René Karst is the most recent name in the list of celebrities who died this year. Quite a few have passed away, and emotionally more than usual. How is that possible? The visitors of NU.nl speculate about it.
Two more celebrities have died in recent weeks: Viola Holt and René Karst. They both passed away quite unexpectedly and join a long line of stars who have passed away in 2025. How exactly is that possible? The visitors of NU.nl worry about it and speculate about it with each other.
’18 so far’
Indy thinks it’s all very strange, she says. “It seems to be going much faster this year than in previous years. This is of course personal, everyone has a different impact on each other. Very striking for me in 2025 (I only stick to Dutch speakers): Manuela Kemp, Ron Brandsteder, Dieuwertje Blok, Brûni Heinke, Rob de Nijs, Loratta Schrijver.”
And so she continues: “Harmen Siezen, Danny Verbiest (Samson), Jan Terlouw, Wiegel, George Kooymans, Chiel Montagne, Gerard Cox, Joke Bruijs, Joost Prinsen, Viola Holt, Paul van Gorcum, René Karst. 18 so far.”
‘Much less’
According to Indy, far fewer celebrities die in other years. “I look at, for example, 2024: Sjoukje Dijkstra, Wieteke van Dort, Jacques d’Ancona, John Bernard and Desi Bouterse. There are five. 2023: Harry de Winter, Paul van Vliet, Willem Nijholt and Cilly Dartell. That is four.
She concludes: “Of course I missed people, that is not intentional. But I find a difference of 18 compared to 4-5 remarkable.”
More celebrities
Mr. M. Scholtens, another visitor, has an explanation for this. “I had exactly the same thought as you, until I realized that many more celebrities have of course joined in recent years.”
“This has to do with the growth of social media, reality TV and the greater number of media platforms and over time this has of course increased. TV only really started in the 1970s and then with only a few channels.”
Population structure
According to Okidokidoki, more celebrities are dying because the Netherlands is aging. “Look at the demography of the Netherlands. More Dutch people die every year and that is due to the population structure. And for the time being, this will also increase by a few thousand every year.”
“But indeed the feeling has more to do with the growth of the media and the fact that you yourself are getting older and are therefore more affected when people your age or heroes from the past die.”
‘It’s not right!’
Pietje corrects the other responders. “I also find it striking how many famous Dutch people have died in 2025, but your numbers from previous years are not entirely correct. In 2024 you will reach 17 and then Desi Bouterse is not even among them, because she was not a Dutch person.”
And in 2023? “Then there were 37.”