The eighth season of the Dutch talent show Holland's Got Talent began on 8 April 2016 and concluded on 3 June 2016.
Season 8 featured many changes from past seasons. There was a new host Johnny de Mol who took over from Robert ten Brink (whom quit after presenting 5 seasons). It marked the first time in the show that there were four judges - Gordon Heuckeroth, Chantal Janzen and Dan Karaty still remained on the panel, however the show saw Angela Groothuizen join as a judge, having previously been a judge on such shows as X Factor, The Voice of Holland and Let's Dance.
It also introduced the concept of the 'golden buzzer' inspired by other shows in the Got Talent franchise. The golden buzzer sends an act straight through to the semi-finals. Each judge can press it only once during the entire season. Heuckeroth used his on dance group 'The Rocking Chairs', Janzen used hers on singer Bob Bullee, Karaty pressed for dance group The Fresh Allstars and Groothuizen pressed the buzzer for singer Nick Nicolai, who would later go on to become the season's overall winner.
Semifinals The semi-finals premiered on 13 May 2016 to 27 May 2016; there were three semi-finals with nine acts in each. Three acts each week continued to the grand final - usually one with the public vote and the other two chosen by the judges. Semi-final 3 was different as two were sent through by the public and one by the judges' vote. Unlike past seasons, these semifinals were not broadcast live, however the final still was. There was only one buzzer pressed in the semi-finals (that being Karaty buzzing Sixxpaxx). The Rocking Chairs were the only golden buzzer act not to make the finals.
Semi-finalists ParticipantActSemi-FinalResult Nick NicolaiSinger3WinnerMart HoogkamerSinger2Runner-up Bob BulleeSinger13rd Place The Fresh AllstarsDance Group1FinalistTeam QuattrobarAcrobats1FinalistUnbreakableDance Group2FinalistJustin (BBoy Lil Justy)Break Dancer2FinalistMizai KobiAcrobat3FinalistKarate GirlsKarate Act3FinalistXuanXuan WangPianist1Semi-FinalistThe Happiness CrewDance Group1Semi-FinalistPaulanceHand Stand Act1Semi-FinalistRaySinger1Semi-FinalistPeter and RonaldMagicians1Semi-FinalistHelena Nahafahik and Thomas JacksDancers1Semi-FinalistJunior Jazz Unlimited Big BandJazz Band2Semi-FinalistBea LamelasContortionist2Semi-FinalistChristian FarlaIllusionist2Semi-FinalistRitmisch Gym WilskrachtGymnastics2Semi-FinalistMiss Kiki BoopsDrag Queen Singer2Semi-FinalistFriends CrwDance Group2Semi-Finalist The Rocking ChairsDance Group3Semi-FinalistJP De KamFire Breather Dangerous Act 3Semi-FinalistSixxPaxxStrippers Dance Group3Semi-FinalistAnke PrevooSinger And Pianist3Semi-FinalistAlex (Onearmed)One Arm Drummer3Semi-FinalistDorisDancer3Semi-Finalist
Semi-finals summary Buzzed Out | | |
Semi-final 1 (13 May 2016) Semi-Finalist OrderBuzzesResult The Fresh Allstars 1 Ray 2 Helena Nahafahik and Thomas Jacks 3 XuanXuan Wang 4 Team Quattrobar 5 The Happiness Crew 6 Peter & Ronald 7 Paulance 8 Bob Bullee 9
Semi-final 2 (20 May 2016) Semi-Finalist OrderBuzzesResult Christian Farla 1 Justin (BBoy Lil Justy) 2 Ritmisch Gymnastiek 3 Miss Kiki Boops 4 Unbreakable 5 Bea Lamelas 6 Friends Crw 7 Junior Jazz 8 Mart Hoogkamer 9
Semi-final 3 (27 May 2016) Semi-Finalist OrderBuzzesResult Sixxpaxx 1 OneArmed 2 Nick Nicolai 3 Mizai Kobi 4 Anke Prevoo 5 Doris 6 The Rocking Chairs 7 JP De Kam 8 Karate Girls 9
Grand Final (3 June 2016)
Order Artist Act Result1Justin (BBoy Lil Justy)Break DancerFinalist2Nick NicolaiSingerWinner3Karate GirlsKarate ActFinalist4The Fresh AllstarsDance GroupFinalist5Mizai KobiAcrobatFinalist6Bob BulleeSinger3rd Place7UnbreakableDance GroupFinalist8Mart HoogkamerSingerRunner-up9Team QuattrobarAcrobatsFinalist
References
Johnny de Mol announced the top three; all of the other contestants were eliminated. Chantal's golden buzzer act Bob Bullee finished in 3rd place. Angela's golden buzzer act Nick Nicolai won the eighth series of Holland's got talent while Mart Hoogkamer was runner-up. Nick Nicolai is the sixth singer to win the show. Nick Nicolai is the second golden buzzer or ticket act to win the show, the other being Amira Willighagen who was Gordon's golden buzzer/ticket in 2013 series 6.