Tim den Besten returns with a new season of De outsiders. In the VPRO program, the 33-year-old presenter walks with Dutch people who oppose the norm. For example, this season he is on the road with a 5G activist who does not believe in the corona virus. “You can say ‘we are not going to pay attention to it’, but it is very much part of this time.”
As in the previous season, the presenter follows people who “consciously choose a life off the beaten track”. This regularly leads to astonishment at Den Besten. “With one story I think: you are not serious? But with others I think: oh, there is something in it. I remain respectful to everyone anyway and try to really get to know someone. We have two full days with people and then you really build something up with them “, he tells NU.nl.
According to Den Besten, this season is a lot more topical than the previous season, because current topics such as the corona virus and racism are discussed. For example, he meets a 5G activist who does not believe in the corona virus and he walks with a Chinese Dutchman who visits a Black Lives Matter demonstration.
However, not everyone will appreciate all topics. Den Besten is aware that paying attention to conspiracy theories about corona is a sensitive issue, but wanted this in the program. “You can say: it is not true and we are not going to pay attention to it, but it is part of this time. You can think of what you want, but it is very much ‘now’. That is so nice about it. this season, it is very topical. “
According to the 33-year-old presenter, it is something that is very much alive in these times. “Conspiracy theories arise in uncertain times when people don’t understand what’s going on. People seek logic for issues that explain not being logical.”
“Living in a time when many things are under magnification.”
In the first episode of De outsiders attention is also paid to activism. To what extent does Den Besten consider himself an activist? “Actually I am not very activist of my own. You will not see me at a demonstration any time soon.” The VPRO employee thinks that contemporary activism sometimes goes wild. “We live in a time when a lot of things are under a magnifying glass. Some people really have something to say about everything now. Sometimes I get it, but it can also get a bit too much.”
The shooting of the new season started just before the corona crisis and had to be cut short again soon. It was therefore quite a challenge for Den Besten to make the program in between all the corona measures, since the release date was set. “We have been shut down for three months, so we had to run a lot in a short time.”
Since the program guarantees striking events, some fragments lend themselves well to viral content. Nevertheless, Den Besten likes to see people look beyond just these fragments. “I hope people will look at the whole story and see the motivations of these people.”
De outsiders is vIt can be seen from Thursday 10 September at 9.45 pm at the VPRO on NPO3.
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