Dinand Woesthoff and Willie Wartaal are set to leave their roles as coaches on The Voice of Holland as the show prepares to merge with its Belgian counterpart. This announcement comes from TV authority Tina Nijkamp, who confirms that popular duo Suzan & Freek will remain.
© RTL
Tina Nijkamp predicts that The Voice of Holland will air its final edition next year. In 2028, viewers can expect a Dutch-Flemish version, as RTL has recently been taken over by Belgian entities. The trend of collaborations between the two countries is evident as programming is increasingly co-produced to cut costs.
A New Era for The Voice
Chantal Janzen and Edson da Graça are gearing up to begin recording the next season of the show. Nijkamp states, “I honestly think this will be the last Dutch edition of The Voice for the foreseeable future. It’s pretty certain that next year’s edition will be a co-production with Belgium.”
In her podcast, Tina’s TV Update, she elaborates, “Why? Because it’s significantly cheaper; you can share costs between two countries. This may also open up opportunities for a live finale, which would provide the necessary boost for the show.”
Facilitating Change Without Loss of Face
Nijkamp further notes that this shift makes it easier to part ways with certain jury members. “It allows for a change in the judging panel without losing face. Contracts are reportedly closed for two years, so they can easily exit without looking bad.”
With this strategic shift, they can say, “We’re merging with the Belgians, so it’s understandable that my position needs to be reconsidered.” However, it’s likely that some jurors will remain amidst the transition.
The Future of Coaches
The big question of who stays and who goes arises. “I believe Suzan & Freek, health permitting for Freek, are very likely to remain, as they are popular in Belgium too,” Nijkamp states.
Conversely, she expresses concern over the future of Dinand Woesthoff and Willie Wartaal. “These two might be at risk as the show seeks a fresh approach for the Belgian-Dutch collaboration.”
