Janine Abbring will host the final season of the VPRO program Zomergasten beginning July 26, 2026, after 37 years on air. Abbring revealed she considered writing a personal letter to Queen Máxima for the show’s farewell run, while comedian Peter Pannekoek prepares to open the final season on NPO 2.
The Final Season and the Decision to End a Television Staple
After running continuously since 1988, the VPRO program Zomergasten is set to conclude following its upcoming run. Budget cuts at the public broadcaster forced the cancellation, a reality that host Janine Abbring acknowledges with mixed feelings. While she wishes the network had explored alternative formats before pulling the plug, she understands the institutional logic behind the closure. As she noted in an interview with the Volkskrant, viewer numbers ultimately dictate the viability of a broadcast.
Janine Abbring stated via Spreekbuis that when almost nobody watches anymore, yes, who are you making it for then?
Abbring views the program as a public broadcasting format that transcends pure ratings, suggesting its cancellation carries symbolic weight directed toward the political sphere. The editorial team of Zomergasten sat down together and brainstormed who they wanted for the final season, ultimately arriving at their guest lineup.
The Royal Invitation That Almost Was
Janine Abbring had hoped to welcome a member of the royal family for the very last season of the program. Preparing for a farewell season prompted the editorial team to dream big. Abbring admitted she deeply desired to secure a member of the royal family for one of the final interview slots.
Janine Abbring expressed via Volkskrant Magazine that she had hoped very much that they would still be able to snare someone from the royal house.
Recognizing the ambitious nature of the plan, Abbring described the notion in nieuws.nl as misschien naïef,
noting that Máxima obviously is not going to stand in a row of six guests. She weighed writing a personal letter to Queen Máxima, reasoning that the historic final season justified an unprecedented approach. Janine Abbring reflected that if it is the last one ever… who knows… she had even considered writing a personal letter to her. Ultimately, heavy production schedules—including her work as managing editor for the RTL program LUBACH—prevented her from pursuing the royal outreach.
Peter Pannekoek Opens the Slotseizoen
The final season kicks off on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 20:15 on NPO 2, with comedian Peter Pannekoek taking the first seat across from Abbring.
Pannekoek was approached a few years ago also. Back then, he said no because he already had many big projects scheduled for that summer, and he also felt a bit too young, thinking that his time would come later. When news crossed his path that Zomergasten would stop, he felt genuine disappointment, calling it an iconic TV program and a shame that it is ending. Preparing for his appearance, the comedian emphasizes that viewers should not anticipate a heavy, three-hour academic lecture.
Peter Pannekoek noted via TVgids.nl that it certainly is not going to be a weighty three-hour monologue, adding that there is a lot of comedy in it and humorous fragments, which he figures is not much of a surprise.
Pannekoek expressed enthusiasm for working alongside Abbring, praising her sharp comedic timing and background as managing editor for Lubach. He noted that he has seen Zomergasten presenters in the past where there was zero click with humorous guests, but with Janine he has no fear of that happening at all.