The recordings of the Top2000 quiz have been canceled due to a critical article in de Volkskrant about presenter Matthijs van Nieuwkerk. A spokesperson for broadcaster NTR confirmed this to the ANP news agency on Saturday morning. Several former colleagues of DWDD accused Van Nieuwkerk of transgressive behaviour. The NTR then decided that “today is not the right day to record a festive quiz”. In recent years, Van Nieuwkerk presented the show together with music journalist Leo Blokhuis.
Recently spoke de Volkskrant with dozens of former employees of the talk show. In the article they complain about Van Nieuwkerk’s outbursts of anger. They also said that he could publicly humiliate colleagues if they did not deliver quality in the eyes of the presenter. That would have contributed to a culture of fear. Afterwards, many victims reported to the company doctor of BNNVARA because of panic attacks or burnouts.
In the daily newspaper, Van Nieuwkerk reacts with shock to the revelations. “I am very sorry that we have not been able to give everyone a safe and pleasant feeling and that it has even made colleagues sick,” said the 62-year-old presenter. He does say, however, that “times are changing” and questions are being asked today that have hardly been asked in the program’s 15 years. “What is undoubtedly the gain of this ethical revival; I remain proud of DWDD.”