by the seasons than others.
I didn’t need a dollop.
Van Weel’s spokesperson crouched behind me on a bench, she looked at her phone and then remained professionally silent.
“How long until News hour”, Van Weel asked unexpectedly, we all jumped.
She: “About eighteen and a half minutes.”
He was also looking at his phone now.
“Yes, yes,” he said shortly afterwards, but there was no response.
Van Weel had good makeup and was not nervous at all. A little later I saw him pass again. Unmoved, as if he had just been to the supermarket
He stood up, tightened his jacket and walked to the hallway, his spokesperson also stood up. Side by side, they walked to the hallway, where they were joined by a security guard who followed them.
They say this is a messy cabinet, yet it looked professional, but it could also be that Van Weel was born as a minister.
Because I had time to spare, I walked into the Nieuwsuur control room half an hour later. They were live. We saw Van Weel on eight or nine screens at the same time, he had good makeup and was not nervous at all. Jeroen Wollaars asked him about the peace negotiations on Ukraine, the visit of Ukrainian President Zelensky to the Netherlands and American President Trump. Van Weel did say worrying, but not crazy things.
A little later I saw him pass again. Unmoved, as if he had just been to the supermarket. I heard two employees talking to each other.
“Does Van Weel want a warm wet rag?”
She went to inquire at the makeup artist.
“There’s not too much to it.”
They left it at that.
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