Bart Schols Leaves ‘De Afspraak’: End of an Era for Flemish Talk Show
Bart Schols, one of the most recognizable faces of Flemish public broadcaster VRT, is leaving the flagship talk show ‘De Afspraak’ after 11 years and ending his nearly 25-year career at the public broadcaster. The 52-year-old presenter described staying “one season too many” as his reason for departing, according to De Morgen. His final episode is expected to air on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
A Storied Career Comes to an End
Schols began his career at VRT around 2000 as a sports journalist, covering the Sydney and Beijing Olympic Games before rising through the ranks to become a sports anchor. He transitioned to the news department in 2009, presenting ‘Het Journaal’ and Radio 1’s ‘De Wereld Vandaag’ before becoming the face of ‘De Afspraak’ in August 2015, replacing Jan Becaus.
Over 11 years, Schols established himself as one of Flanders’ most respected interviewers, known for a direct but respectful style. His departure marks the end of an era for the program, which has been a staple of VRT Canvas’s evening lineup since its launch.
A Turbulent Final Season
The 2025-2026 season proved to be Schols’ most challenging. ‘De Afspraak’ underwent a major rebranding — dubbed “De Afspraak 2.0” — featuring a new studio set with a live audience, the addition of co-presenter Fatma Taspinar, and a directive to cover more accessible topics to attract younger viewers, including spinoff content on TikTok and YouTube.
According to reporting by HLN, the changes alienated core viewers without attracting enough new ones. Ratings declined significantly in both the fall and spring seasons.
Controversies That Shaped the Exit
In February 2026, Schols found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after a live discussion with Dutch comedian Soundos El Ahmadi about women’s safety in public spaces. Schols questioned the statistics cited by El Ahmadi, sparking a massive backlash with thousands of women sharing their experiences of feeling unsafe. He later apologized, stating he realized “as a white man you can’t just involve yourself in any discussion,” as documented on Wikipedia.
According to reports, Schols received little public defense from his superiors following the controversy. Instead of allowing him to clarify his position, the network had Taspinar host a follow-up discussion with four women on the topic.
A second controversy emerged in spring 2026 when philosopher Maarten Boudry appeared on the show and accused VRT of deliberately hiding data about migration background and religion in its “Foto van Vlaanderen” research. The editorial team had been briefed about Boudry’s claims, but Schols had not been informed, leaving him blindsided during the interview and causing further backstage friction.
Strained Contract Negotiations
Schols operated as an independent contractor with a volume agreement worth at least €150,000 gross annually. Negotiations for a contract renewal became very strained, with sources at VRT headquarters describing them as “erg stroef” (very stiff). The issues were reportedly less about money and more about Schols’ dissatisfaction with the direction of the news service — described internally as “verkleutering” (infantilization or dumbing down).
De Morgen’s analysis suggests that Schols’ preference for traditional journalism methods caused friction with younger editorial staff, and that he stayed “one season too many” for all parties involved.
What Comes Next
The VRT editorial board thanked Schols “explicitly for the excellent work he delivered during 11 years as presenter of De Afspraak.” His collaboration with VRT officially ends in September 2026, though he is expected to serve as a sports anchor during the summer.
A replacement alongside co-presenter Fatma Taspinar has not yet been announced. The search for someone who can balance the program’s journalistic credibility with the demands of modern television will be a significant challenge for VRT management.
Schols’ departure raises broader questions about the direction of Flemish public broadcasting — specifically, how to maintain serious journalism while competing for younger audiences in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. Whether ‘De Afspraak’ can reinvent itself without its longtime anchor, and what path Schols will take next, remain open questions.