A television phenomenon from Dutch television history is making a comeback on the internet. Many stories are told about the time when almost every Dutch family would sit in front of the television in the evening with a cup of coffee or a beer. Think of names like Mies Bouman, Willem Duys, and Willem Ruis. These names may sound familiar to you as well, although in other countries they might be known by different names. But times change quickly, and that also applies to the things the average person spends their evenings doing. Around 1995, the internet started drawing many television viewers away from their TVs. Many of the presenters I mentioned earlier have since passed away or lost the battle to the internet, but a few managed to make the transition, or even stay active on both media.
Robert Jensen, former Veronica host, now hosts a podcast with controversial politician Thierry Baudet, discussing automation and the future.
On Saturday evening, I had the opportunity to attend the recording of one of these former television presenters, who has made the switch to the internet in a remarkably subtle way. Okay, he may be somewhat more controversial than many of his predecessors, and he is not always well-appreciated by everyone, but Robert Jensen – born in Denmark and trained in Canada as a radio and TV presenter – the man who once held an executive position at the renowned Dutch broadcaster Veronica, was recording his new podcast show in the TV studios in Almere for an attentive audience and the camera.
Together with his ever-hardworking assistant Niels, Robert produced yet another one of his fabulous shows, this time specially for the internet. As a special guest, Robert welcomed Thierry Baudet (born January 28, 1983), one of the most controversial politicians in the Netherlands, with whom he discussed the future of the world. Baudet tried to convince the audience of his vision, in which he predicted an even greater wave of automation. There were also audience members present who believed that Dutch legislation should be adjusted to better protect the citizens. However, Baudet saw little chance of these changes, as he argued that the Netherlands should adapt to the rest of the world. I wholeheartedly recommend that you watch this show. The website for his shows is Jensen.nl. In my opinion, it is the kind of program that everyone around the world should see and hear.
