Helen Goedgebeur to Host VRT’s Flagship Morning Radio Show
VRT NWS journalist Helen Goedgebeur will take over as co-presenter of “De Ochtend” (The Morning), the flagship morning radio program on VRT Radio 1, starting in September 2026. The 34-year-old justice expert will alternate the presenting slot with veteran broadcaster Ruth Joos, replacing Leen De Witte, who is stepping down after five years to return to full-time European Union reporting.
A New Voice for Flanders’ Morning Airwaves
“De Ochtend” is the premier morning news and current affairs program on Radio 1, the Flemish public broadcaster’s news-focused station. It is one of the most influential radio programs in Flanders, setting the agenda for political and cultural discourse each morning with in-depth interviews, news analysis, and current affairs coverage.
The change was announced by VRT NWS on June 18, followed by an official press release on June 19. It represents a significant personnel shift for the program, which has been a staple of Flemish morning radio for years.
Who Is Helen Goedgebeur?
Goedgebeur, born in 1991, has been a justice expert at VRT NWS since 2018, covering high-profile trials and legal affairs for both radio and television. She has reported for Radio 1, Radio 2, Klara, MNM, and Studio Brussel, and has appeared on television news programs including “Het Journaal.” She previously co-presented the Sunday talk show “De Zevende Dag” and hosts the VRT NWS podcast “Onder ons: Crimi.” She is also the author of “Van assisen tot vrijspraak,” a book on Belgian criminal justice.
Under the new arrangement, Goedgebeur will continue working as a justice expert for VRT NWS during the weeks she is not presenting “De Ochtend,” maintaining the dual-role model that VRT NWS has cultivated for its on-air talent.
Leen De Witte Returns to EU Reporting
Leen De Witte has co-presented “De Ochtend” since 2021, alternating with Ruth Joos. Her departure marks a return to her roots as a European affairs specialist. De Witte will now serve as VRT NWS’s full-time EU correspondent, a role that reflects the growing importance of European politics in Belgian news coverage.
In a statement, De Witte said: “Saying goodbye to the most beautiful radio slot there is — and the great team behind De Ochtend — naturally makes me a bit sad. But I am especially grateful that I was allowed to guide our listeners through often turbulent times alongside the incomparable Ruth Joos. After five years, Europe calls louder than ever and I’m trading the strict alarm clock for the irregular rhythm of a European correspondent.”
Continuity and Renewal
While the presenting lineup is changing, the program maintains significant continuity. Ruth Joos remains as the anchor presence, providing stability for listeners. Supporting presenters Jasper Verhulst and Jeroen Reygaert will also stay on as familiar morning voices.
Goedgebeur expressed her enthusiasm for the new role: “Ruth Joos whispered in my ear just last week: ‘This is the most beautiful job in the world.’ Completely ready to discover that from September! I experience it as a great honor to be able to present this morning slot alongside Ruth, together with a fantastic editorial team.”
The VRT NWS editorial board thanked De Witte for her service, noting: “Leen has kept De Ochtend on course together with Ruth in particularly fascinating news times over the past years. It is an art to share complex news stories in a clear way with listeners who are starting their day.”
Broader Context
This change is part of a broader pattern of personnel movements at VRT. Other recent shifts include Bart Schols leaving the talk show “De Afspraak” and departing VRT entirely, and Benedikte Coussement leaving “De Ochtend” previously to move to political reporting. The moves reflect VRT NWS’s strategy of rotating expert journalists through high-profile presenting roles while maintaining their subject-matter expertise.
What to Watch For
Listeners can expect a fresh dynamic in the morning slot when Goedgebeur joins the team in September. Her background in justice reporting may bring new angles to the program’s news coverage and interview choices. For De Witte, the return to EU reporting comes at a time of significant geopolitical developments, offering her the opportunity to cover European affairs with the depth and expertise she has developed over her career.
The transition takes effect in September 2026, when Goedgebeur will begin her early-morning routine as one of the new voices waking up Flanders.