Zomergasten

 ( 1988 Dutch Television Series Debuts ) 

Zomergasten ("Summer guests", an allusion to migratory birds) is a Dutch television programme broadcast each summer by public broadcaster VPRO.

The programme was first aired in 1988. Each episode takes up an entire Sunday evening. It consists of an in-depth studio interview, typically three hours long, with a notable Dutch people, Belgians or other Dutch-speaking foreigner, interspersed with cinema or television footage selected by the guest, which is subsequently discussed. Guests include writers, scientists, television personalities, politicians or business people. After the interview is finished, a movie selected by the guest is broadcast on the same channel.

Zomergasten has become one of the signature programmes of Dutch public television. VPRO has organized live public screening of Zomergasten in arthouse cinemas. In 2017, several venues in Amsterdam organised public screenings of the Zomergasten edition featuring Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan.

Guests included: Pierre Bokma (2024), Hoyte van Hoytema (2023), Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer (2020), Eberhard van der Laan (2017), Arjen Lubach (2016), Reinbert de Leeuw (2014), Paul Verhoeven (2010), Jaap van Zweden (2009), Bram Moszkowicz (2007), Robbert Dijkgraaf (2005), Theo Maassen (2004), Britta Böhler (2003), Sonja Barend (1999), Arnon Grunberg (1997), Harry Mulisch (1995), Sienie Strikwerda (1988).