Face of Flanders: Andrea Croonenberghs

Croonenberghs was born in Genk in 1964 and studied elocution and pedagogy at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. Her first stage role was in a 1986 musical production of Assepoester (Cinderella). She joined the VRT in 1989.

She presented various programmes, was a commentator on the Eurovision Song Contest and reported for the TV travelogue Vlaanderen Vakantieland.

Her big breakthrough, however, came in 1996 when she joined the cast of the air-sea rescue drama Windkracht 10, which led two years later to one of the leading roles in the hugely popular police drama Flikken, playing Detective Britt Michiels in seasons one through seven.

The character popped up again in season 10 and in the spin-off series Flikken Maastricht. Flikken brought Croonenberghs to the attention of a wider audience, in both Flanders and the Netherlands.

As tends to happen with well-known Flemish media personalities, success in one field led to invitations to perform in others. So she regularly sings with her band, La Piovra (an Italian word meaning “octopus”, used to refer to the Mafia). She compiled a book of the favourite recipes of her fellow celebrities for Doctors Without Borders. She raises money for charity and never stops making guest appearances on TV, whether it be quizzes, talk shows, music programmes or current affairs shows. She also does voice-overs for children’s movies.

Last week she was the toast of the VRT, as she celebrated her 25 years on air. Colleagues sent Twitter messages of congratulation and made a video anniversary card. “It’s unbelievable how she’s been a permanent fixture all these years,” said actor Geena Lisa Peeters, who described her as “an example for all presenters who came after”.

Photo by Bart Musschoot/VRT