Three Belgian independent television producers, Woestijnvis, Lecter Media and De Mensen, found a new production company together in the Netherlands: FABIOLA.

FABIOLA will develop its own programs for the Dutch market and offer and produce exclusive formats of three Flemish producers in the Netherlands. De Mensen and Woestijnvis are the two biggest producers in Belgium, and well-known in the Netherlands for formats like De Slimste Mens, Hotel Romantiek, TV-Kijker van het Jaar, Difficult Destinations, Blockx, May I Kiss You?, Man Bijt Hondand Wie is de Mol?. Lecter Media was founded last year in Belgium and created Jensen Kiest voor Amerika in the Netherlands and has an international success format Groeten Uit 19xx in production for RTL4.

By taking this step, the three Belgian producers join creative forces in the Netherlands. Both De Mensen and Lecter Media had ambitions to actively produce in the Netherlands for a long time. Woestijnvis only offered licenses for their formats in the Netherlands up till now to different producers, broadcasting networks and channels. The collaboration won’t change anything to the situation in homeland Belgium, nor in other countries except the Netherlands. Starting early 2018, Groeten uit 19xx will be the first program from FABIOLA to be broadcasted on RTL4.

FABIOLA has her office in Amsterdam and is headed by director Robert van den Bogaard (known as co-founder of the international Eyeworks-group) and producer Pieter van Eekelen (Executive Producer for diverse production companies and Creative Director for Eyeworks International), with support from the creative teams at Woestijnvis, Lecter Media and De Mensen.

Robert van den Bogaard: ‘For years Belgium’s creative television market has been profoundly different from other European countries. That we can join forces, one year after the founding of Lecter Media, with the two biggest and most creative production companies of Belgium, Woestijnvis and De Mensen, is unique. It also shows the massive respect these Flemish producers have for each other. Pieter van Eekelen and me did a lot of creative export at Eyeworks International. We’re really looking forward to work together with the teams from Woestijnvis, Lecter Media and De Mensen in the Netherlands. This is a favourable situation for all parties, in both Belgium and the Netherlands.