Before Martien, Erica, Maxime, the children and the dog go on welfare, they first show them what kind of luxurious life they want. That’s how Martien has his eyebrows done. Erica is especially concerned about the food, because she doesn’t need Martien’s macaroni. Bijoux also has to believe it. She gets cheaper food.
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The viewers of Chateau Bijstand are not so charmed by the behavior of the Meilandjes. ‘Just quickly paint your eyebrows before you start making a program about living on welfare. Then you don’t understand it much, I think,” writes a critical viewer on Twitter. Someone else emphasizes that the family does not seem to understand what real poverty is. ‘You know what’s painful is that you only notice poverty after a while. Not after a month, but when the washing machine is broken. Whether your son needs new shoes.’ Another person called the program “quite embarrassing.” For many people in this country, living on welfare is not a well-paid television job that they can leave after a month.’
Someone also points out the possibility that Martien, Erica and Maxime are paid to record the program. ‘For tens of thousands of euros per episode, I would also like to live on welfare for a month.’ And then the house where the family has to live, for which a rent of 1750 euros is charged. Nice for the neighbors of the Meilandjes that the Netherlands thanks to Chateau Assistance now thinks that they also live in a ‘disadvantaged neighbourhood”, one viewer writes sarcastically.
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Even before the first episode of Chateau Bijstand, there was quite a bit of criticism of the new program of the Meilandjes. Critics think the program does not fit the spirit of the times, because many people are currently struggling to make ends meet. Then Martien, Erica and Maxime would all have fun.
Rob Goossens also had strong criticism. He explains why in the video below.
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Chateau Assistance see you every Monday at 8.30 pm on SBS6.
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