Ruben Nicolai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruben Nicolai
Ruben Nicolai (2013)
Born	Ruben Iskander Nicolai (1975-05-08) 8 May 1975 (age 50) Lanaken, Belgium

Ruben Nicolai (born on May 8, 1975) is a well-known Dutch television presenter and comedian. He became famous as one of the funny people in the TV show De Lama's. He worked alongside Tijl Beckand, Ruben van der Meer, and Jeroen van Koningsbrugge in that show. Ruben has also hosted many popular TV programs, including Lego Masters and The Masked Singer.

Ruben Nicolai's TV Journey

Ruben Nicolai started his career in comedy. In 2002, he won two awards at the Cameretten comedy festival. He won both the audience award and the jury award.

Becoming a Lama

From 2004 to 2008, Ruben was a main comedian in the TV show De Lama's. This show was a Dutch version of the British show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. In De Lama's, Ruben and his fellow comedians made up funny scenes on the spot. They won a big award called the Gouden Televizier-Ring in 2006 for their show.

Hosting Many Shows

After De Lama's, Ruben started hosting many different TV shows.

• In 2006 and 2007, he hosted the quiz show Rat van Fortuin.
• From 2008 to 2012, he teamed up with Sophie Hilbrand for Ruben vs. Sophie. In this show, they competed against each other in fun challenges. In 2009, Ruben won an award for best presenter.
• He was also a presenter for Try Before You Die. For this show, Ruben tried out many different activities. He even acted in an episode of the American soap opera As the World Turns in 2006.
• In 2009, Ruben and Karoline Kamosi hosted the show 71° Noord. In this show, contestants traveled through Norway.

More Exciting Shows

Ruben continued to host a variety of shows.

• In 2010, he presented Gehaktdag. This show humorously critiqued a Dutch celebrity.
• He hosted the quiz show Doe Maar Normaal in 2011 and 2012.
• From 2011 to 2013, Ruben hosted De allerslechtste chauffeur van Nederland. In this show, people who weren't good at driving tried to complete driving challenges. During filming in 2011, Ruben and a cameraman were hurt when a car hit them.
• In 2013, he presented Golden Oldies. This show featured an elderly choir singing rock songs.
• He also hosted De allerslechtste echtgenoot van Nederland in 2013. In this show, husbands competed against each other.
• Ruben also had more "vs." shows, competing against Katja Schuurman in Ruben vs Katja (2013) and Geraldine Kemper in Ruben vs Geraldine (2014).

Moving to RTL

In 2015, Ruben Nicolai started working for RTL.

• He presented the game show Vijf tegen Vijf, which was based on the American show Family Feud.
• He also became the host of Beste Kijkers, a game show that first aired in 2015.
• Ruben hosted Idols 5 (2016) and Idols 6 (2017) with Lieke van Lexmond. Idols is a singing competition.
• Since 2016, Ruben has been one of the presenters for RTL Boulevard, a popular entertainment news show.

Fun with Science and Games

Ruben Nicolai also hosted shows that combined fun with learning.

• He and Tijl Beckand presented Professor Nicolai & Dr. Beckand. This show had small science experiments and questions about science.
• Since 2017, Ruben has been a team captain on Oh, wat een jaar!. In this show, contestants look back at a specific year in history.
• In 2018, he and Tijl Beckand became team captains on the show Wie ben ik?.

Recent Popular Shows

Ruben continues to host some of the biggest shows on Dutch TV.

• Since 2019, he presents the quiz show Ik weet er alles van!. He also hosts special versions for celebrities (VIPS) and children (Junior).
• Also since 2019, he hosts the Dutch version of The Masked Singer. In this show, celebrities sing while wearing elaborate costumes, and judges try to guess who they are.
• In 2020, Ruben and Belgian presenter Kürt Rogiers hosted Lego Masters. Teams from the Netherlands and Flanders compete to build amazing things with Lego bricks. This show returned for a second season in 2021.
• In 2022, Ruben hosted Domino Challenge. In this show, teams create and topple amazing domino patterns.
• He also presented The Big Show met Ruben Nicolai, a show similar to the British show hosted by Michael McIntyre.
• In 2024, Ruben presented Doet-ie 't of doet-ie 't niet. He also co-hosted Te land, ter zee en in de lucht with Gerard Joling.
• Ruben is scheduled to present the fourth season of Lego Masters in 2024 with Kürt Rogiers.
• He also hosts De Erfgenaam, where he helps find people who can receive unclaimed money or property.
• In 2025, he is scheduled to present a new show called Pandora's Box.

Personal Life

Ruben Nicolai studied theatre, film, and television in Utrecht, Netherlands. He is a father to two daughters.

Shows Ruben Nicolai Has Been In

As a Presenter

• De Lama's (2004–2008)
• Rat van Fortuin (2006–2007)
• Try Before You Die (2006–2008)
• Ruben vs. Sophie (2008–2012)
• 71° Noord (2009)
• Gehaktdag (2010)
• Doe Maar Normaal (2011–2012)
• De allerslechtste chauffeur van Nederland (2011–2013)
• Golden Oldies (2013)
• De allerslechtste echtgenoot van Nederland (2013)
• Ruben vs Katja (2013)
• Ruben vs Geraldine (2014)
• De Nationale IQ Test (2015)
• Vijf tegen Vijf (2015)
• Professor Nicolai & Dr. Beckand (2015–2018)
• Idols 5 (2016)
• RTL Boulevard (2016–2020)
• Grillmasters (2016)
• Idols 6 (2017)
• Boxing Stars (2018)
• Ik weet er alles van! (2019 – present)
• The Masked Singer (2019 – present)
• De Erfgenaam (2020 – present)
• Lego Masters (2020 – present)
• Volg je me nog? (2022)
• Domino Challenge (2022)
• The Big Show met Ruben Nicolai (2022)
• Doet-ie 't of doet-ie 't niet (2024)
• Te land, ter zee en in de lucht (2024)
• Pandora's Box (upcoming, 2025)

As a Team Captain

• Oh, wat een jaar! (2017 – present)
• Wie ben ik? (2018–2021)
• Holland-België (2018–2020)

As a Contestant

• De Jongens tegen de Meisjes (2015)