paroolOct 4, 2026, 12:42

Henny Huisman, Jetty Mathurin and Cees Grimbergen celebrate 75 years of television: ‘I wanted to be seen and heard’

Dutch television celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special program featuring veterans Henny Huisman, Jetty Mathurin, and Cees Grimbergen. The guests shared personal reflections on the evolution of the industry, their struggles for representation, and the changing standards of television journalism.

The Netherlands is celebrating 75 years of national television, marking the anniversary of the first official broadcast on October 2, 1951, which was introduced by Jeanne Roos. To commemorate this milestone, AvroTros organized a special event featuring three veteran television personalities—Henny Huisman, Jetty Mathurin, and Cees Grimbergen—who discussed their storied careers and the evolving nature of the medium with host Cornald Maas. Huisman shared anecdotes about the rigorous training he received from industry pioneers, while Mathurin highlighted her mission to increase representation for Black women on screen. Grimbergen, known for his work on programs like Rondom 10, reflected on the shift from thoughtful journalistic dialogue to today's opinion-driven media landscape. He emphasized the importance of humility, noting that he once kept a wall of negative reviews to remind his team that they could never please everyone. The event served as both a nostalgic look at the history of Dutch broadcasting and a reflection on the personal growth of those who shaped it.

Culture Netherlands

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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