Happy Christmas (2014)
Synopsis
What do you do when you lose everything and have to start all over again? Ten-year-old Lucas, the middle child of a wealthy family, lives in an expensive neighborhood in a large house, equipped with every luxury. Everything changes completely when Lucas, while searching for his Sinterklaas surprise, finds a large box of unpaid bills. Father Maarten turns out to have enormous financial problems and the family loses everything. The family is evicted and, with the help of their cleaner Nina, finds shelter in an old office building among other new poor people. While father (Jeroen Spitzenberger) and mother (Hadewych Minis) have a hard time with themselves and each other, and big brother Thomas (15) and sister Emma (7) have a terrible time getting used to the new situation, Lucas tries to make the best of it with the highest goal: a Merry Christmas for the whole family.
Creator
Ada Goossens, Tamara Bos
Network
VPRO
Episodes
Wonderful Evening
Lucas makes the most disgusting surprise ever with the help of guinea pig Rihanna's droppings, but unfortunately, Sinterklaas eve ends up being considerably less cheerful for the Vrolijkjes than they had hoped. The Vrolijk family has to leave their house within twenty-four hours.
The bare necessities
Lucas is taken off the tennis court by treasurer Bovenlander due to non-payment. The Vrolijk family will have to leave their house within twenty-four hours, leaving behind the entire estate. Does Lucas' new tennis racket actually belong there?
Sleepover
The Vrolijk family is thrown out of the house and Lucas, with the help of guinea pig Rihanna, successfully sabotages a sleepover at the Hubbinkjes.
Madhouse
Lucas is locked up in the secret recesses of the anti-squat building where their Colombian worker Nina lives. He manages to arrange living space on his own terms with the eccentric Mr. Wammes.
Rihanna is homesick
While searching for guinea pig Rihanna, Lucas meets the other extraordinary residents of his new home and is amazed by the ingredients of that delicious Polish 'borscht'.
In a mouse hole
Lucas meets the other residents of his new home. He likes sharing a bathroom, but his mother can't possibly poop in a toilet that doesn't have a door and has a nervous breakdown as a result.
Pudding bun day
Thursday is pudding roll day. But how do you get that when you don't even have heating, phone credit and a bike? Time for action!
Forty Love
Thanks to his loyal tennis friend Jan-Willem, Lucas discovers that you can play indoor tennis in an anti-squat building.
Soap soup and macaroni
Mother Eva drinks a bit more than one glass of wine with the Hubbinkjes. Lucas learns from Nynke that Google Translate comes in handy when you want to call Polish bullies to order.
A good chat
Mysteriously, a Christmas tree disappears from the Hubbinkjes' garden. Maarten and Lucas strengthen their bond with each other over fries with double mayo. An illuminating family conversation led by Cathelijne has an explosive outcome.
The gerbils
There is no room for the desert rats from school at the inn. Lucas flees to his old home. While he is preparing a surprise dinner there, he hears from an unexpected source that his father and mother are probably going to divorce.
Squatted
Lucas tries to protect the house where he was born from creepy American tenants. He locks himself in the bathroom and in doing so brings his parents a little closer together, unintentionally but very much wanted.
Fear of Failure
Lucas seems to be the only one who doesn't think his father is a failure and wants to help him improve his image. Until the police get involved.
Doctor Phil
Lucas finds Mr. Wammes more dead than alive and secretly calls on the help of his uncle Philip, who appears to take the bankruptcy of the Vrolijk family completely differently than expected.
Mistletoe
Lucas begins to find the friendly contact between his father and Nina somewhat threatening and does everything he can to get his mother back home. Emma exchanges her dirty ski suit for a clean communion dress.
Interriejoordekkoreetors
The Vrolijk children, led by their mother, go wild and give the anti-squat building a complete Christmas makeover with the help of toilet rolls and fire blankets.
Act normal
Eva tries to find herself in the Hubbinkjes' Swiss chalet and Lucas discovers that sometimes you have to push yourself beyond your own boundaries to firmly indicate those same boundaries to the people around you.
Jingle Balls
Lucas discovers that his new world doesn't mix very well with that of the Hubbinkjes and the Ruitenbeekjes. But is that so bad?
Home
The Vrolijk family is getting ready to spend Christmas with Uncle Philip and Aunt Noor, but they come to their senses in time, because of course you celebrate Christmas at home. And preferably with the whole family.
Christmas Eve
Lucas and his family and all their new friends are getting ready for a merry Christmas Eve in the anti-squat building. An evening to never forget.
Cast
Details
Original Title
Vrolijke kerst
Status
Ended
Seasons
1
Episodes
20
Production
BosBros, VPRO