# Mats Akkerman Crowned Champion of De Slimste Mens Quiz WNL reporter Mats Akkerman secures victory in the final against NOS journalist Jeroen Gortworst. - **Source:** [NOS Nieuws](https://nos.nl) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/962bf1d8-87f8-41ca-8446-04858dc3b24d ## Akkerman Claims Final Victory WNL reporter Mats Akkerman has emerged as the winner of the latest De Slimste Mens season. He defeated NOS journalist Jeroen Gortworst in the final round. The decisive moment arrived when Akkerman correctly answered a question regarding actress Olivia Colman. This victory marks the conclusion of a highly competitive television knowledge quiz. ## Conflicting Season Count Reports Media reports provide inconsistent data regarding the specific season number of this competition. NOS Nieuws identifies this as the thirtieth season of the program. Conversely, NU.nl reports that Mats Akkerman won the twenty-eighth season. These discrepancies highlight the challenges in tracking long-running television series history across different news reporting outlets. ## Finalists and Elimination Process The final stage featured three participants competing for the title. Before the ultimate showdown between Akkerman and Gortworst, comedian and writer Claudia de Breij was eliminated from the competition. The remaining two finalists then engaged in a direct battle to determine the winner, with Akkerman ultimately securing the program's trophy. ## Trophy Presentation Ceremony Details Presenter Herman van der Zandt presided over the trophy presentation ceremony. Typically, the previous season's winner performs this duty, but WNL presenter Frank van Leeuwen was unable to attend. Consequently, Van der Zandt handed the official scale to Akkerman, accompanied by the traditional celebration involving golden confetti to mark the win. ## Honoring Jury Chair Cornelisse The finale included a somber tribute to jury chair Paulien Cornelisse, who passed away in late September at age fifty due to cancer. Despite her death, she remained visible in pre-recorded episodes throughout the final weeks. The production team ensured her presence was acknowledged during this concluding broadcast of the season. ## Presenter Reflects on Loss Herman van der Zandt delivered a personal message regarding the absence of Paulien Cornelisse. He expressed gratitude for the public support received following her passing. Van der Zandt noted that viewers, candidates, and the production team had enjoyed her insightful contributions until the very end of the recorded season episodes. ## Legacy of the Jury Chair The program concluded by airing a compilation of memorable segments featuring Paulien Cornelisse from this season. Van der Zandt emphasized her unique role, describing her as a funny and insightful jury chair. The tribute served to celebrate her professional legacy while acknowledging the emotional weight of the final broadcast episode. ## Context of the Competition De Slimste Mens remains a prominent fixture in Dutch television, testing the general knowledge of media figures and journalists. The participation of reporters from WNL and NOS underscores the show's appeal to news professionals. This season's conclusion balances the competitive spirit of the quiz with a respectful farewell to Cornelisse. ## Sources covering this story - [NOS Nieuws — Mats Akkerman Wins Thirtieth Season of De Slimste Mens](https://nos.nl/l/2638368) - [NU.nl — Mats Akkerman Wins 28th Season of De Slimste Mens](https://www.nu.nl/media/6415781/winnaar-de-slimste-mens-bekend-vooraf-eerbetoon-aan-paulien-cornelisse.html) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._