{"id":537,"date":"2024-03-01T13:39:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T12:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/?p=537"},"modified":"2025-02-13T08:47:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T07:47:26","slug":"wouter-vandenhaute-and-erik-watte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wouter-vandenhaute-et-erik-watte\/","title":{"rendered":"Wouter Vandenhaute and Erik Watte: The Media Turn of a Magnate"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wouter Vandenhaute and Erik Watte<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wouter Vandenhaute, known for his involvement in television production, founded the renowned company Woestijnvis, based in Leuven. <strong>His fortune is estimated at over 11 million euros<\/strong>He is now one of Belgium's top 680 richest personalities. He comes from a line of journalists, with his grandfather Louis Kiebooms at the head of the editorial staff of<a href=\"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/jan-baert-mediahuis-fortune\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3839\"> the Gazet van Antwerpen<\/a> for over a decade, Vandenhaute holds a degree in physical education from the Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Louvain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69f7efd465219&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69f7efd465219\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/female-journalist-telling-news-outside-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Journalist reporting live on Wouter Vandenhaute&#039;s start in sports journalism.\" class=\"wp-image-1147\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/female-journalist-telling-news-outside-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/female-journalist-telling-news-outside-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/female-journalist-telling-news-outside-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/female-journalist-telling-news-outside-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>His journalistic career began at Humo, then De Morgen, and ultimately BRT, where he worked with influential figures in sports journalism. He became famous as co-host of an entertainment show with Marc Uytterhoeven. In 1997, Vandenhaute, with Jan Huyse and Erik Watt\u00e9, founded <strong>Woestijnvis<\/strong> which became a major player in the production of television programs in Flanders, such as \"Man bijt hond\", \"De Mol\" and \"Alles Kan Beter\". Woestijnvis was awarded the prestigious Rose d'or de Montreux prize for excellence in \"De Mol\".<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69f7efd465563&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69f7efd465563\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1240\" height=\"925\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/van-vaatchirurg-tot-lerares-flamenco-dit-zijn-de-10-deelnemers-van-nieuw-seizoen-de-mol.jpeg\" alt=\" Portraits of the Woestijnvis team, reflecting the spirit of media innovation so dear to Wouter Vandenhaute.\" class=\"wp-image-1149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/van-vaatchirurg-tot-lerares-flamenco-dit-zijn-de-10-deelnemers-van-nieuw-seizoen-de-mol.jpeg 1240w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/van-vaatchirurg-tot-lerares-flamenco-dit-zijn-de-10-deelnemers-van-nieuw-seizoen-de-mol-300x224.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/van-vaatchirurg-tot-lerares-flamenco-dit-zijn-de-10-deelnemers-van-nieuw-seizoen-de-mol-1024x764.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/van-vaatchirurg-tot-lerares-flamenco-dit-zijn-de-10-deelnemers-van-nieuw-seizoen-de-mol-768x573.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1240px) 100vw, 1240px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The company went through various phases, such as its collaboration with the Vlaamse Uitgeversmaatschappij and the short-lived Bonanza magazine. After the end of <a href=\"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/famille-van-thillo-media\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"517\">exclusivity with <strong>VRT<\/strong><\/a>Vandenhaute reoriented its activities, acquiring shares in magazines and TV channels, including Vier and Vijf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"anderlecht\">A cycling enthusiast, Vandenhaute has acquired major Flemish cycling events, grouping them together under Flanders Classics. He also invested in the <a href=\"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/category\/football\/\">soccer<\/a> by becoming Chairman of the <strong>club <a href=\"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/marouane-fellaini-fortune\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4253\">Anderlecht<\/a><\/strong>with Vincent Kompany helping to finance the club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69f7efd465841&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69f7efd465841\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1451\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/lama-fortune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/FC_Red_Bull_Salzburg_gegen_RSC_Anderlecht-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Anderlecht soccer team, symbolizing Wouter Vandenhaute&#039;s influence on Belgian soccer.\" class=\"wp-image-1151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/FC_Red_Bull_Salzburg_gegen_RSC_Anderlecht-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/FC_Red_Bull_Salzburg_gegen_RSC_Anderlecht-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/FC_Red_Bull_Salzburg_gegen_RSC_Anderlecht-1024x774.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/FC_Red_Bull_Salzburg_gegen_RSC_Anderlecht-768x580.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2018, Vandenhaute and Watt\u00e9 withdrew from their ownership position in De Vijver Media, transferring their shares to Telenet, which significantly reduced their <strong>wealth<\/strong> and influence in the media sector with <strong>more than 10 million euros in assets<\/strong>. Despite the challenges, Vandenhaute remains an active chairman of the Belgian sports and media scene.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the fascinating career of Wouter Vandenhaute, from his early days in journalism to the founding of Woestijnvis, a pillar of Flemish television. Despite an estimated fortune of 8 million euros and a fluctuating position in the ranking of wealthy personalities, Vandenhaute has left an indelible mark on the media world. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15,60,10],"tags":[5,13,27,39,63,12],"class_list":["post-537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-audiovisuel","category-divertissement","category-football","category-media","tag-belgique","tag-divertissement","tag-flandre","tag-foot","tag-football","tag-media"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":14,"label":"Audiovisuel"},{"value":15,"label":"Divertissement"},{"value":60,"label":"Football"},{"value":10,"label":"Media"}],"post_tag":[{"value":5,"label":"Belgique"},{"value":13,"label":"Divertissement"},{"value":27,"label":"Flandre"},{"value":39,"label":"Foot"},{"value":63,"label":"Football"},{"value":12,"label":"Media"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/media.lama-fortune.com\/2024\/03\/carlynn-alarid-_xJqCQgkpLc-unsplash-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Martin Moth\u00e9","author_link":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/author\/mmothe\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":14,"name":"Audiovisuel","slug":"audiovisuel","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":14,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":233,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":14,"category_count":233,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Audiovisuel","category_nicename":"audiovisuel","category_parent":0},{"term_id":15,"name":"Divertissement","slug":"divertissement","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":15,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":342,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":15,"category_count":342,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Divertissement","category_nicename":"divertissement","category_parent":0},{"term_id":60,"name":"Football","slug":"football","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":60,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":59,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":60,"category_count":59,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Football","category_nicename":"football","category_parent":0},{"term_id":10,"name":"Media","slug":"media","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":10,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":196,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":10,"category_count":196,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Media","category_nicename":"media","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":5,"name":"Belgique","slug":"belgique","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":287,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":13,"name":"Divertissement","slug":"divertissement","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":13,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":331,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":27,"name":"Flandre","slug":"flandre","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":27,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":200,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":39,"name":"Foot","slug":"foot","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":71,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":63,"name":"Football","slug":"football","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":63,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":66,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":12,"name":"Media","slug":"media","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":12,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":152,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.lama-fortune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}