interview by MAREK BARTEK

From his very first role in the short film ‘Gameboy’ to his breakout as a versatile leading man, Thijs Boermans has steadily carved out a dynamic path in Dutch entertainment. Known for his heartfelt performances in projects like ‘De Held’ and ‘Kleine Ijstijd’, his adventurous stint on ‘Expeditie Robinson’, and most recently his role in ‘iHostage’, Thijs continues to push boundaries as both an actor and creative entrepreneur. With upcoming roles in ‘Mr. & Mrs. Arslan’, and the comedy ‘Bledders’, plus the runaway success of his podcast ‘Borrelpraat’ and his Amsterdam restaurant Nonna, Thijs is proving that his talents extend far beyond the screen.

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You first appeared in the short movie Gameboy, and since then you’ve moved from TV series to films, to reality TV, to podcasting. When you look back at that journey, what was the moment you realised acting wasn’t just a passion, but the path you wanted to fully commit to?

I think from the start it was Gameboy that really made me want to fully focus on film. The whole thing was improvised, there wasn’t an actual script. To build chemistry, they put all of us boys together in this little cabin, and we spent a lot of time bonding before shooting. Out of that came real friendships, which made the improvisation during the scenes so natural. It was so much fun, but also very different from the usual way of filming, where you work with a script and a director, and slowly build a character. This project gave me complete freedom, and that freedom is what made me fall in love with acting as a profession.

In Kleine Ijstijd you, on the other hand, worked under the direction of your mother. How did that family dynamic shape the way you approached your character, and did it blur or strengthen the line between private life and professional life?
I’ve always had the utmost respect for my mum, simply because she raised me and my sister. But when I saw her on set as a director, my respect grew even more. She’s a small woman (1.64m) but she stood there with full authority, knowing exactly what she wanted. She kept everything in place in a way that was both authoritative and empathetic, which made her approachable. She wasn’t the type of director who just dictates.

I couldn’t stop smiling whenever I looked at her, because I was seeing someone I know so well in a completely different light. She had so much charisma. It didn’t blur private and professional life for me, it strengthened it. I carried that perspective of her back into my personal life, remembering her in the “working mode.” And I really loved that we had this chance to work together, because I’ve been watching her films all my life. I honestly think she’s one of the most talented directors in our country, especially in an artistic sense, so this was not just a big opportunity, but also a very beautiful experience.

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After playing characters came Expeditie Robinson. Not only did it expose you to the raw, physical side of survival, but also to a massive audience who got to know you as “yourself.” What did that experience teach you?
Participating in Expeditie Robinson was a real wake-up call. Before that, I was really searching — especially for my own identity. Of course I gained media attention and career opportunities from it, but more importantly it gave me a foundation of learning how to really commit myself to something that doesn’t happen overnight. On the island, you have to keep working towards this almost unimaginable goal of being the last one standing. Later, I realised it also gave me a bird’s-eye view on my life. It showed me that you can turn things in the direction you want, but only if you commit and stay patient. Having had filming experiences before while I was still in school, this adventure really confirmed for me that I wanted to go down that path — and it made me much more decisive about what I wanted to do with my life.

The island also sparked Borrelpraat, your podcast with Niels, which quickly shot into the top 10. Why do you think people connect so strongly with your conversations?
Borrelpraat really came from the initiative of people just meeting and getting to know each other. For us, the most important thing was to create the feeling that listeners were involved in the conversation. Instead of preparing every episode with a script and a set theme, we wanted it to feel like you were sitting at the table with us, just hanging out. That means the talk can start funny, but then shift into something serious, just like it does with your best friends, your partner, or even your parents. It’s organic, it flows naturally, and most importantly it’s relatable. I think that’s why people connect so strongly. We reach about 50,000 listeners per episode, and most of the feedback we get is that they feel part of the conversation. We also bring in guests from very different backgrounds: artists, comedians, people who’ve gone through very specific experiences, even ex-criminals with strong stories. That wide spectrum makes the podcast versatile, and I think that’s part of the power too.

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From surviving on an island to dancing on stage, Onze Jongens feels like another big leap. It was your first lead role, which also demanded a lot of physical training. What was the process like preparing for that film, and did it change the way you think about performance?
This role was special because I really had to carry the movie as the lead, and it was the third sequel in a franchise that already had a lot of fans. People expected to see Jim Bakkum again, and when he texted me to say he was happy I was taking over, it truly meant a lot. He called it the end of an era for him, but believed I could carry the role. That gave me an even bigger sense of responsibility. I worked with a personal trainer, tracked every calorie, took progress pictures, and went through three months of dance training - four hours a day - before shooting even began. I wanted to know every scene, every line, not just my own but everyone’s, because I felt such a weight of expectation.

The process made me take the role very seriously. It wasn’t something I could just dive into and out of. It was bigger than just another production, it felt like the role that could put my performance on the map. I’m excited, of course a bit anxious too, but I think people will see the effort we put in. And the supporting cast, especially Vajèn van den Bosch as my dance partner, was incredible. What I also loved is that the way it was filmed and directed gave a fresh, dynamic spin to a story people might already know — yes, about male strippers, but also with a real message behind it. That combination makes for a strong formula.

Around the same time, you appeared in iHostage, directed by your brother, and in several comedy projects. How does it feel to be in that moment where family and career mix, and how does that closeness influence your craft compared to working with strangers?
My brother and I had been going back and forth about working together. He had cast me in a couple of his earlier films, but I didn’t end up getting the parts, so this was actually the fifth time I auditioned for him, and the first time it fully clicked. In iHostage I played a young police officer, a bit inexperienced, who ends up in a very serious hostage situation. That felt right for me. But what I appreciated most is that my brother kept it professional. There’s often a stigma that family members in film just help each other out, but with him it’s never been like that. I had to earn it. And it paid off. The film was released on Netflix and became a global success, hitting number one in over seventy countries. To be part of a project with that kind of reach, and to do it alongside my brother, was incredibly rewarding.

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You’ve played across genres already: drama, comedy, action, even survival on TV. Which space feels most natural to you right now?
Believe it or not, comedy feels very natural to me. I’ve done a lot of drama and thriller, but comedy lets me bring out parts of my own personality. In real life I’m a bit chaotic, I lose focus sometimes, though never on set. But if you can channel those quirks into a character without overplaying them, it works. The trick in comedy is not to exaggerate. Don’t try too hard to be funny, just play the dialogue straight and let your personality add the little touches. For me, that chaotic side often creates funny moments in situations where I’m not even trying to be funny. And that’s the essence of comedy: the funniest things happen when the person isn’t trying to be funny at all.

Then there’s Nonna, your restaurant in Amsterdam. What do you want people to feel when they step inside Nonna, and what does the restaurant give you that acting doesn’t?
Nonna is such a contrast to acting. There’s not much overlap between being an actor and running a restaurant, except that many actors work in restaurants when they don’t have acting jobs, and I did too. I worked behind the bar for years while I was acting. When a friend suggested opening a restaurant together, my career was already moving, but the idea really appealed to me. I’ve always romanticised the thought of having my own cozy place in the city I grew up in. I didn’t want it to be a high-end, luxury spot. I wanted it to feel like a living room, where people feel invited, comfortable, and welcome just as they are — the same feeling I try to create with my podcast. Italian food was a natural choice because it has that warmth and appeals to such a wide audience. You can’t really go wrong with it. And I wanted the details of the restaurant to reflect who I am as a person. For me, it’s been the perfect way to express another side of myself, one that acting can’t give me.

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When you step back and look at all these layers: actor, podcaster, entrepreneur, storyteller, do you feel they’re feeding into each other, or are you consciously keeping them separate?
For me, everything connects back to my personality. Even as I’ve gone deeper into social media and media in general, I’ve never strayed from who I am. I’ve kept the same friends I had before all of this, and they ground me. The industry moves fast, people come and go, but those friendships have always stayed. Whether it’s acting, the podcast, or the restaurant, everything I create is closely tied to who I am and what I stand for. That’s the common thread. Authenticity is important to me, especially now when so much is driven by formulas. I want everything I do to feel convincing to myself first. That’s how I know it will be real for others too.

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Looking ahead, what’s still on your wish list?
I would really love to host a show. I think there’s a lot of space for me in that world, especially with the experience I’ve gained in shows and podcasting. We’ve had big guests who normally make interviewers nervous, but I always feel comfortable talking to people. I’m naturally very talkative, so presenting or hosting feels like the next step. I’d also like to produce films, and as an actor I’d love to take on heavier roles. Maybe a mobster, or someone struggling with addiction, a character carrying something bigger than himself. Those are the kinds of roles that bring a persona to life and make their story resonate.

On a personal level, I want to grow as a father. My little one is walking around now, aware of me being her dad, and I want to become even more present in that role. That excites me just as much as any project. In the end, I’ve always believed that when you take a risky path like I did at sixteen, fully depending on your creativity, it can feel uncertain, but it’s also the path that’s the most rewarding. So I look forward to new challenges, whether in presenting or hosting, acting, or fatherhood, because those are the things that keep life exciting.

IN CONVERSATION WITH THIJS BOERMANS

IN CONVERSATION WITH FORREST WEBER