Good news for fans of De Wandeling: the episodes of the most popular TV program in the existence of Omroep Brabant can now be seen on Brabant+, the broadcaster’s streaming service. The first two seasons, a total of sixty episodes, can be seen again since this week.
With more than four hundred thousand viewers per week, De Wandeling was a real crowd puller. Between 1998 and 2005, a total of 240 episodes were made of the program with presenter René Bastiaanse, who went on the road with cameraman Léon Hagedoorn.
Part of Brabant was visited in each episode. Presenter René Bastiaanse has fond memories of that period. “Although it was about 25 years ago, I experience it as one big party. Just two guys going out together.”
“I’m a bad sleeper, at night I made my story.”
Bastiaanse always went out with his regular cameraman Léon Hagedoorn. There was a nice chemistry between the two. According to Bastiaanse, this was because the duo never cared about the viewer. “We sometimes didn’t know in advance what it would be. I walked too hyper and then Leon got over it with his subtle commentary. That was always good. Another important ingredient was the fact that people from Brabant are interested in Brabant. And we told that in a pleasant way.”
Each episode of De Wandeling was also richly filled with tidbits and facts. “The editors prepared that. I’m a bad sleeper. At night I made a story out of it and I told it at a fast pace. At De Wandeling I always had my mother in mind. My mother liked to hear stories . I then made sure that the story was also easy for her to follow. She was my natural audience. Light-footed and factually correct.”
“Cameraman Léon was great, especially when walking backwards.”
Bastiaanse has another compliment in his pocket for cameraman Léon. “He was important to De Wandeling. Not only with his comments, but also with his camera work. I was quite mobile, but Léon could follow me. He was a rock in running behind. And rain or shine: we always trudged on. “
Bastiaanse doesn’t have to think long about which episode typifies the program De Wandeling the most. “The walk through the sewer in Bergen op Zoom. That was The Walk in optima forma. We drag, climb and talk about underground. Just act normal and don’t lick. I don’t have a favorite place, all places in Brabant are dear to me.”
About Brabant+
With the new app from Omroep Brabant you can watch series and documentaries from Brabant soil, free of charge and without advertising, wherever and whenever you want. Including the new Ministry of Brabant Affairs. In addition, the app offers the possibility to watch live TV and listen to Omroep Brabant radio. More information on omroepbrabant.nl/brabantplus.