Congratulations! Have you recovered from the shock yet?

“I don’t think she’s really there yet. The money isn’t in my account yet, of course. And I had to go right back to work the day after the shooting, last Thursday. Then it comes back to reality.”

But this price is a reality. What kind of work do you do?

“I work nights as a nurse, in home care. I deliberately chose nights. I think it’s best to just have one rhythm and not keep changing. I’m not a morning person anyway.”

Suddenly you have 26,000 euros. Do you already know what you are going to do with the money?

,,no. We need to give her some rest first. Let’s see what we can do with it at all.”

Don’t dream big like going to Hawaii or something?

,, not real. I don’t want to make a hasty decision either. Soon it will be over and that would be a shame.”

She reached the semi-finals and pressed the red button to leave with €26,000. Why didn’t you go to the jackpot?

“I had a certain amount in mind beforehand. If you and your opponent don’t press, there’s going to be an arithmetic problem you have to win. I’m good at math, but I was afraid I might pass out. Then you go home with nothing.”

When you said you were in a relationship with Linda, presenter Linda de Mol laughed, “So you’re used to being on Linda’s side.” Did it make you feel comfortable with that?

,,no. I was so nervous. Of course I went there with no expectations, but when – at first – my question came up on the voting machine and my name was called, I thought: Damn! Don’t expect that. Then I chose the desk instead of one of the big bags, and so I had to go downstairs. Linda de Mol really tried to reassure me, you know. She told me: All right. But you can’t suppress those nerves in a few minutes.”

You were in the studio with 49 Neighbors, because of your winning zip code of 9521. But you haven’t had that zip for a long time, right?

beats. We bought this house in December 2021. I’m from Limburg myself.”

The Nieuw-Buiners division earned nothing, except for another fellow townspeople, now €2,000 richer. How was the mood after that?

“Well, you always go home with something. This time everyone in the studio got a food processor. Other than that, though, it was pretty good. No jealousy reactions. They were so happy for me.”