Holland's Got Talent season 8 explained
The eighth season of the Dutch talent show Holland's Got Talent began on 8 April 2016 and concluded on 3 June 2016.
Season 8 featured many changes from past seasons. There was a new host Johnny de Mol who took over from Robert ten Brink (whom quit after presenting 5 seasons). It marked the first time in the show that there were four judges - Gordon Heuckeroth, Chantal Janzen and Dan Karaty still remained on the panel, however the show saw Angela Groothuizen join as a judge, having previously been a judge on such shows as X Factor, The Voice of Holland and Let's Dance.
It also introduced the concept of the 'golden buzzer' inspired by other shows in the Got Talent franchise. The golden buzzer sends an act straight through to the semi-finals. Each judge can press it only once during the entire season. Heuckeroth used his on dance group 'The Rocking Chairs', Janzen used hers on singer Bob Bullee, Karaty pressed for dance group The Fresh Allstars and Groothuizen pressed the buzzer for singer Nick Nicolai, who would later go on to become the season's overall winner.
Semifinals
The semi-finals premiered on 13 May 2016 to 27 May 2016; there were three semi-finals with nine acts in each. Three acts each week continued to the grand final - usually one with the public vote and the other two chosen by the judges. Semi-final 3 was different as two were sent through by the public and one by the judges' vote. Unlike past seasons, these semifinals were not broadcast live, however the final still was.There was only one buzzer pressed in the semi-finals (that being Karaty buzzing Sixxpaxx). The Rocking Chairs were the only golden buzzer act not to make the finals.
Semi-finalists
Participant | Act | Semi-Final | Result |
---|
Nick Nicolai | Singer | 3 | Winner |
Mart Hoogkamer | Singer | 2 | Runner-up |
Bob Bullee | Singer | 1 | 3rd Place |
The Fresh Allstars | Dance Group | 1 | Finalist |
Team Quattrobar | Acrobats | 1 | Finalist |
Unbreakable | Dance Group | 2 | Finalist |
Justin (BBoy Lil Justy) | Break Dancer | 2 | Finalist |
Mizai Kobi | Acrobat | 3 | Finalist |
Karate Girls | Karate Act | 3 | Finalist |
XuanXuan Wang | Pianist | 1 | Semi-Finalist |
The Happiness Crew | Dance Group | 1 | Semi-Finalist |
Paulance | Hand Stand Act | 1 | Semi-Finalist |
Ray | Singer | 1 | Semi-Finalist |
Peter and Ronald | Magicians | 1 | Semi-Finalist |
Helena Nahafahik and Thomas Jacks | Dancers | 1 | Semi-Finalist |
Junior Jazz Unlimited Big Band | Jazz Band | 2 | Semi-Finalist |
Bea Lamelas | Contortionist | 2 | Semi-Finalist |
Christian Farla | Illusionist | 2 | Semi-Finalist |
Ritmisch Gym Wilskracht | Gymnastics | 2 | Semi-Finalist |
Miss Kiki Boops | Drag Queen Singer | 2 | Semi-Finalist |
Friends Crw | Dance Group | 2 | Semi-Finalist |
The Rocking Chairs | Dance Group | 3 | Semi-Finalist |
JP De Kam | Fire Breather Dangerous Act | 3 | Semi-Finalist |
SixxPaxx | Strippers Dance Group | 3 | Semi-Finalist |
Anke Prevoo | Singer And Pianist | 3 | Semi-Finalist |
Alex (Onearmed) | One Arm Drummer | 3 | Semi-Finalist |
Doris | Dancer | 3 | Semi-Finalist | |
Semi-finals summary
Buzzed Out | | |
Semi-final 1 (13 May 2016)
Semi-final 2 (20 May 2016)
Semi-final 3 (27 May 2016)
Grand Final (3 June 2016)
- Johnny de Mol announced the top three; all of the other contestants were eliminated.
- Chantal's golden buzzer act Bob Bullee finished in 3rd place.
- Angela's golden buzzer act Nick Nicolai won the eighth series of Holland's got talent while Mart Hoogkamer was runner-up.
- Nick Nicolai is the sixth singer to win the show.
- Nick Nicolai is the second golden buzzer or ticket act to win the show, the other being Amira Willighagen who was Gordon's golden buzzer/ticket in 2013 series 6.