(Bussum, 1963) as a stand-up comedian, tv maker and writer likes to mop the floor with – in his eyes – often stupid politicians and journalists. In 2009 he began his own talk show with VPRO, Heerlijk, eerlijk Heertje (delicious, honest Heertje). In this programme he showed that many seemingly spontaneous processes in tv programmes are actually precooked. In 1990 Heertje introduced the stand-up comedy in the Netherlands with the launch of the Comedytrain. He is also the initiator of Comedy Café Toomler in Amsterdam. Heertje is especially known as team captain of the tv programme Dit was het Nieuws (the Dutch version of Have I got news for you) cooperating sincs 1995. In addition he writes. He wrote columns and interviews for among others Vrij Nederland, Sportweek, NRC Handelsblad and Het Parool, which were published in book form. In 2009-2010 he made the VPRO programme Wintergasten (Winter guests). Raoul Heertje also performed in foreign comedy clubs and was a guest in various foreign tv programmes, such as Ruby Wax’ show. Right now he is working on a new book Circus Nederland (Circus the Netherlands), on the media and manipulation, which will appear in 2011.

(Paramaribo, 1946) is regarded as one of the best criminal lawyers in the Netherlands, often delivering fierce criticism on Dutch society. I want to make people realise that they're living in a narrow-minded country,' he once said in an interview with Intermediair. Spong established himself in 1976 as a criminal lawyer in The Hague, and later in Amsterdam. As early as 1978 he drew the attention of the media with the epoch-making case against three members of the Rote Armee Fraktion (Red Army Faction) who were imprisoned in the Netherlands. He denounced the media after the death of Pim Fortuyn and tried to get Geert Wilders in the witness box. Spong likes to keep people on the alert with crisp remarks. Thus he said that he'd much wanted to bring charges against queen Beatrix for meeting Robert Mugabe. Spong is opposed to a middle-class mentality, which he claims is the product of social pressure and oppression. 'I can't accept that. Because a middle-class mentality eventually paves the way to social aggression.'

(Nijmegen, NL, 1960) writes essays, short stories and plays, and is a columnist with the daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad. He published the novels Laatste woorden (Last words) and Suez and received the Henriëtte Roland Holst Prize in 2005. In 2011's Moeten wij van elkaar houden, het populisme ontleed (Do We Have to Love One Another? Populism Dissected) Heijne shows how globalisation and individualism pave the way for populism. Angst en schoonheid (Fear and Beauty) was published in 2013, an essay about Dutch writer Louis Couperus, whom Heijne admires. In the same year his documentary about Couperus was broadcast. In 2015 he hosted the five-part documentary De volmaakte mens (The Perfect Human). In 2016 his essay Onbehagen – nieuw licht op de beschaafde mens (Discontent - new light on civilized man) was published. In 2017 Heijne received the P.C. Hooft Award for his essayistic works.

(1957) is regarded as one of the best trombonists in the world. Wierbos is self-taught, he once started as a player of a wind instrument in a drum band. The unique sound he manages to get out of his trombone can be heard on more than 100 CD’s which earned him various prizes. The highlight in his career was the Boy Edgar award in 1996. Jazz is one of his main passions, but he also likes to play contemporary and improvised music and makes excursions to post-punk. Wierbos toured with various formations throughout Europe, Canada, the US and Asia, but also performs solo. Under the name Wollo’s World he takes part in musical experiments, performing with a tapdancer, among others. His sound can also be heard in numerous theatre and dance performances and tv en film projects. Right now he plays with Misha Mengelberg’s ICP, the Gerry Hemingway Quintet, Franky Douglas Sunchild and Bik Bent Braam.