Herman van der Zandt has publicly addressed what it is like to miss Paulien Cornelisse, telling De Telegraaf that "it is bitter." The Dutch broadcaster's remarks were reported by the newspaper on Friday, 6 November 2026.
The comments come as the television quiz De slimste mens moves toward its final. According to RTL.nl, the finale will include a tribute to Cornelisse. De Gelderlander reports that the finalists of the programme have now been confirmed.
Coverage of the finale has framed the evening in emotional terms. AD.nl described the feeling surrounding the broadcast as resembling a second loss, while noting that dying twice is impossible — an apparent reference to the weight of the occasion rather than any factual claim.
The wider context is the programme's closing night. TVgids.nl reports that Frank van Leeuwen passed on his trophy in the grand final of De Slimste Mens. The reports do not specify further details of the tribute or of Van der Zandt's remarks beyond the quoted phrase.
What to watch next: the broadcast of the De slimste mens finale, where the announced tribute to Cornelisse will air.
