From Ambiorix to Alva, from the Neanderthals to the desk of King Albert I.Says The story of Flanders that it will guide the viewer through our entirehistory, then it doesn’t lie: in ten episodes the makers traverse 38,000years, from prehistory. The tour guide is – who else? – Tom Waes, who, as inTravel Wales know the attractions. He reports on the Battle of the GoldenSpurs, knocks on the door of Mary of Burgundy, rides on the very firstpassenger train in Europe and dives into the trenches behind the Yser.
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Tom Waes visiting the bravest of the Gauls. — © Bert DeDeken
READ ALSO. ‘Time travel Waes’, or how Tom Waes films in the Netherlands amongthe bravest of all Gauls (+)
That is to say: he does so in impressive sets that were recreated byhistorians, archaeologists, experts and actors. It took the makers threeyears. So searched’location hunters’ the perfect locations, hundreds of wigsand outfits were recreated, and special effects bring battles back to life.“But always historically correct”, it sounds: there was even onefoodarchaeologist on set, so that everything on the table is also accurate.
Research and money
“It was a feat,” says Tom Waes. He walks around in the scenes as a narrator,taking it beyond a dull history lesson. “Bringing 38,000 years of history tolife is a challenge. But I am very satisfied with the result.”
The story of Flanders also goes further than the ten-part series on One. Therewill be formats on MNM and Radio 2, and a look behind the scenes on VRT Max.Schools also benefit and can make use of the episodes. “We want to makehistory tangible for a wide audience,” says VRT spokesman Jan Sulmont. “Youcan’t do something like that half-heartedly. Making something of high qualitytakes time, effort and research.”
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The makers worked on ‘The story of Flanders’ for three years. “Everything ishistorically correct.” — © VRT
And also money, of course. The story of Flanders received support from theFlemish government and 100,000 euros from the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF).Even if that is probably just a trifle of the total budget. “We don’tcommunicate about the cost price,” says Sulmont. “We always work withdifferent partners for such projects (The city councils of Antwerp, Ghent andBruges also gave support, ed.). Because of course a lot of resources go intosuch a project.”
hit abroad
Striking: the series also includes merchandising. Mainly books, but also aboard game and a comic strip Suske and Wiske. Ideal for under the Christmastree, but also to feed the greenhouse. “The VRT gets 40 percent of itsoperating resources from the market anyway, as agreed with the government,”says Jan Sulmont. “There is also merchandising around Daily food, FC thechampions and Home. We reinvest the resources that the VRT raises in this wayin our operations.”
The story of Flanders will start on Sunday 1 January on One and VRT Max.Judging from abroad, it will certainly be a success: in Denmark, with Thekillingactor Lars Mikkelsen as narrator, and the local versions became a bighit in the Netherlands.