Thomas over zijn winst bij Heel Holland Bakt Kids

What is “Heel Holland Bakt”?

Sunday night in November, half the Netherlands is on the couch watching strangers panic over their soggy bottom. Heel Holland Bakt (“All of Holland Bakes”) is the Dutch take on The Great British Bake Off, and since 2013 it’s been a national fixture, complete with a Kids spin-off where the contestants are eight to twelve. Bakers compete in a tent on a country estate, and the mood is gentler than the British version, which feels weirdly impossible.

In this Omroep West clip, Kids winner Thomas is asked how many cakes he’s baked since the show. “Een stuk of 30 denk ik wel. Of meer.” (“A solid 30, I think. Maybe more.”) He’s eleven.