Claudia de Breij Faces Backlash for Silence on Matthijs van Nieuwkerk in BNNVARA Guide
Comedian Claudia de Breij is drawing criticism for failing to mention Matthijs van Nieuwkerk in a contribution to the annual BNNVARA guide, amidst a wider controversy over the broadcasterS apparent erasure of the former television host. The omission has sparked outrage from media commentator Tina Nijkamp and Vandaag inside panelist Johan Derksen, who accuse de Breij of hypocrisy and cowardice.
The dispute stems from allegations of inappropriate behavior by Van Nieuwkerk during his long-running talk show De Wereld Draait Door (DWDD). Following an internal investigation, BNNVARA significantly reduced Van Nieuwkerk’s role and subsequently removed him from future programming. The current guide, intended to showcase the broadcaster’s talent, features numerous BNNVARA personalities but conspicuously excludes van Nieuwkerk, a move Nijkamp describes as “falsification of history.”
nijkamp, writing in a column for De Telegraaf, pointedly noted de Breij’s silence despite her past role as a Monday talk show presenter on DWDD. “But she is cowardly silent about the man who made it possible,” Nijkamp wrote. “And simultaneously occurring she fulminates about what is wrong in the Netherlands. What is wrong? So this.”
Derksen echoed this sentiment on Vandaag Inside, expressing his annoyance that Van Nieuwkerk, “the biggest VARA star I have experienced in my time,” was absent from the guide’s cover featuring other prominent figures like Erik Dijkstra and tim Hofman. “It really annoyed me,” Derksen stated.
De Breij briefly acknowledged the show was ‘special’ in her contribution, but did not name Van nieuwkerk. Nijkamp further argued that focusing solely on Van Nieuwkerk’s “outbursts” ignores the obligation of BNNVARA’s management, who ”looked away for years” and have sence moved on to other positions.
