Inside the Breakup: Bart Schols and VRT’s Fractured Relationship
After 25 years at the Flemish public broadcaster VRT, veteran presenter Bart Schols (52) will present his final episode of De Afspraak on VRT Canvas tonight, ending an 11-year run as host of the flagship current affairs program. While his contract officially expires on September 1, 2026, a detailed reconstruction by Het Laatste Nieuws reveals that the breakup was not sudden but the result of a gradual accumulation of conflicts spanning approximately two years.
A Career Built Over Decades
Schols began his career at VRT in 2000 as a sports journalist after attending the Sydney Olympics and passing the broadcaster’s entrance exams. He rose through the ranks to become a sports anchor for Het Journaal in 2004 before switching to the news division in 2009. In August 2015, he became the presenter of De Afspraak on Canvas, a role that would define his career. According to Wikipedia, he also runs a cafeteria at a sports hall in his hometown of Aarschot.
The First Cracks: Mid-2024
The tensions began in mid-2024 when VRT fired program director Ricus Jansegers and network manager Lotte Vermeir. Schols was among many VRT personalities who signed an open letter titled “A Black Day for VRT” in support of Vermeir. When VRT management responded via the internal platform Iedereen VRT, stating the letter “puts VRT in a bad light,” Schols fired back with a sarcastic post: “More inappropriate than I could ever think of: my ‘Iedereen VRT’ is clearly not yours.”
The De Afspraak 2.0 Rebranding and a Clash of Styles
Matters worsened when VRT launched a major rebranding of De Afspraak (“De Afspraak 2.0”), introducing visual and content changes that alienated the core audience without attracting younger viewers. Schols’ trusted editor-in-chief, Greet Naegels, left for Terzake before the restyling. Meanwhile, Fatma Taspinar joined as co-host, bringing what Schols reportedly saw as a “softer, friendlier” style that clashed with his hard-hitting journalistic approach.
The Soundos El Ahmadi Affair: A Critical Turning Point
In early February 2026, Dutch comedian Soundos El Ahmadi appeared on De Afspraak to discuss women’s safety. Schols responded awkwardly, citing “several female friends” who don’t feel unsafe — later revealed to be a poorly prepared editorial segment. An isolated clip of the exchange went viral. Schols posted an Instagram apology: “I realize now that as a white man you apparently can’t just jump into any discussion. Thank you for that.”
The situation escalated when Björn Soenens, former editor-in-chief of VRT NWS, posted an Instagram message calling Schols a “dicktim” — roughly meaning someone who acts like a jerk and then plays the victim. The post was quickly deleted, but the damage was done. According to the HLN reconstruction, Schols was deeply hurt that VRT management did not strongly condemn Soenens’ attack, though management denies this claim.
The Breaking Point
In April 2026, Schols told the editorial team: “In these circumstances, I see no future for myself at VRT.” The final straw came when philosopher Maarten Boudry appeared on De Afspraak and claimed that VRT had hidden conclusions about people of foreign origin in its own Foto van Vlaanderen research — a claim that caught Schols off-guard during the live broadcast.
After a final meeting in late May, the breakup was confirmed as definitive. While Schols was in London for his close friend Freek Braeckman’s bachelor party, news of his departure appeared in the press. On June 5, VRT published an official statement confirming the departure, thanking Schols for “the excellent work he has delivered over 11 years as presenter of De Afspraak.”
What’s Next for De Afspraak?
Schols’ successor as host of De Afspraak has not yet been determined. Potential candidates include Xavier Taveirne, Riadh Bahri, Gilles De Coster, and Kobe Ilsen. Schols will remain with VRT through the summer as a sports anchor for Het Journaal, earning approximately €200,000 per year with an additional €2,000 per episode of De Afspraak he hosted.
Analysis: A Symptom of Deeper Tensions
The departure of a 25-year veteran signals deeper tensions within VRT about editorial direction, management style, and the balance between journalistic integrity and audience appeal. The conflict highlights the challenges public broadcasters face in modernizing while retaining core talent and audiences. The De Afspraak program has faced declining viewership since its “2.0” rebranding, while competitor De Tafel van Gert on Play4 has gained audience share.
As Schols prepares to sign off for the final time tonight, the broader questions remain: Who will permanently replace him? Will De Afspraak continue its current format or pivot again? And what are Schols’ future plans after VRT? For now, the Flemish media landscape watches as one of its most recognizable faces takes his final bow.