KetnetBand at N-VA Family Day Sparks Neutrality Row
The Flemish public broadcaster VRT is facing mounting criticism after its children’s band, De KetnetBand, is scheduled to perform at the N-VA party’s 25th anniversary family day at Plopsaland theme park in De Panne on September 20. Opposition party Groen has demanded the immediate cancellation of the performance, arguing it violates the broadcaster’s neutrality obligations, according to VRT NWS.
The Controversy
N-VA, the largest governing party in Flanders, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a family day at the popular theme park, where party leader Valerie Van Peel is scheduled to deliver an anniversary speech. De KetnetBand, the beloved children’s band associated with VRT’s Ketnet channel, is slated to perform as part of the festivities.
Groen Flemish Parliament member Bram Jaques has been outspoken in his criticism. “As a public broadcaster going to dance and sing at the family day of a political party goes against the VRT’s neutrality policy,” Jaques said. He described the booking as “a political gift wrapped as children’s entertainment.”
The Groen party issued a formal statement demanding the performance be cancelled, with Jaques warning of a slippery slope. “If parties in a democracy start considering the public broadcaster as a commercial organization that they can have work for them for payment, then that is a slippery slope. It starts with a performance at a family day, but where does it end? At reporting on demand?”
VRT’s Response
VRT has refused to cancel the performance. Spokesperson Yasmine Van der Borght said the booking was arranged through Plopsaland theme park, not through the political party. “The KetnetBand performs at the invitation of Plopsaland during this family day,” Van der Borght explained. “It is a day that primarily revolves around families having a nice experience together.”
She added that VRT remains consistent in its neutrality, stating that the broadcaster’s brands are not used for political campaigns or party-political messages.
A Familiar Precedent
The controversy echoes a similar episode from 2011, when De KetnetBand was scheduled to perform at an N-VA family day in Bokrijk. That performance was cancelled after public outcry, with VRT stating at the time that “a group linked to us can never perform at an event with a clear political message.”
The 2011 precedent has been cited by critics as evidence that VRT previously maintained a stricter policy on such engagements, raising questions about whether the broadcaster’s position has shifted.
Minister’s Call for Sharper Guidelines
Flemish Minister of Media Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA) has weighed in on the controversy, saying she understands how a booking request can go through a third party without the event’s political nature being immediately clear. However, she said that VRT should have a clear reflex to check such bookings in advance.
“Especially for political events, the framework must simply be in order: clear, consistent, and applied in the same way for everyone,” Van Achter said. “I expect VRT to sharpen those agreements again.”
Analysis: A Question of Independence
The controversy touches on a fundamental tension in Flemish public broadcasting. The VRT is funded with taxpayer money and operates under a media decree requiring information programs to be conducted in a spirit of ideological and political impartiality. As VRT NWS has explained, impartiality is not the same as neutrality—it means treating everyone equally and maintaining public trust.
Critics point out that N-VA currently provides both the Flemish Minister of Media and the chair of the VRT board of directors, raising concerns about the governing party’s influence over the public broadcaster. Jaques highlighted this connection, noting that “N-VA sits at the controls in Flanders, provides the Minister of Media and the chair of the board of directors of the public broadcaster.”
De KetnetBand, which has been performing since 2000 and averages about 100 shows per year, regularly appears at Plopsaland theme parks as part of its normal schedule, according to Wikipedia. The band’s presence at the park is not unusual—but its association with a party-political event has created an uncomfortable overlap between family entertainment and political messaging.
What’s Next
Jaques has indicated he wants to question Minister Van Achter about the matter in the Flemish Parliament. The controversy also raises broader questions about the boundaries between public broadcasting content and political events, particularly as N-VA prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary with what is expected to be a large gathering at Plopsaland.
As the September 20 event approaches, all eyes will be on whether VRT maintains its position or revisits its decision in light of the growing political pressure. The outcome could set an important precedent for how public broadcasters navigate the increasingly blurred lines between entertainment, family events, and political gatherings.