(, ), also known as GTST or simply , is the longest-running Dutch soap opera, which began on 1 October 1990 on RTL 4. The program was the first daily (every workday) soap in the Netherlands and Europe. The soap is produced by Joop van den Ende and to date over 7,000 episodes have been broadcast. It was initially based on the Australian soap The Restless Years, however it switched to original scripts during the third season and onwards. GTST was originally broadcast Monday to Friday at 20:00, since March 2020, the program has been broadcast from Monday to Thursday. In 2015 GTST became available on demand via streaming platform Videoland.
At its peak, the show drew around 1.5 million viewers daily, in a country of just over 15 million people at the time. In 2022 the show was still watched by over 1 million people, with around 800,000 watching it on TV and an additional 300,000 on Videoland. In 2024 it nearly reached a million viewers. After 33 years, it remains the highest-rated soap opera in the Netherlands.
The soap mainly revolves around the lives of the families Alberts, Sanders, De Jong, Van Houten and Bouwhuis. It is set in the fictional town of Meerdijk. As in any other soap, marriage, divorce, kidnapping and business are a few of the ingredients of GTST, although in recent years GTST has become known for writing and producing more controversial storylines. GTST is also known for having a summer break each year, ending a season sometime in June with a cliffhanger, only to resume three months later in September. Although the early cliffhangers often revolved around family drama, later cliffhangers have often revolved around disasters and unexpected twists.
Many former actors who once were part of the cast are now well known in the Netherlands and Europe, including Katja Schuurman, Reinout Oerlemans, Georgina Verbaan, Antonie Kamerling, Erik de Vogel, Caroline De Bruijn, Bartho Braat, Inge Schrama and Melissa Drost.
In 2014, in a Christmas Day episode, there was a gay marriage in the soap opera when the on-screen couple played by Ferry Doedens and Dave Mantel, decided to get married; this was the first time this happened in a Dutch TV show.
In 2016, the show gained a spin-off called Nieuwe Tijden (English: New Times), which follows some of the younger characters from GTST and some new characters as they go off to college. Nieuwe Tijden was cancelled in 2018.
Summary of seasons Season Broadcastingdates Episodenumbers No. ofepisodes On DVD On Videoland 1 October 1, 1990 - June 28, 1991 1 - 195 195 28 September 2006 ✓ Republished 20 September 2011 2 September 16, 1991 - May 29, 1992 196 - 380 185 12 September 2011 ✓ Republished 20 September 2011 3 September 21, 1992 - May 28, 1993 381 - 560 180 7 December 2010 ✓ 4 August 30, 1993 - May 20, 1994 561 - 750 190 20 September 2011 ✓ 5 August 29, 1994 - May 26, 1995 751 - 945 195 15 November 2011 ✓ 6 August 28, 1995 - May 31, 1996 946 - 1145 200 21 August 2012 ✓ 7 August 26, 1996 - May 30, 1997 1146 - 1345 200 4 December 2012 ✓8 September 1, 1997 - May 29, 1998 1346 - 1540 195 23 April 2013 ✓ 9 August 31, 1998 - May 28, 1999 1541 - 1735 195 20 August 2013 ✓ 10 September 6, 1999 - June 9, 2000 1736 - 1935 200 25 March 2014 ✓ 11 September 4, 2000 - June 1, 2001 1936 - 2130 195 17 June 2014 ✓ 12 August 27, 2001 - June 28, 2002 2131 - 2350 220 19 August 2014 ✓ 13 September 2, 2002 - June 27, 2003 2351 - 2565 215 21 July 2015 ✓ 14 September 1, 2003 - June 25, 2004 2566 - 2780 215 20 October 2016 - 15August 30, 2004 - June 24, 2005 2781 - 2995 215 14 February 2017 - 16 August 29, 2005 - June 23, 2006 2996 - 3210 215 15 August 2017 - 17 August 28, 2006 - June 29, 2007 3211 - 3430 220 14 November 2017 - 18 August 27, 2007 - June 20, 2008 3431 - 3645 215 30 May 2018 - 19 August 25, 2008 - July 3, 2009 3646 - 3870 225 21 August 2018 - 20 September 7, 2009 - July 2, 2010 3871 - 4085 215 16 October 2012 - 21 September 6, 2010 - July 8, 2011 4086 - 4305 220 19 November 2013 - 22 September 5, 2011 - July 6, 2012 4306 - 4525 220 13 November 2018 - 23 September 3, 2012 - July 5, 2013 4526 - 4745 220 26 March 2019 - 24 September 2, 2013 - July 4, 2014 4746 - 4965 220 18 June 2019 - 25 September 1, 2014 - July 3, 2015 4966 - 5185 220 22 September 2020 - 26 August 31, 2015 - July 1, 2016 5186 - 5405 220 8 December 2020 - 27 September 5, 2016 - July 7, 2017 5406 - 5625 220 TBA - 28 September 4, 2017 - July 6, 2018 5626 - 5845 220 TBA - 29 September 3, 2018 - July 5, 2019 5846 - 6065 220 TBA- 30 August 26, 2019 - May 28, 2020 6066 - 6255 190 TBA - 31 August 31, 2020 - July 8, 2021 6256 - 6435 180 TBA ✓ (single 2021) 32 August 30, 2021 - July 7, 2022 6436 - 6615 180 - ✓ 33 August 29, 2022 - June 1, 2023 6616 - 6775 160 - ✓ 34 August 28, 2023 - May 30, 2024 6776 - 6935 160 - ✓ 35 August 26, 2024 - July 3, 2025 6936 - 7115 180 - ✓ 36 September 1, 2025 - TBA 7116 - TBA TBA - ✓
Cast Present main cast members + Main cast members Actor Character Duration Kees BootLuuk Bos2022–present Caroline De BruijnJanine Elschot1992–presentSophia Sanders2002–2003 Mingus ClaessenTroj Veerman2024–present Margo DamesElly Cuperus2025–present Luah FelterMarie Bax2026–present Jolijn HennemanElin Dublois2017–2018Shanti Vening2025–present David HoflandSeb Bax2026–present Everon Jackson HooiBing Mauricius2005–present Noa JacobusNola Sanders2022–present Cas JansenJulian Verduyn1996–1999, 2019–present Johnny KraaijkampHenk Visser2020–present Marieke van LeeuwenNoor Kremer2025–present Bas MuijsStefano Sanders1999–2005, 2009, 2014, 2020, 2022–present Lona van RoosendaalBilly de Palma2018–2022, 2026–present Jasmine SendarElisa Rosalia2023–present Hassan SlabyMarwan El Amrani2020–present Ferri SomogyiRik de Jong1995–2004, 2007–present Babette van VeenLinda Bos-Dekker1990–1998, 2005–2006, 2015–present Marly van der VeldenNina Sanders2005–present Erik de VogelLudo Sanders1996–present Noa ZwanDemi Verduyn2019–present
Present recurring cast members ActorCharacterDuration Bart Peereboom Marcel Boeve 2000–present Dennis Honhoff Barry Lansink 2009–present Michael de Roos Alex de Boer 2014–present Various child actors Max Mauricius 2018–present Diyah SalemManu Mauricius2020–present Michiel Nooter Bart Koster 2024–present
Former main cast members Actor Character Duration Ingmar van den BroekSteef Verduyn2022–2025 Cheyenne LöhnenBizou Pascal2025 Jette van der MeijLaura Selmhorst1990–2025Thijs BoermansJonathan Seegers2023-2024Tamara BrinkmanSaskia Visser2019-2023; 2024Noël van KleefLynn Vegter2022Tommy van LentSteef Verduyn #12019-2022Dorian BindelsDaan Stern2018-2022Stephanie van EerJojo Abrams2018-2021Hamza OthmanIlyas El Amrani2020-2021; 2023Lone van RoosendaalBilly De Palma2018; 2019–2022Edwin JonkerRichard Van Nooten2020-2022; 2024Joep SertonsAnton Bouwhuis2010-2021Cecilia AdoréeTiffy Koster2016; 2018–2021Ferry DoedensLucas Sanders2009-2015; 2016–2021Vincent VisserValentijn Sanders2019-2020; 2021Alkan CöklüAmir Nazar2017-2021Annefleur van den BergPuck Odolphy2019-2020Melissa DrostSjors Langeveld #22017-2020Faye BezemerLana Langeveld2017-2020Britt ScholteKimberly Sanders2016-2019Floris BosmaRover Dekker #22018-2019Dilan YurdakulAysen Baydar2012-2019Anouk MaasZoë Xander2017-2019Roel DirvenFlo Wagenaar2018-2019Giovanni KemperQ Bouwhuis #22018-2019Tim ImmersMark De Moor1992-1993; 1995; 2018–2019Lidewij MahlerMarieke Vollaards #22018-2019Max WillemsQ Bouwhuis #12017-2018Ruud FeltkampNoud Alberts2006-2018Joey FerreCarlos Ramirez2018Beaudil ElzengaLoes De Haan2017-2018Guido SpekSjoerd Bouwhuis2010-2018; 2019Stijn FransenSam Dekker2015-2018Jord KnotterJob Zonneveld #32015-2017Inge SchramaSjors Langeveld #12003-2017Robin MartensRikki De Jong2010-2017; 2019; 2020Buddy VedderRover Dekker #12015-2017Marjolein KeuningMaxime Sanders2008-2017Miro KloostermanThijs Kramer2014-2017Barbara SloesenAnna Brandt2014-2017Gaby BlaaserSacha Kramer2014-2016Bartho BraatJef Alberts1991-2016; 2017; 2018–2019; 2021; 2024Pip PellensWiet van Houten2010-2011; 2012; 2013–2016; 2017Beau SchneiderTim Loderus2012-2016; 2018Elvira OutBianca Brandt #22013-2015Oscar AertsVincent Muller2013-2015Gigi RavelliLorena Gonzalez2007-2014Toprak YalçinerNuran Baydar2012-2014; 2018Cynthia AbmaBianca Brandt #12010-2013Louis TalpeMike Brandt2012-2013Mark van EeuwenJack van Houten2005-2012; 2015; 2016; 2017Jan KooijmanDanny de Jong2009-2012Lieke van LexmondCharlie Fischer #22002-2012Raynor ArkenboutEdwin Bouwhuis2010-2012Anita DonkIrene Poindexter2008-2010Peter PostMartijn Huygens2008-2010Emiel SandtkeDex Huygens2008-2010Alexandra AlphenaarRonja Huygens2008-2010Charlotte BesijnBarbara Fischer1999-2010; 2011; 2015Liza SipsVicky Pouw2007-2009Christophe HaddadNick Sanders2003-2009; 2011–2012; 2014–2015Chrisje ComvaliusDorothea Grantsaan2004-2008Ruben LürsenFloris van Wickenrode2008-2009Sabine KoningAnita Dendermonde1992-2003; 2004; 2006–2009; 2014Koert-Jan de BruijnDennis Alberts2002-2008; 2009Wilbert GieskeRobert Alberts1990-2008; 2015–2016; 2018–2020Robin ZijlstraMilan Alberts #22007-2008Rixt LeddyDian Alberts #32005-2008Jeffrey HamiltonFos Fischer2005-2008Carolien SpoorFlorien Fischer2005-2007Joris PutmanMorris Fischer #32004-2007; 2010Wik JongsmaGovert Harmsen1991-2006Fajah LourensYasmin Fuentes2002-2005Sebastiaan LabrieRay Groenoord2003-2005Elle van RijnValerie Fischer2003-2005Inge IpenburgMartine Hafkamp1990-1994; 1998; 2003–2005; 2017Victoria KoblenkoIsabella Kortenaer2000-2005; 2010Wouter de JongMilan Alberts #12002-2004Geert HoesMorris Fischer #22003-2004Winston PostBenjamin Borges2000-2004Yoka VerbeekTracey Gould2003-2004Maria KooistraPascale Berings2003-2004Aukje van GinnekenCharlie Fischer #11999-2003Anouk van NesRoxy Belinfante2002-2003Daan RoelofsJob Zonneveld #22002-2003Hugo MetsersMarcus Sanders2001-2003; 2016–2017Liesbeth KamerlingDaantje Mus2001-2003; 2006Jeroen BiegstraatenGijs Bentz Van den Berg2000-2002Georgina KwakyeGladys Bloem2000-2002Teun KuilboerJob Zonneveld #12001-2002Robine van der MeerMeike Griffioen2000-2002Micky HoogendijkCleo De Wolf2000-2002Chanella HodgeTerra Bloem2000-2001Johnny de MolSylvester Koetsier2000-2001Guusje NederhorstRoos de Jager1992-2000 : 2001Patrick MartensMorris Fischer #11999-2001Diana SnoMathilde Carillo1997-2000Tanja JessBowien Galema1997-2000Georgina VerbaanHedwig Harmsen1997-2000Ingeborg WietenSuzanne Balk1990-2000Angela SchijfKim Verduyn1996-1999Philip IvanovChe Azalaia1998-1999Katja SchuurmanJessica Harmsen1994-1999; 2025Jimmy GeduldArthur Peters1992-1999Chris JollesDian Alberts #21994-1999Wim ZomerDaniël Daniël1990-1999Hilde de MildtSylvia Merx1993-1998Brûni HeinkeHelen Helmink #21992-1997Leontien CeulemansEveline van Wessem1996-1997Reinout OerlemansArnie Alberts1990-1996; 2025Paul GrootStan Nijholt1993-1996Bennie den HaanRemco Terhorst1994-1996; 2002–2003; 2016Casper van BohemenFrits van Houten1991-1995; 1998; 2005–2006 Antonie Kamerling Peter Kelder 1990–1993; 1995Nathalie MouritsMarieke Vollaards #11993-1995Martin van SteijnMickey Lammers1991-1994; 1998; 2002–2003Reyhan ErdoganFatima Yilmaz1993-1995; 1996Rick EngelkesSimon Dekker1990-1994; 1997–1998; 2003Tom van BeekHerman Hogendoorn1990-1993; 1995Lotte van DamDian Alberts #11991-1993; 1996Isa HoesMyriam Van der Pol1990-1993; 1994Frédérique HuydtsAnnette Van Thijn1990-1992; 1993Henriëtte TolKarin Mulder1991-1992Tim GuntherJohn Alberts1991-1992Joost BuitenwegRien Hogendoorn1990-1992Els van RosseNancy Bijnema1991 Marlous Fluitsma Helen Helmink #1 1990–1991
Original cast members