Television personality Tina Nijkamp publicly questioned the casting of singer Joost Klein as a coach on the upcoming season of The Voice van Vlaanderen, suggesting his perceived lack of engagement would not be well-received in the Netherlands. Nijkamp, a prominent figure in Dutch television, shared a screenshot of a promotional video featuring Klein on her Instagram Stories, commenting, “I understand why they didn’t choose him in the Netherlands. That apparent disinterest of Joost doesn’t really fit with The Voice in the Netherlands.”
The criticism stems from a promotional video released by VTM, the Flemish broadcaster airing The Voice van Vlaanderen, which shows Klein appearing surprised when a contestant automatically joins his team after he is the only coach to turn his chair during a blind audition. “How does this perform now? She’s automatically on my team?” Klein asks in the clip, prompting a confirmation from a fellow coach.
Klein’s appointment to The Voice van Vlaanderen follows his controversial disqualification from the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Entertainment commentator Evert Santegoeds has previously described the decision to hire Klein as a risk, predicting potential backstage conflict due to the singer’s unpredictable nature. Santegoeds referenced an incident at the Song Contest where Klein reportedly acted aggressively towards a camerawoman.
The Voice van Vlaanderen is set to premiere on February 13th, with Klein joining coaches Koen Wauters, Mathieu Terryn, and Laura Tesoro. The Belgian version of the talent show mirrors the format of the Dutch edition, beginning with blind auditions. The Dutch version of the show, which will feature Ilse DeLange, Suzan & Freek, Willie Wartaal and Dinand Woesthoff, will forgo live shows this season, recording the finale months in advance of its broadcast.
The selection of Dinand Woesthoff as a coach for the Dutch edition has also drawn scrutiny, with recent comments made by the singer sparking debate. RTL has not responded to requests for comment regarding Nijkamp’s criticism of the casting choices across both versions of the program.
