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Harmen Siezen
Harmen Siezen (26 December 1940 – 5 April 2025) was a Dutch journalist and presenter. From 1971 to 2002 he was a news presenter of the Dutch public news broadcaster NOS Journaal.
Harmen Siezen was born in Noordgouwe (Schouwen-Duiveland) as the son of a pastor. During the Hunger Winter, his family lived as evacuees in Hillegersberg near Rotterdam. Siezen grew up in various places, including Zeeland, Zaltbommel, The Hague, Peize, and Rotterdam, depending on his father's pastoral assignments. In 1956, his parents divorced, which was unusual at the time, especially for a pastor's family. Siezen married in 1966 and had two children.
He attended grammar school and later studied for a year in the United States before serving in the military.
Siezen began his career in 1962 at the Hague office of the news agency United Press International (UPI). From 1963, he worked at Radio Veronica, where he became known for his understated and dryly humorous presentation style, both as a DJ and a newsreader. In 1966, he joined TROS as a reporter and presenter.
In 1969, he started as a reporter for NOS Journaal, practicing as a newsreader off-camera. He was trained by Frits Thors and Rien Huizing, who taught him the nuances of newsreading, including intonation and pacing. In 2001, he was voted the best newsreader.
In 1989, Siezen took a calculated risk and joined TV10, which was set to become the first commercial broadcaster in the Netherlands. In addition to a higher salary, Siezen wanted to try something new. The NOS director warned him that if he pursued this, he would be permanently excluded from NOS. TV 10 ended in failure, and Siezen was dismissed after seven months. However, NOS had not yet found a suitable replacement for him, and Siezen returned to his old position, determined to stay. His venture, however, had consequences: NOS no longer assigned him to the Eight O'Clock News, except occasionally on Sunday evenings. After Joop van Zijl left in 1996, Siezen hoped to take his position, but the management chose Philip Freriks instead.
After 33 years, Siezen retired from NOS Journaal on 13 September 2002, delivering the following farewell speech:
"I have done this with great pleasure; it was truly a fantastic job. But after 33 years of working on a tight schedule, it is time to call it a day."
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Harmen Siezen
Harmen Siezen (26 December 1940 – 5 April 2025) was a Dutch journalist and presenter. From 1971 to 2002 he was a news presenter of the Dutch public news broadcaster NOS Journaal.
Harmen Siezen was born in Noordgouwe (Schouwen-Duiveland) as the son of a pastor. During the Hunger Winter, his family lived as evacuees in Hillegersberg near Rotterdam. Siezen grew up in various places, including Zeeland, Zaltbommel, The Hague, Peize, and Rotterdam, depending on his father's pastoral assignments. In 1956, his parents divorced, which was unusual at the time, especially for a pastor's family. Siezen married in 1966 and had two children.
He attended grammar school and later studied for a year in the United States before serving in the military.
Siezen began his career in 1962 at the Hague office of the news agency United Press International (UPI). From 1963, he worked at Radio Veronica, where he became known for his understated and dryly humorous presentation style, both as a DJ and a newsreader. In 1966, he joined TROS as a reporter and presenter.
In 1969, he started as a reporter for NOS Journaal, practicing as a newsreader off-camera. He was trained by Frits Thors and Rien Huizing, who taught him the nuances of newsreading, including intonation and pacing. In 2001, he was voted the best newsreader.
In 1989, Siezen took a calculated risk and joined TV10, which was set to become the first commercial broadcaster in the Netherlands. In addition to a higher salary, Siezen wanted to try something new. The NOS director warned him that if he pursued this, he would be permanently excluded from NOS. TV 10 ended in failure, and Siezen was dismissed after seven months. However, NOS had not yet found a suitable replacement for him, and Siezen returned to his old position, determined to stay. His venture, however, had consequences: NOS no longer assigned him to the Eight O'Clock News, except occasionally on Sunday evenings. After Joop van Zijl left in 1996, Siezen hoped to take his position, but the management chose Philip Freriks instead.
After 33 years, Siezen retired from NOS Journaal on 13 September 2002, delivering the following farewell speech:
"I have done this with great pleasure; it was truly a fantastic job. But after 33 years of working on a tight schedule, it is time to call it a day."