Victor Reinier, the esteemed actor known for his role as Floris Wolfs on the popular Dutch series Flikken Maastricht, will not be returning for the 20th season of the show. His exit, confirmed recently, has sent ripples through the Dutch television industry.
Reinier's departure has been linked to allegations of misconduct and has evolved from growing concerns about the atmosphere on the set. According to reports, complaints were made to producer Hollands Licht, indicating serious issues with Reinier's behavior, particularly after conflicts with fellow cast member Angela Schijf.
After seventeen years of playing the beloved character, Reinier has decided to step down, reportedly due to personal challenges and increasing difficulties on set. "Victor has dedicated himself fully to the success of the series over all these seasons. But it became clear to us and the team involved, including Victor, together with AVROTROS, to decide not to continue with his character anymore," stated Warner Bros., the production company behind the series.
The situation escalated recently when rumors of Reinier's alleged misconduct became more public. Schijf, who plays Eva on the show, reportedly had heated disputes with Reinier over the series' narrative, leading to increasingly tense relationships among the cast and crew. Sources hinted at Reinier's well-known temper and described him as being difficult to work with, creating fear within the crew.
Reports surfaced from the Belgian publication HLN, illustrating the depth of the issues on set. They reported incidents of Reinier's "abusive" behavior, substantiations of the fear expressed by crew members about potential outbursts, and claims of the actor's possible substance use contributing to the difficult environment.
The moment of his departure follows the announcement of the season returning to screens, which already had witnessed controversies surrounding other cast members like Tygo Gernandt, who has faced allegations of assault, raising additional questions about the workplace culture within the production.
Despite his lengthy tenure, signs of discord suggested Reinier was becoming more of a liability than an asset to the show's environment. "The filming of the series became increasingly demanding for Victor, which affected the workplace atmosphere. After receiving complaints, we spoke with complainants and Victor, leading to this decision," said Hollands Licht.
Reinier, meanwhile, has refrained from elaboration on the matter, stating he is dealing with the recent passing of his mother. "I understand the curiosity among fans and the attention Flikken Maastricht receives, but my focus is understandably elsewhere at this time," he communicated to the ANP, emphasizing his need for privacy during this period.
Angela Schijf's role became pivotal as details of her fallout with Reinier continued to emerge. Allegations indicated strife between the two stars over production discussions, leading to hostile exchanges related to scripts where Schijf confronted Reinier about his prior frustrations. The conflict apparently culminated with Reinier reacting angrily, leading to heightened tensions on set.
The fallout raises uncertainty about the future of Flikken Maastricht without its long-standing lead. Questions loom over the show's continued relevance and success moving forward. TV expert Tina Nijkamp noted, “It’s likely Flikken Maastricht will maintain varying viewer interest due to its history. But this might also serve as the right moment for AVROTROS to pivot and explore new drama series.”
Viewers and industry analysts express mixed reactions as they digest the news of Reinier's exit. His thirty-five years of work, with countless devoted fans, remains significant. Yet, the upcoming season will without doubt feel different, adjusting to the absence of one of its central figures.
This development marks not only the end of Reinier’s chapter with Flikken Maastricht but also embodies broader discussions about actor conduct and workplace behavior within the industry, making it clear how public personas and personal struggles collide on professional stages.
Going forward, all eyes will be on the new season of Flikken Maastricht as fans are curious to see how the narrative will shift without its driving force, and whether the drama series can redefine itself.