Dear Martijn Krabbé,

“Ready to Rumble,” you wrote under your last Instagram post after you had put your children and your great love in the sun. And after you told us that you were not getting any better.

“Ready to Rumble” is your signature line with which you boldly opened The Voice spectacle. It always gave me a shiver. Through your voice and the way you held the microphone, I felt, even if just a hint, the tension that coursed through the candidates' nerves. That little phrase makes you such an exceptional presenter, because I just know for sure that you came up with it yourself.

People who work with you praise you for your wit, your wordplay. You must have often been laughing in the editing room because yet another delicious two-layer joke rolled off your tongue. I also know that the people who work with you find it so enjoyable to be with you. When a production assistant, wobbly because you are the great Martijn Krabbé, stood at your door to bring the script, you insisted that they come in. Before they knew it, you had filled a glass and there was a plate set at the table.

I still remember Leo van der Goot, the then director of TV at RTL, telling me who he considered to be the best presenter ever. That was you, Martijn. Because you, you can do everything. You can do radio, you can do studio, and you can do the programs on location, which we call TV ENG programs. In everything you are equally good and equally fun.

Martijn, we don't really know each other. I have, unfortunately, never sat at your kitchen table. I once prepared a shoot with you for Beau Monde. For a very brief moment, I thought you were difficult because you wanted your own stylist and only had two hours for the photos. But very soon I knew: you are no-nonsense. You did it professionally and quickly, but spending hours fussing in a photo studio for a magazine was not for you. You preferred to create, develop, and present programs and let people shine, get better, happier.

Wow Martijn, you were still presenting Popformule. We all go back so long with you. How are we supposed to do this without you?
I wish you and your loved ones that time crawls, that you may watch robins for hours, days, weeks, months while counting your blessings.

With thanks and love,
May

Image: @martijn_krabbe