Martien Meiland does not recognize himself in the image that he would perform an act on television. He denounces the people from Uithoorn who clap in the media about how he is ‘in real life’.
The Meilandjes lived in a terraced house in Uithoorn for a month for the recordings of their latest TV show Chateau Bijstand. In this they experience what it is like to get by on social assistance benefits. They visited many local shopkeepers and local residents, but they are quite negative about the TV family in the show media.
Martin under fire
For example, Martien Meiland has been accused of performing an act several times. For example, the owner of the Uithoorn branch of the famous cheese shop Alexanderhoeve says that Martien is very different in real life.
This conscious Mr Arie reveals in the Story: “When Martien received a signal that they were ready, his hand went up and he walked into the lunchroom as Martien Meiland the TV star. After ten minutes he was outside again. It’s charade, that act of his. Martin is fake!”
What does Martin think?
What does Martien think of all that criticism? Jaïr Ferwerda asks him for his item in Jinek. “There was a bit of criticism of you, like: is it all real what we get to see or is it all a bit like the actor Meiland?”
Martien: “People are already prejudiced. Then I think: why are you going to spit right away?”
Jaïr: “It’s becoming a bit of a trick now, the Meilandjes.”
Martien: “Yeah, well, if someone thinks that, then they have to find it. I think we just put together a very good program that will be on the air for ten weeks and let them watch first and then make a judgment.”