''Wij, Heren van Zichem'' (''We, Gentlemen of Zichem'') was a Flemish TV drama series, originally broadcast between 1969 and 1972 in 26 episodes on the BRT (nowadays the VRT). The program was based on several novels by

Ernest Claes Andreas Ernestus Josephus Claes (24 October 1885 in Zichem – 2 September 1968 in Elsene) was a Belgian author. He is best known for his regional novels, including ''De Witte'' ("Whitey"), which was the source material for the first Flemish mov ...

, who died just a few months before the show first aired. All episodes were shot in the Flemish village

Zichem Zichem is a village of the town of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Zichem was an independent municipality until the municipal redistribution of 1977. Zichem is on the list of The most beautiful villages in Flanders ...

. At the time it was one of the most popular TV series in

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...

, attracting almost 2,960,000 viewers which is about 3/4 of all Flemish people. Tourism to the village boomed, while it hardly had enough bars, let alone restaurants to accommodate the tourists. In a 2004 interview with

Het Nieuwsblad ''Het Nieuwsblad'' (; en, The Newspaper) is a Flemish newspaper that mainly focusses on "a broad view" regarding politics, culture, economics, lifestyle, society and sports. History and profile In 1929, ''Het Nieuwsblad'' was published by ...

actor Fons Exelmans (who played the Witte) remembered that tourists were often confused because certain houses and buildings were located less close to each other than in the series. The actors were also invited to appear during annual festivities as promotional stunts. ''Wij, Heren Van Zichem'' has been repeated several times since. The show was also broadcast on Dutch television. In 1971 it won

Humo ''HUMO'' is a popular Dutch-language Belgian weekly radio and television supermarket tabloid. History and profile ''Humoradio'' (meaning a portmanteau of 'humor' and 'radio' in English) was first published in 1936 as a Dutch-language counterpar ...

's Prijs van de Kijker ("Humo's Viewers' Award"). An

audio play Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...

record based on the series was released on vinyl in 1970.

Cast

* Pastoor Munte: Luc Philips * Moeder Cent: Jenny Tanghe * De Witte: Fons Exelmans * Jef de smid: Robert Marcel * Vrouw Coene:

Dora van der Groen Dora van der Groen (10 March 1927 – 8 November 2015) was a Belgian actress and theatre director. She appeared in more than 120 films and television shows between 1945 and 2003. She played Vrouw Coene in ''Wij, Heren van Zichem'' and st ...

* Boer Coene: Bob Storm * Herman Coene:

Jo De Meyere Jo, jo, JO, or J.O. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Jo'' (film), a 1972 French comedy * ''Jo'' (TV series), a French TV series *"Jo", a song by Goldfrapp from ''Tales of Us'' *"Jo", a song by Mr. Oizo from ''Lambs Anger'' * Jo a fictio ...

* Wannes Raps: Gaston Vandermeulen * Elza van Berckelaer: Denise Zimmerman * Rozelien: Martha Dewachter * Clementine: Jenny Van Santvoort * Meneerke Parmentier: Frans Vandenbrande * Fien Janssens:

Ann Petersen Ann Petersen (22 June 1927 – 11 December 2003) was a Belgian actress. She was especially noted for her roles in ''Home Sweet Home'', '' Pauline & Paulette'', the children's serial ''Samson & Gert'', '' Captain Zeppos'', ''Wij, Heren van Ziche ...

* Frans Hofkens: Walter Moeremans * Gabrielle: Rita Lommée * Liza Mettes: Greta Verniers * Notaris Dutry: Jacques Aubertin * Schoolmeester Baekelandt: Michel Vanattenhoven * Victalis van Gille: Miel Vanattenhoven * Fons Coene: Jacky Morel * Broos Aspelagh: Walter Cornelis * Geert Boonejan: Ray Verhaeghe * Bet Kek: Jan Reussens * Dries: Lode Van Beek * Dokter Volders: Piet Bergers * Sepke: Bernard Verheyden * Niske: Roger Bolders * Peerke Grune: Jan Muës * Koster Fideel: Maurits Goossens

In popular culture

The TV series was referenced twice in the Belgian comics series ''

The Adventures of Nero ''The Adventures of Nero'' or ''Nero'' was a Belgian comic strip drawn by Marc Sleen and the name of its main character. The original title ranged from ''De Avonturen van Detectief Van Zwam'' in 1947 to ''De Avonturen van Nero en zijn Hoed'' ...

''.

Meneer Pheip Meneer Pheip is a Flemish comic book character from the Belgian comic strip ''The Adventures of Nero'' by Marc Sleen. In the series he is part of Nero (comic book character), Nero's personal circle of friends, despite often being up in arms with ...

says in the album "Magelaan 2" (1971) that he prefers watching ''Wij, Heren van Zichem'', while the

Maasai Maasai may refer to: * Maasai people *Maasai language * Maasai mythology * MAASAI (band) See also * Masai (disambiguation) * Massai Massai (also known as: Masai, Massey, Massi, Mah–sii, Massa, Wasse, Wassil or by the nickname "Big Foot" Mas ...

doctor Zongo in "Zongo in the Kongo" (1971) also happens to own a TV set in the middle of the jungle where he watches ''Wij, Heren van Zichem''.DE SMET, Jan, AUWERA, Fernand, "Marc Sleen", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1985.

Sources

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0227976 Flemish television shows Belgian drama television shows 1969 Belgian television series debuts 1972 Belgian television series endings Comedy-drama television series Period family drama television series Costume drama television series Television shows based on novels Television series set in the 19th century Television shows set in Belgium Belgium in fiction Films based on works by Ernest Claes Black-and-white Belgian television shows Eén original programming