‘Plenty of criticism, but still massively watch Chateau Bijstand’ | Columns & Opinion

One

They receive 35,000 euros per episode to live on welfare for a month, the Netherlands’ most hysterical family – of which we can now all dream of all the tricks and pre-chewed tile-worthy statements. It is in stark contrast to what someone who is actually on social assistance gets credited to the account every month. One, isn’t it?

Wines, wines

It made me feel extremely uncomfortable when I read a few months ago what the Meilandjes’ new revenue model was. Just being poor in a tiny rental home. Well, we all immediately had a picture of that. Martien who screams the whole thing together because he can’t turn his ass there. And then Maxime, who takes it badly that ‘wines, wines’ is not included at 12:00, simply because there is no money for it.

Popcorn

The criticism was strong and justified. Still, I never thought it was going to flop. That’s how it works; we still want to look at ‘the accident on the other side of the roadway’. Everyone curses viewing traffic jams, but we do hit the brakes en masse. Everyone finds the concept of ‘tasting for welfare’ disfigured. Yet the first episode we were cozy with 1.1 million viewers, a bowl of popcorn and a glass of orange juice in front of the TV.

Earlier

I didn’t look, I didn’t need to. I did read on Twitter that Erica shouted about the house they are staying in: “Yes, that’s how people used to live.” Beyond the shame, really. How would such a statement resonate with people for whom that house A: is barely affordable and B: is their safe haven?

Poverty

You do not experience poverty in a month’s time. Poverty is in the unopened envelopes full of bills. The constant fear of mail, of bailiffs. Poverty is in a blind panic when something is broken or threatens to break. Not being able to buy a present for your child on birthdays or Sinterklaas. Not even new shoes, if the current ones become way too small…

BN’er tired

That charity is, if you ask me, a good cover to cash in a lot yourself and grab those spotlights again, because imagine someone forgetting them for a month. Isn’t it possible to address this subject with integrity without a sauce of entertainment? I’m also just a bit BN’er-tired. Do we really need Martien and Erica to see how a large part of the Netherlands survives on a daily basis?

Bombastic screaming

Somehow I hope that the ratings tonight will give a signal. That the first episode was a bit of a monkey watch and that we are now clinging to our points of criticism again en masse. But I’m afraid the popcorn is already ready for another dose of bombastic screaming in thrift stores. Well, in your own way you have of course empathized with the less fortunate in our society. And then go to bed with a good feeling.

Also listen to The Culture and Media podcast: ‘The criticism of the Meilandjes is not justified’:

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