Tijs van den Brink Steps Down from Television: Reflections from Interview Subjects
the upcoming issue of the VARA guide (available from Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025) will feature a look back at the career of EO presenter Tijs van den Brink as he prepares to leave the television world, including insights from those he’s interviewed over the years. The guide delves into the challenging conversations Van den Brink facilitated, and the respect he garnered even from those with whom he profoundly disagreed.
In a 2016 interview featured in Adieu god?, Midas Dekkers sparked controversy with his blunt statements about life’s purpose and his deeply unsettling views on disabled children, referring to them as “failed children” and “morons.” Dekkers,reflecting on his experience with Van den Brink,stated,”You let such a Christian dog in with some suspicion. But once he opens his mouth – or more importantly, opens his ears – you feel like you’re in good hands.” Despite their strong disagreements – Dekkers’ perspective clashing with the Christian belief that all children come from God – Van den Brink maintained a respectful and listening approach. Dekkers praised this, noting, “he kept listening, wich is a joy in a world where everyone always wants to talk.” He further described Van den Brink as embodying a diffrent kind of excellence, “a form of excellence from people who always only get an 8.5. That is also a top achievement.”
Jeroen Pauw, interviewed in 2017 following concerns raised by Van den Brink about Pauw’s critical stance on religion, also acknowledged the interviewer’s skill. Van den Brink had previously expressed worry over Pauw’s claim that “religious books are terrible and always call for violence.” Pauw admitted the difficulty of religious individuals defending their beliefs, stating, “He who claims must prove. and if you claim that God exists, provide proof. That’s the big problem for all believers: they don’t have that.” However, he also recognized Van den Brink’s fairness, noting Van den Brink perceived him as stricter.Pauw lauded van den Brink as “a persistent and open interviewer,” describing him as “tenacious because he does not allow himself to be deterred from his path and open because he goes in unarmed.” while acknowledging Van den Brink’s frequent nominations for the Sonja Barend award, Pauw suggested it was “somewhat unjustified that he has never won.” He concluded, “If this move makes him happy, he should do it.”
The full feature will be available in VARA guide 49, hitting newsstands, stores, and the app on December 2nd, 2025.
