Hidden Worlds Next Door: A New Season of ‘Op een ander’ on VRT Canvas

Our own familiar surroundings often harbor worlds we can barely begin to imagine. In the second season of the docuseries Op een ander (Elsewhere), Karine Claassen once again journeys into unfamiliar territories where ordinary people live and work in extraordinary, hard-to-reach environments. Armed with warm curiosity and an open mind, she immerses herself in biotopes governed by their own distinct rules, rituals, and values: sanctuaries where individuals find the peace, safety, or passion that regular society often fails to provide.

Across four dedicated episodes, Karine explores a completely new environment each time, peeling back the layers to discover what drives these individuals and revealing just how close these seemingly distant realities truly are to our own.

Episode 1: De Gooikenshoeve

The season opens at De Gooikenshoeve in East Flanders, a care farm serving as a vital sanctuary for young people aged 17 to 25 who are struggling mentally or socially. Designed as an alternative to traditional youth care, the farm focuses on structure and deep connection with nature. Karine spendsextensive time with Nathan, a young man carrying a particularly heavy past, resulting in a gripping and deeply moving portrait of resilience. Yet, despite its profound impact, this haven relies entirely on donations, leaving its future hanging by a thread.

Episode 2: Musica Mundi

In the second episode, Karine gains exclusive access to the elite Musica Mundi School in Waterloo. Founded by Hagit and Leonid, this international boarding school gathers exceptionally gifted young musicians from every corner of the globe, pushing them toward absolute technical and artistic perfection. Karine delves into the school’s high-stakes world, talking with students about their relentless passion, the immense personal sacrifices they make, and the sheltered, almost otherworldly reality created by their singular dedication.She captures the immense pressure behind the school's prestigious facade as students face nerve-wracking auditions.

Episode 3: The Ballroom Scene

Episode three plunges into the Belgian Ballroom scene, a vibrant subculture with roots in 1960s Harlem's queer and predominantly Black community. During extravagant Balls, participants express their identities through high-energy runway walks, fashion, and performance. For many, the scene represents an essential refuge where they can be entirely themselves. Karine steps inside this tight-knit and historically private world, speaking with members of a "chosen family" to uncover how this safe haven for radical self-expression continues to thrive in Belgium today.

Episode 4: Flemish Wrestling (Catch)

The final episode brings Karine into the theatrical, high-octane world of Flemish wrestling (Catch). Here, sport and drama blur as athletes with flamboyant alter egos face off in the ring for pure spectacle. Karine follows wrestler "Rob Raw" during his farewell match, investigating the stark contrast between his quiet everyday life and his larger-than-life stagepersona. Through his final journey between the ropes, she uncovers why these performers put their bodies on the line to find their voice, purpose, and community inside the ring.

Throughout the series, Karine Claassen bridges the gap between spectator and subject, demonstrating that no matter how insular or eccentric a subculture may appear, the universal needs for belonging, acceptance, and identity remain the same.

Op een ander airs on VRT Canvas and streams on VRT MAX.

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