What is “De Slimste Mens ter Wereld” in Belgium?
Felix over zijn kinderdroom in De Slimste Mens
A2 Dutch listening practice · Flemish Dutch · Picked for people who know a little
De Slimste Mens ter Wereld (“The Smartest Person in the World”) is the most-watched and most-quoted quiz show in Belgium. Running on VRT since 2003, the format pits three Belgian celebrities against each other through rounds of word association, picture rounds, and timed quiz questions. The show is a national institution: hosts (Erik Van Looy, then Astrid Coppens), jury members, catchphrases, even de schaal van Geubel in-jokes leak into everyday Flemish speech. A Dutch sister version on SBS6 followed in 2022.
In this clip, a Flemish guest is asked “Was jouw droom als kind om hier te zitten?” He answers: “Toch 9 jaar, sinds ik 9 ben of zo.”
How common are the words?
How common are the words in this A2 Dutch listening practice video?
How common in written Dutch
How common in spoken Dutch
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-NL 2014 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.
- ▸In Flemish entertainment and prime-time TV coverage (VRT MAX, De Standaard, De Morgen)
- ▸In Dutch coverage of the SBS6 export version (SBS6, De Telegraaf, LINDA.)
- ▸In Belgian comedy circuit and stand-up (Steven Geubels, Bart Cannaerts, Wouter Deprez)
- ▸In Belgian podcast humor and panel shows (Welkom in de Republiek, De Ideale Wereld, De Tafel van Vier)