According to TV expert Rob Goossens, Martien Meiland has nothing to do with ordinary people. That is why, according to him, it is even more important that he is currently making entertainment out of a life on welfare.
The Meilandjes are under fire because of their Monday viewing figure hit Chateau Bijstand on SBS 6, in which the very wealthy family pretends to live on welfare for a month. TV connoisseur Rob Goossens of RTL Boulevard is one of the people who finds this completely inappropriate.
Ordinary man
Although the viewing figures are very good, Rob states that this is still a disaster for the popularity of the family. “The worst thing is that the broadcasters could have seen that coming. After all, Martien has nothing to do with the mob,” he writes in his column Veronica Superguide†
It is inappropriate to make these kinds of programs with someone so far removed from the common man, Rob thinks. “He owes his fortune to his popularity with the common man, but it is not intended that it comes too close.”
Piranhas
Rob points out that the Meilandjes even move to avoid their fans. “He is willing to sell his current home in Noordwijk, which offers exactly zero privacy, at a loss. He is better off in their new house, because it has a big fence.”
He concludes: “If it had also had a moat, he would undoubtedly have thrown in crocodiles and piranhas. As long as super fans Anja and Mandy from Helmond, who have already seen all episodes of Chateau Meiland five times, can’t get too close.”
