© David Cenzer
Arjen Lubach is a Dutch writer, comedian, television presenter, and music producer. He is best known for his weekly show Zondag met Lubach on VPRO.
Arjen Lubach is a writer, radio, tv, and theater maker. After completing three studies at the University of Groningen, Arjen scored a number 2 hit in the Dutch Top 40 with the song ‘Jelle’ as Slimme Schemer ft. Tido, alongside Janine Abbring. As a writer, Arjen made his debut in 2006 with the novel Mensen die ik ken die mijn moeder hebben gekend, followed in 2008 by the acclaimed Bastaardsuiker. His third novel, Magnus – awarded the audience prize of the Dioraphte Young Adult Literature Prize – saw its ninth edition in April 2015.
In February 2013, the bestseller IV was released, for which Lubach won the Crimezone Debut Prize and was nominated for the Gouden Strop. Plans for the film adaptations of both Magnus and IV are in the works. Arjen worked for VARA, NPS, VPRO, BNN, AVRO & Talpa as a copywriter for various programs, including Koppensnellers, De wereld draait door, Vara laat, and De nieuwste show. He also wrote the screenplay for the film Midzomernacht, which premiered in 2011. He worked as a program maker and presenter at 3FM, for which he was nominated for a Marconi Award in 2004 in the category of emerging talent. Arjen performed with the theater company Op sterk water. Additionally, Arjen played alongside comedian Tim Kamps as part of the group Het Monica da Silva Trio.
In 2010, Arjen participated in the program Wie is de mol and won the finale of the TV program De Slimste Mens in 2012. Arjen is a recurring guest on De Wereld Draait door, including with the regular language segment he hosts together with Paulien Cornelisse. Since 2014, Arjen Lubach has had his own humorous news program at VPRO: Zondag met Lubach, and he made headlines as the ‘Farao der Nederlanden’, with the app ‘StemTinder’ and the man who made D66 leader Alexander Pechtold dance the Macarena on television.
In 2018/2019, Arjen’s first solo comedy show Arjen Lubach LIVE! toured throughout the Netherlands. With 133 sold-out shows, this personal, direct theater piece with jokes that television viewers will never hear proved to be a resounding success.