Sketches & Comedy

Belgian sketch shows, stand-up and absurdist comedy, the bits and catchphrases that whole friend-groups still quote.

Part of Belgium

21 moments in this segment.

1. 1980-01-01 - De Collega’s. The 1980s civil-service workplace sitcom, foundational Flemish TV comedy.
2. 1983 - Urbanus - stand-up. The vulgar, beloved Flemish comedian, a national institution since the 1970s.
3. 1985-01-01 - Gaston en Leo - "De pastoors". The classic Flemish comedy duo’s slapstick double-act.
4. 1991 - Samson en Gert. The talking-dog-and-owner duo (1989), the most beloved Flemish kids’ show ever.
5. 1997-01-01 - Kabouter Plop. Studio 100’s gnome show, meme-tier for an entire Flemish childhood.
6. 2000-01-01 - In de Gloria - "Boemerang". The legendary fake-tabloid-TV sketch, a high point of Belgian comedy.
7. 2000-01-01 - In de Gloria - "Tetje en Fil". The cult Flemish sketch show (2000) whose absurd parodies are still quoted everywhere.
8. 2004-01-01 - Het Eiland. The bleak 2004 office-comedy cult series that predated and rivalled The Office tone.
9. 2005-01-01 - Neveneffecten - sketch. The surreal 2005 sketch trio (later Basta), deadpan Flemish absurdism.
10. 2009-03-30 - Philippe Geluck - "Le Chat". The French-Belgian cartoonist and TV wit whose cat character is a household name.
11. 2010-01-01 - Bert Kruismans - stand-up. The Flemish comedian famous for explaining Belgium’s absurdities to Belgians.
12. 2011-01-01 - Basta - "Het Belspel". The 2011 prank that exposed and crashed Belgium’s scammy late-night call-TV quizzes.
13. 2012-01-01 - Alex Agnew - "Larger Than Life". The Antwerp rock-comedian’s biting, no-taboo stand-up era.
14. 2013-02-04 - F.C. De Kampioenen. The endlessly rerun Flemish sitcom (1990, ), its catchphrases are a shared dialect.
15. 2014-01-01 - Kamiel Spiessens - Bankkaart. Chris Van den Durpel’s rural everyman character, a Flemish TV institution.
16. 2014-01-01 - "Wat Als?". The hugely popular Flemish what-if sketch series with Jonas Geirnaert and friends.
17. 2014-01-01 - De Ideale Wereld. The Flemish late-night satirical news show, Belgium’s answer to The Daily Show.
18. 2015-01-01 - Bart Cannaerts - "Trouwfeesten". The musical-comedian skewering the rituals of the Flemish wedding party.
19. 2015-01-01 - Wim Helsen - Comedy. The cult Flemish stand-up known for absurdist, deadpan storytelling.
20. 2021-01-01 - Philippe Geubels - Comedy. Flanders’ most beloved deadpan comedian, master of the awkward silence.
21. 2024-08-30 - Kamagurka & Herr Seele - "Cowboy Henk". The anarchic Flemish comic-and-TV duo whose absurd humour shaped a generation.