Ben Crabbé Bids Farewell to Blokken After 33 Seasons
After 33 seasons and more than 7,000 episodes, Ben Crabbé (63), the beloved host of the Flemish daily TV quiz “Blokken,” has announced he will step down at the end of the 2026-2027 season. His successor will be Sven De Leijer (46), a lifelong fan of the show who began his own television career as a warm-up act for Blokken’s studio audience, according to VRT NWS.
A Cultural Institution in Flanders
“Blokken” is far more than a game show in Flanders — it is a daily ritual. Airing every weekday on VRT 1 at approximately 18:30, just before the evening news, the quiz has been the highest-rated pre-evening program in Flemish television history for decades. The format, created by Frank Symoens, blends trivia with Tetris-inspired gameplay: two candidates answer questions and place tetromino blocks on a board, aiming to complete horizontal lines for points.
Since its debut on September 5, 1994, Crabbé has been the show’s only host. His opening words that day — “Good evening and welcome to a brand new game show” — launched what would become the longest-running daily TV quiz in the world, as Wikipedia notes. The show has aired continuously for 32 years, surviving changes in broadcasting technology, the rise of streaming services, and even the COVID-19 pandemic, during which episodes were temporarily produced with candidates participating from home via video link.
By the Numbers
Crabbé’s tenure is staggering in its consistency. Over 32 years, he has:
- Presented 6,840 episodes (with more to come in his final season)
- Hosted 8,900 candidates
- Asked 240,000 quiz questions
- Supervised the fall of 395,000 blocks
Remarkably, Crabbé is the only member of the production team who never missed a single recording in 32 years. He transformed “Blokken” from a hard knowledge quiz into an accessible daily entertainment show that appeals to a broad audience, shaping it with his warm, humorous style. The show’s enduring popularity is reflected in milestone episodes: the 5,000th episode in December 2017 drew 1.5 million viewers, a remarkable figure for a daily quiz in a region of roughly 6.6 million people.
A Poetic Succession
Crabbé will begin his 33rd and final season on August 31, 2026, and present his last episode in June 2027. From September 2027, Sven De Leijer will take over the reins.
De Leijer’s appointment carries a poetic symmetry. He began his television career as a warm-up act (“publieksopwarmer”) for Blokken’s studio audience — the person tasked with energizing the crowd before recording. Now, decades later, he returns as the show’s host. As TVvisie put it, the circle is now complete.
Olivier Goris, Head of Video at VRT, expressed the broadcaster’s gratitude: “We are incredibly grateful that Ben has given his all for VRT all these years. Blokken has grown into an iconic television program that attracts a loyal audience every evening. It goes without saying that we believe in the long life of Blokken, with Sven as the perfect new host who genuinely loves the program. But first, we’re all going to enjoy Ben for one more season.”
The End of an Era
Crabbé’s departure marks one of the most significant presenter changes in Belgian television history. The NOS, the Dutch public broadcaster, covered the announcement as a major cultural event, underscoring the show’s cross-border significance. In Flanders, the news dominated media coverage on June 24, with every major outlet leading on the story.
What Crabbé will do after leaving Blokken has not yet been announced. Beyond his hosting duties, he is a co-founder of the production company De Mensen, which produces the show, and began his media career at the radio station Donna. His future plans remain a subject of speculation.
What’s Next
For now, Flemish viewers have one more season to enjoy Crabbé’s signature warmth, his quick wit, and what fans affectionately call “Het vermoeden van Ben” (Ben’s Conjecture) — his observation that candidates returning for a second day tend to struggle in the final round, a phenomenon that has been statistically analyzed by researchers.
When De Leijer takes over in September 2027, he will inherit not just a hosting chair but a cherished piece of Flemish daily life. The question on many minds: can the show maintain its magic without the man who has been its face for three decades? VRT has expressed confidence that Blokken’s format and De Leijer’s genuine passion for the program will ensure its continued success. For the next year, however, all eyes remain on Crabbé as he embarks on his final lap.