God zij dank, het is vrijdag: Tina Nijkamp

There are people you meet that you often think about years later. Tina Nijkamp is on that list for me. How she called her sister every day to discuss the topics for the Koffietijd broadcast, how she said she felt a wave of happiness when her beloved put the key in the lock, and that when she came home from work, she changed clothes so she could transform two days into one. Someone I already knew back then would go much further than being a creative advisor for John de Mol Productions. And so it turned out. Meanwhile, Tina Nijkamp is the television expert of the Netherlands and I am so curious how her week was now that the TV season has officially started.

Dear Tina, I always start this column with a number. What number would you give your life at this moment? Does such a clash with Jan Slagter affect that, or have you developed a jealousy-inducing thick skin by now?
I give it a 9. It’s not a 10 because I always find a new school year exciting for my children, especially since my youngest is starting high school this week. I might be a bit unnecessarily nervous about it. Whether everything will go well. I’m also not a summer person, so I find the weather way too warm. I really look forward to autumn, winter, and much colder weather. But I am very grateful that things are going well, especially with the health of my loved ones. The clash with Jan Slagter doesn’t affect my score because I know I’m actually right. It would have been different if it hadn’t been true; then I would have been bothered by it. It’s his problem that he is angry. By the way, it surprises me; I’ve known Jan for 20 years and also as someone who could relativize the media world quite well.

You express your clear opinion about programs and criticize the choices of channel bosses. That must mean that there isn’t always a glass of champagne filled when you enter the room. How do you deal with that?
I’ve never really been concerned about that. Not since my youth. The most important lesson from my parents was that you should always follow your own path. A very wise lesson that I also try to pass on to my children. In the television world, people always take everything very personally, while I try to provide analyses based on content rather than on the person. But still, people always see everything personally. And like me, you sometimes end up on the “naughty step” with someone or an organization. Too bad, but it is what it is. It’s also typical that you only hear from some channel bosses when they are angry, but never when they agree with you. Other channel bosses are fine with everything and don’t text or do so much less.

The first Monday of September means the big season opening. You were of course ready with pen and notepad this week. Which programs particularly caught your attention?
Especially the talk show Eva and Bar Laat. Because they are 2 programs that are not aired once a week but 4 times a week. So those are important shows for the channel, the broadcaster, and for the viewer.

This column is called Thank God It’s Friday, but actually, you work every day. How do you combine that with a family and overall well-being?
Compared to my job as an editor-in-chief, executive producer, or channel boss, my working hours are quite manageable. In the morning, it’s always rush hour, even on weekends, but because it’s also a hobby, I don’t mind. Since I work a lot from home, I’m actually always home when the kids come home from school and have enough time for household chores and of course to walk our dear dog a few times a day. My law studies were last year at the bottom of my priorities, but I still hope to pick that up again this academic year because it would be such a shame if I didn’t finish it and I really still want to become a lawyer.

Okay Tina, back to this column. It’s Friday, 5:00 PM. Where are you, what are you doing, and is there something in your glass?
Actually, I’m always home, the kids too. They are playing or gaming/tik-toking and I’m preparing our Friday tradition “snack night”. Every Friday, we have snack night with the family starting at 6:00 PM with cheeses, sausages (my son loves those), sushi, raw vegetables, baguette, and various other snacks. My husband is often home around 5:45 PM on Fridays, so that’s just in time. My husband and I then drink a non-alcoholic beer or a glass of wine. After that, we watch TV or a movie at 8:30 PM. Tonight that’s Holland's Got Talent.

What does an average Tina weekend look like? And how many TVs do you have in your house?
An average weekend is a weekend at home with driving to tennis matches for the kids and my son’s Kung Fu class. A typical Saturday tradition is also picking up all the Saturday newspapers at the Bruna around the corner and reading them. Wonderful. I love reading. And of course, walking the dog. Very occasionally a dinner or birthday, but not every weekend. I see friends more often during the week. This weekend we do have the neighborhood gathering, which is very nice once a year. Sometimes I visit my niece Aniek, the daughter of my sister who passed away far too early, but usually, we also meet during the week for lunch and shopping. I see her very often.

Suppose earthly matters like time difference, flight shame, money, and travel time don’t exist. What does your ideal weekend look like then? Starting in the east of the country and then via New York to Hong Kong?
Yes, I definitely start in the east in Holten with my niece Aniek. I love her very much. Then with the family and her to Sydney to have lunch on our old balcony there. When I was in my late twenties, I lived there with my husband for 2 years and we had a beautiful view of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, but I enjoyed that view far too little. After that, I would travel to Las Vegas with the same company for a few hours. I find it a fascinating city with a lot of energy. And then we would spend the rest of the weekend in Austria. That has been my favorite country since corona. Beautiful in all seasons. I really regret not being born there; I find it so beautiful and feel very much at home there. I used to find New York and cities like London and Paris beautiful, but since the corona years, I haven’t felt the same about that real huge crowd. So just one, in this case, Las Vegas, I find enough.

What do you like to read, listen to, watch, and eat on the weekend?
All Saturday newspapers, family TV programs, and I also enjoy playing board games and shopping a bit at Gelderlandplein.

You are so busy with linear television, do you have time for a Netflix show in between?
In itself, yes. But strangely enough, I often don’t have the patience to binge a series. I quickly skip to the end to see how it ends. I do enjoy watching documentaries with 1 or 2 parts.

Which podcasts are your favorites? I really enjoy yours!
Nice to hear! I also enjoy listening to De mediameiden, AD Mediapodcast, Strikt Prive, De Communicados, Content Wars, and Weer een Dag.

Does Sunday have a different vibe than Saturday for you?
Certainly. Sunday is somewhat more of a rest day from the past. On Saturday, you still often do the things that need to be done, like grocery shopping and household chores. My favorite time of the weekend is Saturday at 5:00 PM. Then the most practical matters are done, and you still have a whole Sunday ahead of you.

What’s on your list of “restaurants I must and want to go to”?
I never really have that. I prefer to sit in a brasserie, but then a large one. In Amsterdam, there are many small restaurants where you sit on top of each other, I don’t like that. I personally prefer a classic large café like Wildschut.

And then Monday. What time does it start again and what are you going to do?
My alarm goes off at 6:45 AM and then I first make breakfast for the family, prepare the lunch boxes, walk the dog, and then from 8 AM the viewing figures. Then at 9:30 AM/10:00 AM the podcast recording and then writing the column for the Telegraaf and/or going to the University. Sometimes RTLBoulevard, Editie NL, or Shownieuws calls for a quote. In the evening, very occasionally a talk show. But usually, I’m just home.

Photo credits: Mark Uyl
Instagram: @tinanijkamp