Jan Jaap van der Wal

Jan Jaap van der Wal (born 1 November 1979) is a Dutch stand-up comedian, cabaret performer and television presenter. He is known both in the Netherlands and in Flanders, Belgium for his television appearances and theatre shows.

Career

Television

He is known as team captain in Dit was het nieuws, the Dutch adaptation of the BBC show Have I Got News for You, and as one of the jury members of the Belgian quiz show De Slimste Mens ter Wereld. Van der Wal was also a contestant in the De Slimste Mens ter Wereld in 2016 and in 2025.

In Belgium, Van der Wal presented the satirical news show De ideale wereld for four years. He previously appeared as sidekick in the show. He succeeded Otto-Jan Ham as presenter and Ella Leyers succeeded him as presenter of the show. In 2023, he presented the late night show Jan Jaap op zondag. The show ended after disappointing viewing figures. He had appearances in the talk shows RTL Late Night and Café Corsari.

Cabaret Van der Wal is cabaret performer in the Netherlands and in Belgium. He performed multiple comedy and carabet shows, including Dystopia (2014), De Nieuwe Belg (2015) and Mijn vlakke land (2024, 2025). In some of his shows he talks about the differences and similarities between both countries.

Film

In 2014, he starred in the film The Happy Sad Route (and a Comedian) in which he travels through former Yugoslavia. The film was directed by Linda Hakeboom and won the best film award at the 2014 Friars Club Comedy Film Festival. They have a son, born in 2017.

He has a cleft lip.

Selected filmography (in the Netherlands)

The filmography below lists appearances on Dutch television.

As team captain

Dit was het nieuws

As contestant / guest

College Tour (2007) 5 jaar later (2014)

Selected filmography (in Belgium)

The filmography below lists appearances on Belgian television.

As presenter

De ideale wereld Jan Jaap op zondag

As jury member

De Slimste Mens ter Wereld (2017 – present)

As contestant / guest

De Slimste Mens ter Wereld (2016, 2025)