VRT Programs Dertigers and Nothing To See win Rose d'Or Awards

Monday, December 2, 2024 - Great news: this evening, VRT programs Dertigers and Nothing To See (Dutch title: Niks te zien) won a Rose d'Or award. This comes just a week after the VRT 1 program The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes, produced by Roses are Blue (the same production house as Nothing to see), won an International Emmy Award.

The drama series Dertigers, created by Warner Bros ITVP Belgium, was nominated for a Rose d'Or in the "Soap or Telenovela" category. After captivating audiences in Flanders, the Netherlands, and Wallonia—each with their own remakes of the series—the relatable stories of the friend group from Dertigers have now won over all of Europe. Nothing To See (Dutch title: Niks te zien) featuring Karl Meesters, produced by Roses are Blue, was nominated in the "Factual Entertainment" category. The Golden Rose Awards are the most prestigious accolades in Europe for entertainment programs, recognizing the best in television and online series.

People from the production house Roses are Blue and VRT were present: Maarten Millen, Anouk Paeleman, Shana Listes, Karl Meesters, Kenneth Taylor, Herta Luyten, and Mathias Coppens.

Ben Pays (Managing Director of Warner Bros. ITVP Belgium), Megan Van der Plasken (Head of Production), Wim De Smet (Creator of Dertigers and Head of Authentic Fiction), David Verhaeghe (Director), Kim Scheers (Producer)

A total of four VRT programs were nominated for a Rose d'Or: the VRT MAX drama series When the party's over (Dutch: 9 Feestjes voor de kater), produced by Sputnik Media, was nominated in the 'Multiplatform' category. The VRT Canvas documentary Chantal Akerman - Always on the go (Dutch: Chantal Akerman - Altijd onderweg), created by VRT Studio's, was nominated in the 'Arts' category.

Nothing To See

In Nothing To See (Dutch: Niks te zien), host Karl Meesters sets off on a journey with musicians. A journey they do not necessarily experience with their eyes, but mainly with their ears on edge. Because sound and music are central during the trips. Different musicians set off with Karl, who is visually impaired. Together, they cast a different view of the world and discover the power of sound. Each journey ends musically with a song created during the trip, inspired by what happened to them: fun, wonder, emotion. In short: here is nothing to see, but everything to experience.

Creating Nothing To See was an incredible adventure. I traveled with six of our beloved musicians. They not only showcased the richness of their musical talent but also shared a glimpse into their personal stories. The result is a collection of moments that linger. The nomination for a Rose d’Or felt like significant recognition, but winning this award is the ultimate honor. It’s a tribute to a team that worked with full dedication, both in front of and behind the camera, to bring this program to life. It also proves that focusing on what is possible, with joy as the driving force, is the formula to see beyond the obvious. That’s a message I proudly share. I am incredibly grateful to VRT and Roses Are Blue for placing their trust in me. And thank you to everyone who watched, listened, and saw and heard the world a little differently.

Karl Meesters, host

What a celebration week for Roses Are Blue! First, an Emmy for The restaurant that makes no mistakes, and now the Rose d'Or for Nothing To See... It’s incredible what is happening to us right now, and we are bursting with pride. We are thrilled for the entire team and for Karl, who has won such a prestigious award with his very first program. It’s clear that in our small Flanders, we’re creating television that stands out on the global stage, and that is something we can only be immensely proud of!

Maarten Millen, Creative Director at production company Roses Are Blue

Dertigers

In the popular drama series Dertigers, we follow a group of friends who provide a relatable glimpse into the world of young thirty-somethings. Jonas, Laura, Ruben, Marvin, Nele, Sami, and Ada face pivotal life choices: moving in together, choosing between new or old loves, finding your place in a new circle of friends... It’s a storyline familiar to everyone—especially those in their thirties, a decade marked by many life-altering decisions.

The lives of these main characters tell a story about today’s thirty-somethings, touching on themes of friendship, sexuality, personal growth, connection, prejudice, the decisions we make, and how we deal with setbacks. It’s relatable for all ages while offering a window into the lives of young adults navigating this transformative stage of life.

It feels like the crowning achievement of seven fantastic seasons of Dertigers. We created this series with a very small crew, an amazing cast, and, above all, so much love. We are incredibly proud that our relatable stories are receiving this recognition.

Creator Wim De Smet:

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