Familie
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Familie | |
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Genre | Soap opera |
Created by | Herman Verbaet |
Starring | See Present cast |
Opening theme |
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Country of origin | Belgium |
No. of seasons | 31 |
No. of episodes | 7000+ |
Production | |
Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
Running time | 25–35 minutes (with occasional 50-90 minute episodes) |
Production companies |
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Release | |
Original network | VTM |
Original release | 30 December 1991 present | –
External links | |
Website |
Familie (Dutch for Family) is a Flemish television soap opera set in Mechelen. Created by Herman Verbaet, Familie was first broadcast on 30 December 1991. It has been broadcast consistently for 5-6 evenings per week, with only 2-3 month hiatuses during summer. It is currently being produced by Zodiak Belgium and running on VTM.
Premise[]
Pierre Van den Bossche and Anna Dierckx have raised three children. Their oldest son Guido is a bright student, eager to become a business mogul. His younger brother Jan and sister Rita are less gifted and often feel pushed back, but are nevertheless proud of their sibling. Once the children are starting their own family lives, shocking news arrives: Anna is pregnant again and Pierre has been diagnosed with a terminal disease. Pierre dies weeks before the birth of his daughter Marleen. Anna is devastated, but decides to stay strong.
Start of the series[]
Anna still mourns her deceased husband Pierre, but as she is turning 65 years old she is also happy to see her children are all doing well. Marleen is now a young adult studying at a fashion academy. Guido has successfully founded the VDB Systems electronics company, is married to the eccentric Marie-Rose De Putter and has two children: Peter and Veronique. Jan also works for the company and married to Monique Stevens, he also has two children: Bart and Mieke. Rita has been struggling due to the death of her first son Paul, the illness of her second son Pierrot and the ongoing rivalry with her sister-in-law Marie-Rose, but manages to find happiness in her singing career and her husband Dirk Cockelaere.
Development of the main characters[]
Marleen marries school teacher Ben Van der Venne. When she turns out to be infertile, the couple enters a long adoption procedure. On the day little Lovely finally arrives, fate strikes as Marleen gets fatally hit by a car while crossing the street. Ben has a hard time raising Lovely as a single father, but gets close help of Anna and her new live companion Albert. Eventually, Ben signs on for a development project in Africa and takes Lovely with him, after which contact fades. Years later, grown up Lovely comes to spend a couple of years in Belgium and tells her family that Ben has died.
After losing another child, Rita starts suffering a severe alcohol addiction. Dirk leaves her while she is pregnant of their third child, causing Rita to have a mental breakdown and trying to murder Guido and Marie-Rose. Rita ends up in prison, where she gives birth to another son, which she calls Pierrot again. After being released, she marries fellow alcoholic Rob Gerrits, yet both help each other to get their lives back on track. The family embraces her again and keeps a close eye on her, but cannot prevent her from a handful returns to drinking, such as the one following her divorce from Rob. She eventually revives her music career by signing on as a singer and animator on sea cruises. Pierrot grows up to be a very socially committed young man. After a failed career as a street worker, he moves to South America as a development aid.
Guido is still a successful and well-respected businessman, but his personal life takes quite a few hits, such as his divorce from the adulterous Marie-Rose and the alleged death of their son Peter. Guido survives multiple murder attempts by his professional enemy Didier De Kunst, yet one of those makes him end up in a wheelchair for many years to follow. Luck seems to get back to his side when Peter turns out to be alive, but shortly after this joyful event, Guido dies following a stabbing incident. Peter rises as his father's successor, while Veronique establishes a fashion company. Years after, the two companies merge into a holding in which both siblings maintain management positions. Workaholic Veronique is having a troubled relationship with her son Cedric, who blames her for having neglected him his whole life. Peter's daughter Louise leaves for a sabbatical in Australia before deciding how to start adulthood. Both Peter and Veronique have been married several times. Peter is currently single, while Veronique is dating the holding's current CEO Lars De Wulf.
Jan gets married two more times, with Nele Van Winckel and Linda Desmedt, which leads to three more children: Maarten, Leen and Guido Jr, the latter named after Jan's deceased brother. His professional life highlights when he gets appointed mayor, yet after his return to VDB he keeps getting downgraded until he decides to quit and take over the local café. Bart becomes an engineer and has a long run at VDB, while marrying Brenda Vermeir and getting two children: Hannah, who grows up to be a fashion designer for VDB, and Jelle, who wants to become a professional soccer player. After Brenda dies in a car accident, Bart starts a relationship with Peter's ex-wife Trudy Tack de Rixart de Waremme. The couple moves to Dubai, where Bart is pursuing a new career. Mieke spends her first years of adulthood doing development aid in Africa and South America. Back in Belgium, she marries Marc De Waele and gets a son Lennert, but father and son eventually die in a car crash. During her next marriage with Wim Veugelen, she has a miscarriage and becomes infertile. When she starts working as a nurse in the local hospital, she has an affair with one of the doctors, leading to her divorce. Eventually she enters a surprising but successful marriage with the younger Niko Schuurmans. After an accident, she suffers a change in personality, leading her to quit welfare and start a business career at VDB. Maarten becomes a chef and gets his own restaurant, managed by VDB. After the death of his girlfriend Roos, he joins a development program in Asia. Leen becomes a doctor and works in the local hospital for a while, after which she decides to become a general practitioner. A medical suspension after having committed a flight crime, leads her to join a development program in Africa. She takes her son Arthur and boyfriend Faroud Kir with her. Guido Jr becomes a car mechanic and owns a garage together with one of his former classmates. He and his girlfriend Emma Verdonck get a daughter Mila. Later on, it is revealed that she was switched with another child right after birth, and that a girl named Milou is their real daughter. Guido and Emma meet the girl's father and they agree to co-parent.
Current main cast[]
Character | Actor | Duration |
---|---|---|
Anna Dierckx | Annie Geeraerts | 1991–present |
Jan Van den Bossche | Jef De Smedt | 1991–present |
Albert Thielens | Ray Verhaeghe | 1992–present |
Peter Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Gunther Levi [1] | 1999–present |
Mieke Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Caroline Maes [2] | 2002–present |
Hannah Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Margot Hallemans [3] | 2006–2009, 2013–present |
Mathias Moelaert | Peter Bulckaen | 2008–present |
Niko Schuurmans | Jo Hens | 2009–present |
Veronique Van den Bossche nr. 3 | Sandrine André[4] | 2012–present |
Benny Coppens | Roel Vanderstukken | 2012–present |
Patrick Pauwels | Ludo Hellinx | 2012–present |
Rudi Verbiest | Werner De Smedt | 2013–present |
Zjef de Mulder | Jan Van den Bosch | 2013–present |
Emma Verdonck | Bab Buelens | 2014–present |
Jenny Versteven | Hilde Van Haesendonck | 2014–present |
Quinten Godderis | Maxime De Winne | 2015–present |
Lars De Wulf | Kürt Rogiers | 2016–present |
Guido Van den Bossche (Junior) nr. 5 | Vincent Banic [5] | 2016–present |
Alfons Coppens | Jaak Van Assche | 2016–present |
Brigitte De Wulf | Janine Bisschops | 2017–present |
Cédric Moelaert-Van de Caveye nr. 4 | Yanni Bourgignon [6] | 2017–present |
Iris Massant | Marianne Devriese | 2019–present |
Current supporting cast[]
Character | Actor | Duration |
---|---|---|
Marie-Rose De Putter | Martine Jonckheere | 1991–1998, 2005–2015, 2018–2019, 2021–present |
Vanessa Marïen | Karen Damen | 2020–present |
Gaston Van den Bossche | unkwown baby(s) | 2020–present |
Raven Rodeyns | Aaron Blomaert | 2020–present |
Louise Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Charlotte Sieben [7] | 2021–present |
Former main cast[]
Character | Actor | Duration |
---|---|---|
Stefanie Coppens | Jasmijn Van Hoof | 2012–2016, 2017–2021 |
Simon Feyaerts | Braam Verreth | 2015–2017, 2021 |
Jonas Versteven | David Cantens | 2018, 2019–2021 |
Robyn Versteven | Jits Van Belle | 2017–2020, 2020–2021 |
Amelie De Wulf | Erika Van Tielen | 2016–2017, 2017–2020, 2020–2021 |
Viv Neyskens | Ini Massez | 2016–2018, 2021 |
Bart Van den Bossche nr. 3 | Chris Van Tongelen | 2001–2015, 2016, 2017–2018, 2019, 2020 |
Liesbeth Pauwels | Hilde De Baerdemaeker | 2012–2016, 2017, 2020 |
Arno Coppens | Arthur Le Boudec | 2012–2015, 2015–2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
Emma Verdonck | Bab Buelens | 2014–2019 |
Marie Devlieger | Lien Van de Kelder | 2017–2019 |
Jelle Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Felix Jamaels | 2018–2019 |
Wout Raaffels | Vincent-Laurent Seys | 2016–2018, 2019 |
Evy Hermans nr. 2 | Marianne Devriese | 2013–2019 |
Maarten Van den Bossche | Michael Vroemans | 2006–2013, 2014–2015, 2016, 2018 |
Ayo Buhari | Adam Mensah | 2018 |
Leen Van den Bossche nr. 3 | Cathérine Kools | 2013–2018 |
Faroud Kir | Begir Memeti | 2014–2018 |
Guido Van den Bossche (Senior) | Karel Deruwe | 1991–1999, 2018 |
Louise Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Sarah-Lynn Clerckx | 2006–2018 |
Trudy Tack de Rixart de Waremme | Silvia Claes | 1998–2018 |
Stan Lauwers | Kristof Verhassel | 2015–2018 |
Wim Veugelen | David Michiels | 2006–2009, 2016–2017 |
Cédric Moelaert-Van de Caveye nr. 3 | Bas Van Weert | 2013–2017 |
Linda Desmet | Hilde Van Wesepoel | 2001–2017 |
Jelle Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Jens Gruyaert | 2006–2017 |
June Van Damme | Katrien De Becker | 2009–2016, 2017 |
Agnes Moelaert | Monika Dumon | 2013–2014, 2014–2016 |
Guido Van den Bossche (Junior) nr. 2 | Jelle Florizoone | 2015–2016 |
Rita Van den Bossche | Jacky Lafon | 1991–1996, 1997–2015 |
Guido Van den Bossche (Junior) nr. 1 | Jordi Rottier | 2010–2015 |
Thomas Van den Bossche-Feyaerts | Pieter Verelst | 2014–2015 |
Bert Van den Bossche | Steven De Lelie | 2006–2011, 2013, 2015 |
Pierrot Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Guillaume Devos | 2006–2012, 2013, 2014 |
Axel De Meester | Bram Van Outryve | 2011–2012, 2014 |
Lovely Van der Venne | Vandana De Boeck | 2003–2006, 2013 |
Evy Hermans nr. 1 | Sofie Truyen | 2006–2013 |
Victor Praet | Robert De La Haye | 2009–2013 |
Paul Jacobs | Johan De Paepe | 2007–2012 |
Veronique Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Anne Somers | 1991–1994, 2001–2012 |
Hanne Van den Bossche nr. 3 | Ellen Van den Eynde | 2009–2012 |
Caroline De Meester | Kadèr Gürbüz | 2011–2012 |
Rob Gerrits | Erik Goris | 1998–2011 |
Mario Van de Caveye | Patrick Vandersande | 2003–2011 |
Brenda Vermeir | Vicky Versavel | 1997–2001, 2002–2011 |
Leen Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Ruth Bastiaensen | 2006–2011 |
Morgane Maes | Tine Laureyns | 2009–2010 |
Els D'hollander | Kristine Perpête | 1997–2009, 2010 |
Malika Van Gils | Sophie Van Everdingen | 2009–2010 |
Iljo | Michaël Vercauteren | 2009–2010 |
Xavier Latour nr. 2 | Eric Kerremans | 2003–2009 |
Christel Feremans | Ingrid Van Rensbergen | 2001–2009 |
Suzy Mariën | Nele Snoeck | 2005–2009 |
Kobe Dierckx | Stoffel Bollu | 2003–2009 |
Kobe Dierckx | Stoffel Bollu | 2003–2009 |
Guy Maeterlinck | Luk De Koninck | 1999–2007 |
Eline Vaerenbergh | Lulu Aertgeerts | 2005–2007 |
Andreas Mitsides | Kristoff Clerckx | 2003–2007 |
René D'hollander | Dirk Meynendonckx | 1997–2007 |
Heidi Janssens | Helga Van der Heyden | 2003–2006 |
Leen Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Saskia Raë | 1996–2006 |
Maarten Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Gianni Verschueren | 1997–2006 |
Pierrot Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Kristof Van de Vondel | 1995–2006 |
Walter Dierckx | Guido Horckmans | 1991–2006 |
Marc De Waele | Jeron Amin Dewulf | 2003–2006 |
Koen Lamoen | Geert Hunaerts | 2000–2006 |
Annemarie Govaert | Brigitte De Man | 2003–2005 |
Tinne Huysmans | Veva De Blauwe | 2000–2004 |
Bert Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Mout Uyttersprot | 2002–2004 |
Sarah De Kunst nr. 2 | Els Meeus | 2000–2003 |
Thomas Maeterlinck | Bert Vannieuwenhuyse | 1999–2003 |
Eric Bervoets | Stephane Croughs | 2002–2003 |
Nele Van Winckel | Hermine Selleslagh | 1994–2003 |
Jo Bervoets | Jan Schepens | 2001–2002 |
Monique Stevens | Riet Van Gool | 1991–2002 |
Cathérine Misotten | An Nelissen | 2000–2002 |
Vincent Misotten | Hugo Van den Berghe | 1999–2001 |
Veroniue Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Ann-Christine Hendrickx | 1996–2001 |
Didier De Kunst | Ronny Waterschoot | 1993–1999, 2001 |
Bertje Baetens | Marc Lauwrys | 2000–2001 |
Henk Terjonck | Dieter Troubleyn | 1994–2001 |
Femke Maeterlinck | Stéphanie Meire | 1999–2001 |
Bart Van den Bossche nr. 2 | Wim Van de Velde | 1997–2000 |
Mieke Van den Bossche nr. 1 | (Char)Lotte Mariën | 1991–1994, 1995–2000 |
Noortje Moortgat | Veerle De Jonghe | 1997–1999 |
Babette Van Tichelen | Bieke Ilegems | 1992-1999 |
Rikkert Moortgat | Remco Van Damme | 1997–1999 |
Lieve Vleugels | Lieve Desloovere | 1997–1999 |
Lenka Wuytack | Petra Winckelmans | 1995–1998 |
Hugo Beckers | Hans Royaards | 1994–1998 |
Manou Van Steen | Tania Kloek | 1993–1997 |
Michel | Yves Michiels | 1995–1997 |
Bart Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Christophe Du Jardin | 1991–1997 |
François Van den Bossche | Bob Stijnen | 1992-1996 |
Claire De Ruyter | Nora Tilley | 1994–1996 |
Sarah De Kunst nr. 1 | Debbie Schneider | 1994–1996 |
Peter Van den Bossche nr. 1 | Erik Goossens | 1991–1995 |
Alex Le Croix | Donald Madder | 1994–1995 |
Liliane Faes | Liliane Raeymaekers | 1993-1994 |
Simonne Vercauteren | Nini Van der Auwera | 1992-1994 |
Ben Van der Venne | Ben Rottiers | 1992–1994 |
Marleen Van den Bossche | Hilde De Roeck | 1991–1993 |
Pierrot Cockelaere | Steve Mees | 1991–1992 |
References[]
- ^ Formerly played by Erik Goossens (1991–1995)
- ^ Formerly played by Lotte Mariën (1991–1994, 1996–1999)
- ^ Formerly played by Sofie Scheers (1998–2006) and Ellen Van den Eynde (2009–2012)
- ^ Formerly played by Anne Somers (1991–1994, 2001–2012) and Ann-Christine Hendrickx (1996–2001)
- ^ Formerly played by Xander Willems (2003–2006), Lennert Mets (2006–2010), Jordi Rottier (2010–2015) and Jelle Florizoone (2015–2016)
- ^ Formerly played by Aldo Vandevorst (2006–2008), Bo Bogaerts (2008–2011) and Bas Van Weert (2013–2017)
- ^ Formerly played by Shari Vingerhoed (2005–2006) and Sarah-Lynn Clerckx (2006–2018)
External links[]
- 1991 Belgian television series debuts
- Belgian drama television shows
- Flemish television shows
- Television shows set in Belgium
- VTM (TV channel) original programming