More than 5.5 million people in the Netherlands care for a partner, parent, child or other loved one, and from Sunday five celebrities will temporarily take over that work, RTL.nl reported.
The program shows what caregiving demands and gives caregivers time for themselves, while the caregivers get the chance to let go of the care and go away for a while.
The second season of Care out of your hands premieres Sunday, November 8, on NPO 1, broadcaster MAX announced. The premiere lands two days before the national Day of the Caregiver on Tuesday, November 10.
Van Dijk Takes Over Parkinson Care
In the first episode, presenter Wendy van Dijk replaces Claudia, 43, who cares for her husband Danny, 46, who lives with Parkinson’s disease. Claudia also keeps the family running and works part-time, and the couple has three children. While Claudia travels to Barcelona, Van Dijk runs the household and provides personal care, TV Gids reported.
Van Dijk said taking over the care felt meaningful: “I found it very beautiful and honorable that I was allowed to take over the informal care. That gave Claudia, after years, some space and freedom to do something for herself.” She added: “I didn’t have to think about it for a second.”
Her day started at 6 a.m. with breakfast, medication and the school run, and included housework, helping Danny to the toilet and showering him, TV Gids reported. Danny first showed signs of Parkinson’s around his twenties, and when he indicated it was becoming too much, he had to rest.
She also said she felt uneasy about the intimacy of the work in front of the camera crew. Van Dijk added: “While it was relatively little effort for me.”
Five Stars, Five Families
Alongside Van Dijk, Janny van der Heijden, Nikkie de Jager, Roué Verveer, and singer and actor Martijn Fischer each spend several days with a caregiver’s family, TVV reported. Fischer takes over from José, 67, whose husband Hans, 72, has Alzheimer’s; José rests in the Belgian Ardennes while he steps in.
Fischer described the weight of the role: “You actually live a life for two people.” Janny van der Heijden, who saw her own parents’ caregiving up close, told Margriet: “There is so much hidden grief.” Van der Heijden takes over the care tasks so Mariëlle can rest for a few days on the Veluwe. Her own mother had Alzheimer’s and became increasingly dependent on her father.
When and Where to Watch
The premiere airs Sunday, November 8. Zorg uit Handen starts at 9:35 p.m. on NPO 1. The series is also available online via NPO Start, and the first season from 2019 can be rewatched there, TVV reported. The 2019 first season featured Olcay Gulsen, Stef Bos, Najib Amhali, Joris Linssen and Johnny de Mol.
The show is a co-production of I Care Producties and Omroep MAX, made in cooperation with MantelzorgNL, TVV reported.
Take Care Out of Hands: Common Questions
The second season premieres Sunday, November 8, on NPO 1, airing shortly before the Day of the Caregiver on November 10. Episode 2 with Martijn Fischer follows on Sunday, November 15.
Janny van der Heijden, Nikkie de Jager, Roué Verveer, Martijn Fischer, and Wendy van Dijk appear in Zorg uit Handen. Wendy van Dijk, Janny van der Heijden, Nikkie de Jager, Roué Verveer, and Martijn Fischer each temporarily take over the care tasks of a Dutch caregiver.
Wendy van Dijk cares for Danny, 46, who has Parkinson’s, allowing his wife Claudia to travel to Barcelona for a few days of rest.
Where can I watch Zorg uit Handen online? The series airs on NPO 1 and streams via NPO Start, where the 2019 first season is also available.
The second episode, with Martijn Fischer caring for Hans, who has Alzheimer’s, airs Sunday, November 15, at 9:25 p.m.
Worth a look