Alex hangs half back as he walks. His counterweight is needed for the enthusiastic black and white spotted fighting dog who drags him jerkily through the streets of a working-class neighborhood in Amersfoort. “No, you don’t know how to bite everything you come across,” says the boss. The presenter cautiously approaches the duo. He has heard that the dog is “a little dangerous” and keeps a few meters away. As long as you do that, there is no problem, the local resident assures. He says that the popular is declining in his neighborhood. New residents who don’t interfere with others, people he doesn’t know, he hears different accents. “The friendly atmosphere is less.”
Tijs van den Brink is going into the country in a three-part series, looking for The Lost Voice† On the eve of the municipal elections of March 16, the journalist wants to understand why people do not use their voting rights. Nearly half of the voters stayed at home in the last ballot box. He will talk to “disengaged, doubting and disappointed citizens”.
In Monday’s episode he visited poor East Groningen. On Tuesday evening he delved into housing problems in Amersfoort and on Wednesday he will focus on the lack of care that residents of Delft experience.
In Amersfoort Van den Brink met people who see their living environment threatened. From nimbies who don’t tolerate high-rise flats next door to caravan dwellers who are not allowed to expand their camp. From a neat lady who has been fighting for the preservation of greenery for decades to Henk who is afraid that he will become homeless due to the planned demolition of his neighborhood. He already has the gas bottles ready, as part of his resistance.
Tonight, around half past ten @NPO2 the second episode of The Lost Voice. Alexander is most likely not going to vote… pic.twitter.com/GkDtxWkA1T
— Tijs van den Brink (@TijsvandenBrink) March 1, 2022
Van den Brink provides interesting insights into the way of life and thought of damaged citizens. The fatalism in Groningen is overwhelming. Voting is useless, they don’t listen to you. “They don’t do what you want anyway.” They don’t keep their promises. What are they not doing right? “They don’t do everything right.” She, she, she.
The album also sticks with the makers, with just a little too much Toots Thielemans and Eric Satie. In Amersfoort the recurrent complaint is the lack of participation. The journalist will also announce that himself. “They do things without really listening,” says Van den Brink along with neighborhood activists. And to Henk with his gas bottles: “Smoke out, that’s what they do.”
Unheard of news
Van den Brink skilfully sheds light on the disappointed voter, but then adds little to it. Then broadcasts of half an hour become a bit long. He hardly finds anything out, does not get any reactions or rebuttals from local authorities. As if the municipality of Amersfoort has the nefarious plan only to bother its citizens.
What would the makers aim for? Van den Brink’s concern about people who do not vote seems genuine. But the result is one in the category: you see, it doesn’t matter anyway. Vox pop and done.
It is reminiscent of the political interpreters of Unheard of News from new riot broadcaster ON. In the news section they sit on the far left and right of the presenters, turned a quarter of a turn. That’s how they shout something, from their self-chosen sidelines.
The remarkable thing is: these ‘panel members’ are always directors of the broadcaster itself. But that’s not what the broadcaster says. Tuesday, chairman of the board Arnold Karskens on the right and secretary Reinette Klever on the left. Former treasurer Pepijn van Houwelingen – the man who threatened MPs with tribunals – was recently there as a guest. The faltering presenter Ahmed Aarad visibly had trouble interrupting his house pointer and boss Karskens.
This column will be written by various authors until April 25.