The oudejaarsconference (English: New Year's Eve conference) is a cabaret performance that is performed annually in December. The conference discusses the past year, every year by different comedians. The oudejaarsconference is a Dutch tradition, but since 1993 Belgium has also had its own oudejaarsconference. The conference has been broadcast on television since 1969.
History The play Gijsbrecht van Aemstel by Joost van den Vondel was invariably followed by the farce The Wedding of Kloris and Roosje from 1720 to the 1960s at the end of December. This comedy was performed after the Gijsbrecht van Aemstel tragedy to ensure that the audience did not return home in a sad mood. The wedding of Kloris and Roosje included a New Year's wish that was always preceded by a passage in which a humorous look back was made on the past year. This piece is often seen as the forerunner of the modern oudejaarsconferences.
1954 – 1982 The first modern oudejaarsconference took place in 1954. The Dutch comedian Wim Kan gave in 1954 a conference on the radio, in which he made jokes and looked back on the year 1954. The broadcast was an immediate success, after which Kan decided to make it a recurring event. Six more oudejaarsconferences by Wim Kan followed later. However, in 1969 Wim Kan was unable to perform due to fatigue, so Seth Gaaikema did the oudejaarsconference in 1969. Gaaikema did not perform the conference on the radio, but was the first comedian to perform the conference on television. In 1973, Wim Kan took over the oudejaarsconference again, which also moved from radio to television.
1982 – present In 1982 there were two oudejaarsconferences on television. On the first television network, Wim Kan held a conference (broadcast by VARA) and on the second television network a oudejaarsconference was broadcast by IKON, performed by the new and refreshing comedian Freek de Jonge. Later, Freek de Jonge's conference turned out to be much more popular than Wim Kan's, which is why Wim Kan decided to stop with the oudejaarsconference. Wim Kan appointed Freek de Jonge as his successor.
Freek de Jonge held an annual oudejaarsconference until 1984. Later, Seth Gaaikema conducted a oudejaarsconference from 1985 to 1986. Since 1987, the oudejaarsconference has been alternately performed on television by different comedians. In 1989, comedian Youp van 't Hek held a oudejaarsconference on television for the first time. In 1990 Seth Gaaikema stopped with the conference. In 1994, the cabaret duo Lebbis and Jansen held a oudejaarsconference on the radio and in 2000 on television.
The comedians Freek de Jonge (his conferences were broadcast by VPRO) and Youp van 't Hek (his conferences were broadcast by VARA) alternately conducted a oudejaarsconference. In 2006, Guido Weijers held his first oudejaarsconference on the commercial channel SBS6. In 2010, the broadcaster VARA decided that the oudejaarsconference would be performed by a different comedian every year. In 2010, the oudejaarsconference was staged by Erik van Muiswinkel, who did it together with some other comedians. In 2013, Theo Maassen held a oudejaarsconference on behalf of VARA. In 2015, Herman Finkers held the oudejaarsconference for the first time and in 2016 Claudia de Breij held the conference, making her the first woman to ever hold a oudejaarsconference. Since 2014, the conferences have been broadcast by Guido Weijers on RTL 4. In 2020, Youp van 't Hek held his last oudejaarsconference.
Comedian Peter Pannekoek succeeded Youp van 't Hek in 2021 to do the oudejaarsconference, which was well received. The following year, Claudia de Breij did the conference for BNNVARA and Guido Weijers for RTL 4.
In 2023, Micha Wertheim did the oudejaarsconference for BNNVARA. It was the least-watched New Year's Eve conference on television ever. According to the comedian, that didn't matter. Wertheim says, 'The lower the ratings, the greater my success'. Wertheim's conference is special, because his conference was made especially for television, in which he appeared twice. First as a traditional comedian in a tuxedo who went through the past year in an old-fashioned humorous way. And then as himself in a blue jumper with oliebollen on it, who deviated from tradition and called on people to turn off the television and their phones and talk to each other and celebrate New Year's Eve together.
In 2024, comedian Pieter Derks was allowed to do the oudejaarsconference for broadcaster BNNVARA. Comedian Guido Weijers had cancelled his oudejaarsconference for television channel RTL 4, because he says he 'doesn't have time' to produce the conference. That same year, the VPRO broadcast two conferences. On NPO 2, the VPRO broadcast a conference by Freek de Jonge, which was billed as a 'Christmas conference' (Kerstconference). On NPO 3, the VPRO broadcast a oudejaarsconference presented by several female comedians. This conference was followed in 2025, but without television coverage.
In 2025, Peter Pannekoek presented his second New Year's Eve program for broadcaster BNNVARA. In an interview with de Volkskrant, Pannekoek said he considered the oudejaarsconference a wonderful tradition, one that allowed people to look back on the past year with humor. His second show focused on the theme of hope, which, according to Pannekoek, was difficult to find in 2025, but which, he argued, was still present. The oudejaarsconference attracted a total of 3.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched edition in years. Pannekoek said in a statement that he was incredibly honored that his conference was so well-watched. The oudejaarsconference is not just a conference especially for television. For example, Dolf Jansen has been publishing his oudejaarsconferences on YouTube since 2014. Other Dutch comedians are also doing a oudejaarsconference. Comedian Sjaak Bral has made conferences every year since 1996, especially for the regional channel Omroep West.
List of Dutch oudejaarsconferences broadcast on radio and television Overview of Dutch New Year's Eve conferences from 1954 to the present: YearComedianConference titleNetwork1954Wim KanNou je weet wa'k zeggen wilVARA1956't Was Me Het Jaartje Wel1958Waardig Over De Drempel1960Uithuilen En Opnieuw Beginnen196312 Miljoen Oliebollen Op Aardgas1966Lachend Over De Loongrens1969Seth GaaikemaHeer, Ik Kom Hier Om Te Twijfelen1970Met Mekaar Op Oudejaar1973Wim KanZuinig Over De Drempel1976Waar Gaan We In Het Nieuwe Jaar Naar Toe?1977Neerlands Hoop in Bange Dagen—1979Wim KanWankelend Over De Drempel1981—KRO1982Wim KanWij Spreken Af... Dat Wij Niets AfsprekenVARAFreek de JongeDe OpenbaringIKON1983Freek de JongeEen VerademingVPRO1984De Finale1985Seth Gaaikema—Veronica1986Dat Moet Toch Kunnen1987Freek de JongeDe ontladingVPRO1988Seth GaaikemaZo Kan Het OokVeronica1989Youp van 't HekOudejaarsconference 1989VARA1990Seth GaaikemaGeef Mij Maar NederlandVeronica1992Freek de JongeDe EstafetteVPRO1994Lebbis en Jansen—VARA1995Lebbis en Jansen—Youp van 't HekHet Is Liegen Of Sterven1996Freek de JongeBrand and Het LuikVPROLebbis en Jansen—VARA1997Freek de JongePapa RazziaVPRO1998Lebbis en JansenJakkeren (voor hetzelfde geld)VARA1999Youp van 't HekMond Vol Tanden2000Freek de JongeDe Gillende KeukenmeidVPROLebbis en JansenJakkeren in 70 minuten door 2000VARA2001Freek de JongeHet Laatste OordeelVPROLebbis en JansenOudejaars 2001VARA2002Youp van 't HekYoup Speelt YoupLebbis en JansenOudejaars 20022003Lebbis en JansenJakkeren door 20032004Twee Lieve Jongens In Een Woelige Wereld2005Youp van 't HekHet ZelfmoordcommandoLebbis en JansenOudejaars 20052006Guido WeijersDe Oudejaarsconference 2006SBS6Lebbis en JansenOudejaars 2006VARA2007Jan Jaap van der WalOnderbewustDolf JansenGeen Oudejaarsvoorstelling Guido WeijersDe Oudejaarsconference 2007SBS62008Arie KoomenUit!BNNGuido WeijersDe Oudejaarsconference 2008SBS6Dolf JansenEchtVARAYoup van 't HekTroost2009Freek de JongeFreeks Nederland: VolendamVPROJan Jaap van der WalLekker Hard Lachen Met OliebollenVARAGuido WeijersDe Oudejaarsconference 2009SBS62010Gedoog, Hoop & LiefdeVARADolf JansenOudejaars 2010Freek de JongeHet Verlossende Woord VPROArie Koomen, Wilko Terwijn, Menno StamBijbabbelenBNNGuido WeijersDe Oudejaarsconference 2010 SBS62011Youp van 't HekDe tweede vioolVARADolf JansenDe Oudejaars van de StraatFreek de JongeLone WolfVPROBeau van Erven DorensDe Wereld van Beau: OudejaarsconferenceSBS62012Het Eerlijke VerhaalVARAGuido Weijers—KRO2013Theo MaassenEinde oefeningVARAPieter DerksEen OudejaarsBNN2014Youp van 't HekWat is de vraag?VARAGuido Weijers—RTL 42015Herman FinkersEen uur Herman FinkersVARA2016Claudia de Breij—Javier GuzmanZonde(r) voornemensRTL 42017Youp van 't HekEen vloek en een zuchtBNNVARAGuido Weijers—RTL 42018Marc-Marie HuijbregtsOnderweg Naar MorgenBNNVARAGuido Weijers—RTL 4Javier Guzman—Comedy Central2019Claudia de Breij—BNNVARAFreek de JongeDe LachgasfabriekVPROMartijn Koning—RTL 42020Youp van 't HekKorrel ZoutBNNVARAJan Beuving and Patrick NederkoornDe andere OudejaarsGuido Weijers—RTL 4Javier GuzmanRaspopulistComedy Central2021Peter PannekoekNieuw BloedBNNVARANajib AmhaliWie het weet mag het zeggen!SBS6Javier GuzmanIn Vertwijfeling VerblijvenComedy Central2022Claudia de Breij—BNNVARAGuido Weijers—RTL 42023Micha WertheimMicha Wertheim voor twaalvenBNNVARA2024Pieter DerksNu even nietFreek de JongeVrede op aardeVPROVrouwejaars2025Peter PannekoekPerspectiefBNNVARA
Overview of most watched Dutch oudejaarsconferences on television Below is an overview of the most watched Dutch oudejaarsconferences on television: PositionComedianYearNetworkViewers (millions)1Wim Kan1976VARA7.4002Wim Kan1982VARA7.3603Wim Kan1973VARA6.5004Wim Kan1979VARA6.4005Seth Gaaikema1986Veronica6.1506Youp van 't Hek2002VARA4.1467Herman Finkers2015VARA3.7918Youp van 't Hek2020BNNVARA3.5049Peter Pannekoek2025BNNVARA3.34010Youp van 't Hek2017BNNVARA3.135
Oudejaarsconference in Belgium
Since 1993, a oudejaarsconference has also been broadcast on television in Belgium. Comedian Geert Hoste was the person who introduced the tradition. Hoste provided the oudejaarsconference from 1993 to 2015.
From 2003 to 2007, Raf Coppens, held an oudejaarsconference on the commercial channel VTM. From 2012 to 2018, Michael Van Peel provided the oudejaarsconference for the public broadcaster VRT. Since 2019, Kamal Kharmach has provided the oudejaarsconference on the channel VRT 1.
List of Belgian oudejaarsconferences broadcast on television YearComedianConference titleNetwork1992Geert HosteLive WitRadio 11993Live ZwartÉén1994Koning1995Alleen1996Spreekt1997JA!199830001999Sterk2000Verdorie2001Dwars2002Puur en Onversneden2003Geert HosteHardRaf CoppensLacht UitVTM2004Geert HostePatatÉénRaf CoppensLacht UitVTM2005Geert HosteStaatÉénRaf CoppensLacht UitVTM2006Geert HosteStaat VerderÉénHet Ergste Is Al GeweestCanvasRaf CoppensLacht UitVTM2007Geert HosteHoudt WoordÉénNot knownHet Ergste Is Al GeweestCanvasRaf CoppensLacht UitVTM2008Geert HosteRegeertÉénHet BesluitCanvas2009Geert HosteBeslistÉénHet BesluitCanvas2010Geert HosteVulkaanÉénHet BesluitCanvas2011Geert HosteKooktÉénHet BesluitCanvas2012Geert HosteXXÉénMichael Van PeelVan Peel overleeft de ApocalypsCanvas2013Geert HosteKingÉénMichael Van PeelVan Peel overleeft Big BrotherCanvas2014Geert HosteLOLÉénMichael Van PeelVan Peel overleeft WOIIICanvas2015Geert HosteJUMPÉénMichael Van PeelVan Peel overleeft de ExodusCanvas2016Van Peel overleeft de Muur2017Van Peel overleeft de Graaicultuur2018Van Peel overleeft de Evil Clowns2019Kamal KharmachMag ik even?2020Één202120222023Kamal KharmachMag ik even?VRT 1Xander De RyckeHoudt het voor bekeken 2023Joost Vandecasteele#Eindejaars – Een Beetje ExtreemVTM2024Kamal KharmachMag ik even?VRT 1Xander De RyckeHoudt het voor bekeken 2024VRT Canvas2025Kamal KharmachMag ik even?VRT 1Xander De RyckeHoudt het voor bekeken 2025VRT Canvas
Overview of most watched Belgian oudejaarsconferences on television