Sven Kockelmann wins Sonja Barend Award for Dick Schoof interview

Sven Kockelmann said he was “very honoured” to win the Sonja Barend Award for his interview with former Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof. The presenter received the prize on Sunday’s edition of *Pauw & De Wit*.

“Sadly, Sonja Barend is no longer with us. I was very fond of her,” Kockelmann said in a statement issued by broadcaster WNL. He also thanked the programme’s editorial team and WNL, and said he was grateful the interview could be recorded at the Catshuis, the Dutch prime minister’s official residence.

In the broadcast, Kockelmann recalled that those involved had felt the interview was unusual. He said Schoof had “taken off his mask” and become emotional while discussing his time leading the government. The award recognises the best television interview of the year; this was Kockelmann’s first win.

The 2026 prize was the 18th to be awarded and the first since Barend’s death in April, aged 86. A clip from 2013 was shown during the programme in which Barend praised Kockelmann’s interviewing style.