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Dating shows, you see them appearing more and more on television. Love and reality, a great combination. We love to watch first dates, see people fall in love with each other and see people become happy in love. But let’s be honest, we can also enjoy relationships that don’t go completely well, awkward dates, cheating and violent fights between couples.
Whatever kind of love or reality you’re into, there’s something for everyone on Dutch television. Looking for your new favorite TV show or, let’s be honest, guilty pleasure ?
Dating on television
Of course, you can date in real life or sign up on a dating site or dating app . But that’s not the route all singles take. Some still get matched up by friends, others go to speed dating events, but you can also choose to date on television.
There are many different dating programs on television that you can easily sign up for. Or is that not really your thing and would you rather watch how others date? It can be both: to experience or to watch.
9 Dating Shows
How about a blind date? Or spend 24 hours with your date right away? You can’t think of anything too crazy with these great dating programs. Watch it with your partner, with friends or just… alone. Or maybe with your date. These are the 9 best dating programs that can be seen on Dutch TV.
1. From Bachelorette
The Bachelorette is based on an American television show called The Bachelor . In this program, a single man was introduced on national television, after which thousands of women signed up for the program to get to know him better. Then, through castings, 20 women were chosen who went on to the recordings of the program. The women lived together in a luxury villa and went on various dates and activities with the bachelor .
Every few days there was a rose ceremony, where the bachelor gave a rose to the women he felt a connection with and thus moved on to the next episode. At the end of the program, one woman remained.
The Dutch program De Bachelorette uses the same format, only with a female bachelor and 20 men. In the first season of the show, celebrity Gaby Blaaser was the bachelorette . The single men stayed in a beautiful villa in South Africa. They got to know Gaby during exciting dates, such as bungee jumping or a helicopter flight. But there was also plenty of romance to be found in the program, with picnics and candlelight dinners.
Each episode one or more men were eliminated because they did not receive a rose from Gaby during the rose ceremony. In the end Gaby was left with two favorites: she went on a final date with these two men, including an overnight stay. In the last episode she went for participant Joey. The Bachelorette was presented by Rick Brandsteder, was broadcast by RTL and could be seen on Videoland.
ALSO READ: 114 Best Date Ideas for First, Second and More Dates
2. First Dates
Dating program First Dates is originally a British reality program. The format has already been sold to twenty other countries. Including the Netherlands, as we have all seen. The program is recorded in a restaurant in Amsterdam. People can register themselves or other singles for the program. They are then matched with someone and meet each other in the First Dates restaurant: a blind date .
They are met by host Sergio Vyent. Bartender Victor Abeln reassures the candidates while they wait for their date and makes them a drink of their choice. The two candidates meet at the bar and then sit down to enjoy a 3-course meal while they get to know each other better. A number of dates are featured per episode. After the date, the candidates appear again and are asked if they would like a second date .
ALSO READ: Couples Have More in Common Than We Think’
3. Love Island
Love Island is – just like First Dates – originally a British reality dating program. This format has now been adopted by many countries. The Dutch-Flemish version will be broadcast on RTL 5 and Videoland from 2019. The presentation is in the hands of Holly Mae Brood and Viktor Verhulst. The program will be broadcast daily for 8 weeks. On Sundays there is a recap of the week and Holly and Viktor interview the candidate who has been eliminated.
The program follows a number of young singles during their stay in a luxury villa at a tropical destination. The single men and women hope to find their true love here. They are under camera surveillance day and night. In order to stay in the villa as long as possible, the singles have to form couples. The viewers at home can vote for their favorite couple. Those who are not popular enough risk having to leave Love Island . The winning couple wins a prize of 25,000 euros.
4. Long Live Love
Long Live Love is a dating program broadcast by SBS6 , intended for people between 18 and 88 years old. The participants are looking for a new love. But will they find it in the 24 hours they are given? In the program, they will immediately live together for 24 hours. In this way, they will discover whether love will arise.
To make it a bit easier, the couple stays in a luxury villa. During their stay, they get to know each other better. After 24 hours, the couple is asked if there is a connection between the two and if they would like to get to know each other further. If they choose to do so, they can enjoy each other for a few more days. In other words: in this program, a first date can last as long as 5 days.
ALSO READ: Is He The One? Not If He Does These 25 Things
5. Married at First Sight
The originally Danish program Married at First Sight is broadcast in the Netherlands by RTL 4. The presentation was done for many years by presenter Peter van der Vorst, but he was succeeded by Carlo Boszhard in 2020. Anyone can register for this dating program. The casting team, consisting of love experts and psychologists, pairs some of the candidates with each other. The couples meet each other for the first time at their own wedding. Now that’s a first date, right?
At the altar, they can choose whether or not to get married. Will they really put their fate in the hands of the experts? If they choose to get married, they will go on a honeymoon. When the couple returns from their honeymoon, they will live together for a few weeks. In the final episode, the couples will tell whether they want to stay married or divorce. Our tip? Don’t miss the Australian version.
6. Farmer Wants a Wife
Farmer Wants a Wife is a Dutch dating show based on the English format Farmer Wants a Wife . The KRO program has been presented by Yvon Jaspers for many years. In the program, a number of single farmers go in search of love.
First, an episode will be broadcast in which eight farmers introduce themselves in a short promo film. Interested single women or men can respond to this, but only with a letter. The second episode will be broadcast a few months later. The five farmers who have received the most letters will go on to the recordings.
These five farmers select 10 ladies or gentlemen themselves who have written a letter to them. And then it gets interesting: the speed dates follow to get to know the singles better. The farmer chooses 5 people who will go with him to the next step. After this, there is a group date, after which the farmer sends two candidates home.
The remaining three singles will stay with the farmer or farmer’s wife for a week, called the guest week. During this week, the singles will find out what farm life is really like and whether this is something for them. After the singles and the farmer have gotten to know each other better, one more candidate will be eliminated. The final couple will then go on a weekend trip abroad that the program has organized for them.
ALSO READ: One-Sided Relationship? 22 Signs It’s Coming from One Side
7. Undress for Love
Could you select your match based on their body? Because that is exactly what dating program Undress for Love, a dating program that was broadcast by RTL, is all about. In this program, singles take off their clothes to get to know each other better. Three brave single men and women literally expose themselves in this program in their search for love.
Family members and friends are also allowed to get involved from the stands. Through various rounds of play, the singles learn more and more about each other. Finally, there is the decisive voting round. The final match is then sent on a date.
8. Naked Attraction
The British television program Naked Attraction is broadcast by RTL. A clothed person is confronted with six completely naked people. These six people are hidden in cubicles. Their bodies are gradually revealed through several rounds, from the feet up. In the last round, the faces of the candidates are also shown.
In each round, one candidate is eliminated by the voter. In the round where there are only two candidates left, the voter also gets naked to make his or her choice. This couple then goes on a date, this time fully clothed.
ALSO READ: 35 Playful Dates to Keep Your Relationship Alive
9. Adam seeks Eve
Naked dating on a desert island? It is possible, with Adam looking for Eve. This reality show is broadcast by RTL 5 and also has a VIPS version. The show was first broadcast in 2014 and is presented by Nicolette Kluijver and Dennis Weening. In this dating show, several single candidates who are looking for a serious relationship meet each other on a tropical island. And that completely naked .
The singles get to know each other while looking for food, trying to make a fire for the food and spending the night together. The next day, a third naked candidate arrives. Then there is a competition: the winner of the competition may choose to send one of the candidates away. The remaining candidates see each other fully clothed for the first time after their stay on the island. They must then choose which of the two candidates they want to continue with.
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