The Wadden Islands are popular with television makers and the islands play various roles in reality shows. In the range of television programs in which true love is sought for a candidate, De Speld in een Hooiberg is one of the stars of 2013. The program was recorded on Texel and is broadcast by SBS6. The format was not subsequently used for a repeat the following year: it was a one-off partner search program using the island as a romantic backdrop.
True love
De Speld in een Hooiberg follows the quest of a farmer on Texel who is tired of being alone. Farmer Christiaan is looking for a buddy. SBS6 helps him with this and immediately makes a series about it that will be broadcast on television from January 9, 2013.
Double date
Christiaan selects 12 women from all registrations received by SBS6. Months before the start of the broadcasts, women could register via the SBS6 website. In pairs of two, the women sail to the Wadden Island for a double date with the farmer. They stay at Christiaan’s farm for 24 hours.
Attention
On the Wadden Island, both women try to get the attention of the farmer. The farmer must choose his favorite of the two within 24 hours. If there are six women left, they will stay on the farm for two weeks. Then the battle breaks out in full force, fun and annoyance ensue and the women who can survive an island and farm life emerge. The elimination race is emotional. In the end, one woman remains. The big question is whether she makes Christiaan happy and he makes her.
Farmer seeks wife
The Needle in a Haystack is very similar to Farmer Seeks a Woman. In 2012, almost the whole of the Netherlands watched TV in the KRO’s ratings cannon, in which ten farmers search for a wife or husband. Farmer Seeks Woman will have a formidable competitor at De Speld in een Hooiberg. SBS6 and producer IDTV think they can surpass the success of Farmer Seeks Woman.
Something else
The program is not identical to Farmer Wants a Woman. That shouldn’t be broadcast either. TV show ideas are legally protected. Specific parts of a previously broadcast success formula may not be copied. The Needle in a Haystack is similar to Farmer Wants a Woman, but has specific Farmer Wants a Woman parts replaced with its own finds. An important difference in the two programs is the fact that SBS involves one farmer, who also lives on a Wadden Island. The woman should not only want to live and work on a farm, but also have to be able to adapt to life on an island. The KRO program involves ten candidates.
Source: Pin in the Haystack
Farmer
The bachelor from the series is 39-year-old motorcycling Christiaan from De Cocksdorp on Texel. In 1998 he started the dairy farm on Wadden Island with his parents. Christian has:
- Two children;
- One hundred dairy cows;
- Artisanal ice cream farm.
He volunteers at:
- Fire brigade;
- Rescue Brigade.
The Needle in the Haystack
From January 9, 2013;
on Wednesday evening; at 8:30 PM; SBS6.
Episode 1
The first episode was Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 8:30 PM. Christiaan selected 12 women from a card index filled to the brim for the first double dates.
read more
- Eilanders, a program with Sofie van Enk
- Islands in the film – great sets and beautiful locations
- Island guests looking for Love – dating program