At the beginning of the episode, the Meilandjes receive their assignment of the week by means of a letter. This time it’s a tough one, because they have to organize a neighborhood drink. “Can’t do it, we are already in the minus”, complains Maxime. Martien and Erica are also not eager for the assignment, but quickly decide that they should make the best of it. The family goes through a number of doors in the street and soon comes to the conclusion that everyone in the neighborhood is in for a drink.
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Maxime and Erica decide to go to the Drinking Hut around the corner to make an arrangement. “Say, we have a question”, Maxime addresses the owner. “We are on welfare and now we have to organize a neighborhood drink, but of course we don’t have any money for that. Otherwise, can I get a few bottles of wine in exchange for a morning’s work?” The owner reacts enthusiastically and that means that the Meilandjes have already received their drink. And it doesn’t stop there: not much later it can be seen that Maxime visits a diner and asks if Erica can work there for an evening in exchange for some money.
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Although the viewers find the Meilandjes solution creative, they do not think it is very realistic. If you are on social assistance and you are also going to work paid, your benefit will be reduced. In addition, because of their fame, the Meilandjes get things done much easier than the average person. According to the viewers, it is therefore not really fair how the family works.
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Even before Chateau Bijstand was even broadcast, there was already a lot of criticism. Rob Goossens predicted at the time that the reality series de Meilandjes could cause a lot of damage:
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