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 — De Ideale Wereld. The Flemish late-night satirical news show — Belgium’s answer to The Daily Show.
17. 2014-01-01 — "Wat Als?". The hugely popular Flemish what-if sketch series with Jonas Geirnaert and friends.
18. 2015-01-01 — Wim Helsen — Comedy. The cult Flemish stand-up known for absurdist, deadpan storytelling.
19. 2015-01-01 — Bart Cannaerts — "Trouwfeesten". The musical-comedian skewering the rituals of the Flemish wedding party.
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.