Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 1 hr ago
Sven Kockelmann wins 2026 Sonja Barend Award for Schoof interview
Dutch interviewer Sven Kockelmann won the 2026 Sonja Barend Award for his television interview with Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
The award recognizes the television interview of the year.
Kockelmann spoke with Schoof about his turbulent time as prime minister, focusing on how he experienced the events.
Rather than use a traditional political cross-examination, Kockelmann aimed to show a more personal side of Schoof.
They recorded the conversation at the Catshuis, where Schoof spent his final day there.
Kockelmann said Schoof was open in the conversation, which he described as a farewell interview.
Sven Kockelmann won the 2026 Sonja Barend Award for his interview with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
The interview focused on Schoof’s turbulent premiership and was presented as a personal conversation rather than a political cross-examination.
Kockelmann said he wanted Schoof to reflect openly on the period and on how he had experienced events.
The interview was recorded at the Catshuis, where Schoof spent his final day.
Kockelmann said a more conventional political-journalism approach might have made the conversation feel like an extended press conference.
- Who
- Sven Kockelmann won the award for an interview with Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
- What
- Kockelmann won the 2026 Sonja Barend Award for the television interview.
- When
- The award was announced on October 25, 2026.
- Where
- The interview was recorded at the Catshuis in the Netherlands.
- Why
- The award was for the interview with Schoof. The sources do not state the judges’ specific reasons.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kockelmann recorded his interview with Schoof at the residence.
Kockelmann was announced as the winner of the Sonja Barend Award.
- Winner
- Sven Kockelmann
- Award
- 2026 Sonja Barend Award
- Interviewee
- Prime Minister Dick Schoof
- Recording location
- Catshuis
- Award announcement
- October 25, 2026
4 sources
What people are saying
If I had approached him in the classic political-journalistic way, it would almost have become an extended press conference.
You rarely see a prime minister open up like that.