The special life lesson of Robbert Rodenburg

I don't really like to put people in boxes, but for Robbert Rodenburg, a new little house should be built. Looks quite good, friendly, living in the left lane with the trendy happy few and at the same time with his nose in literature (at least, that's what I thought when I started this interview) and showing off fresh babies on his Instagram account. He can and does a lot. From bringing games to market to in-depth interviews with unexpectedly big names, to hanging out with his girlfriend. Eloïse van Oranje.

Nice Robbert, I always start this section with a number. What number would you give your life at this moment?
“An 8 for sure. Everything feels quite balanced, the amount of work I have I can combine with private life, I have become an uncle. There are many things that give me energy. Both my sisters became mothers this past year; that creates a different dynamic but is very nice.”

You also do so many different things. Do you have a specific goal in mind that you want to achieve, or do you just enjoy what comes your way?
“I started with acting, but I really enjoy presenting and interviewing right now. I am 26, the age at which I can try things for myself and see what I like and what I don't. I used to always consider what others would think about something, but now I find it completely okay to have done something that I might later think: that’s not worth repeating.”

Impressive for someone with so many followers, because then you get compliments but also criticism. You handle that quite well.
“I really learned that from a friend who said to me: ‘But Robbert, you don't like everyone either?’ And that's true. I don't like everyone either and that's completely fine. At the end of the day, I come home to very nice friends and people, and that's what counts.”

The reason for this interview is your new series that can be seen on Prime Video, Good Luck Guys. Tell me everything.
“That's right, we were allowed to make Good Luck Guys for the second time and this year we traveled to Malaysia. Six couples start on an island where they have to see how to survive. Last week, three episodes were shown and now one new episode follows each week.”

Did you imagine when you were young that your life would look like it does now? Or did you really have a firefighter-like job in mind?
“I always knew I wanted this. I have been acting in little plays since I was four. This was what I always wanted, although I did wonder if it was feasible for a boy from a very small village. I had the idea that you had to come from Amsterdam to be successful.”

This section is called Thank God It’s Friday. It’s Friday, 5:00 PM. Where are you, what are you doing, and is there something in your glass?
“Lately, I spend a lot of time at Morgan and Mees in Amsterdam and I prefer to drink down a glass of champagne.”

What does an average Robbert weekend look like? If the word average even applies to your life. 😊
“I prefer to plan nothing. If something stresses me out, it's that I have a lot of private appointments too. It's really nice to wake up on Saturday morning, go work out, and then think: where shall I go for lunch? I can also spend the whole weekend on the couch watching series and ordering food. I'm really into Schitt’s Creek right now, Dan Levy and his father Eugene Levy. It's on HBO Max. And of course, the documentary about Vogue on Disney+.”

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 Ibiza and then via New York to Amsterdam?
“I would then take the train to Paris on Friday afternoon and stay there the whole weekend. I find city trips almost more fun than going on vacation. I love discovering new neighborhoods and restaurants. Recently, I was at Sigaar in Paris, a huge tip!’

What do you read, listen to, watch, and eat on the weekend? I saw you were reading A Little Life.
“That's right. I was going to go on vacation alone for ten days, but then many friends came by. I don't consider it a book that I just pick up on a Tuesday evening. It's heavy in every way, haha.”

I love that you say that. I also started it once because of all the rave reviews and it still sits in the cupboard. Something totally different; what do you do to be so ridiculously fit?
“That goes in phases, but I do exercise a lot. At least, right now I'm in a week where I exercise every day. But during the filming for Good Luck Guys, after a long shooting day, I really didn't feel like it anymore and chose to have a glass of red wine at the bar and learn my lines for the next day.”

Does Sunday have a different vibe than Saturday for you?
“I think I find Sunday even more important than Saturday. At home, we always went to church on Sunday and I really see it as a day of rest. Sunday is really the family-nothing-doing day.”

What’s on your list of “I must and want to go to” restaurants? What does the coming week look like for you?
“There is a new place in Amsterdam, Shu, and it's a bit of a speakeasy cocktail bar. It's been open for months and I still haven't been there. So I really need to go there once. It's 25+, so I just make it in, haha. So I don't run the risk of running into my little brother with his friends. He’s not looking forward to that either.”

And what projects are waiting for you on Monday?
“Then I film the reunion of Good Luck Guys. I find that one of the most fun things to do. Then everyone has seen all the episodes and a lot has happened and you can catch up with everyone. Really looking forward to it.”

Good luck, guys can be seen on Prime Video
Furthermore, you can follow Robbert on @robbertrodenburg