For weeks, Dennis de Kruif, a participant in the TV program Kamp Van Koningsbrugge, was not allowed to say anything about his experiences with the Korps Commando Troepen. Saturday night was the last episode and that is why he can finally open his mouth. “I really wanted to talk about the final mission. It was so spectacular with explosions and a helicopter. You want to show that to everyone.”
In the Kamp Van Koningsbrugge program, fifteen civilians were challenged to follow a shortened training of the Special Forces. In just over a week, the participants were drilled into commands. Only four of the fifteen made it to the finish line. Including Dennis de Kruif, who in daily life is the director of De Zeewinde primary school in Rockanje.
De Kruif does not consider a career switch after the program. “I would fit in that world, but I do not aspire to a life at Defense with broadcasts and such. I see it as a gift that I have been able to do this, but I am very happy with my job as director at De Zeewinde. My only one. broadcast will remain on TV, haha. ”
Searching for your gun at home
During the training, the participants got little sleep. After some half an hour of sleep they were awakened for assignments. But once at home, I couldn’t sleep through it for a long time either. “Those first days at home were bizarre. You expect you to sleep very long and deeply, but the first weeks I slept very restlessly. I was awake a lot and was startled awake.”
De Kruif left that awakening to the regime that was conducted during the broadcasts. “I was at home looking for my weapon, because then I had the idea that I had to protect in 360 degrees or that we could be picked up for an assignment at any time. It is intense that such an impact such a relatively short period of time. has on your mental state. But now things are going well again. “
Nevertheless, De Kruif does not have to think long if Jeroen van Koningsbrugge were to call for a new season. “Then I’m already in the car. I can recommend it to everyone. Especially if you are looking for a job at Defense, it is an experience that they will never take away from you.”
Love
In addition to a medal and a mountain of experiences, De Kruif also found happiness in love in Kamp Van Koningsbrugge. Right after the program, he started dating fellow contestant Kendra Pennings. “In the program you see each other at their worst, while you normally keep up appearances at the beginning of a relationship.”
The spark did not blow until after the program, De Kruif says. “You don’t have time for that during the training. But this is different than usual and that makes it feel like we have been together for a long time.”
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