Podcast Special – "Dichterbij" with Daan Vermeer (Special English Edition)
Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
•••••••
Daan Vermeer leaned back on his couch, hands wrapped around a warm mug of tea. Across from him, wearing a gray hoodie and white joggers, sat Milaine Vanboven — relaxed, legs tucked under her, one hand loosely curled around a glass of mint tea.
"Alright," Daan said, grinning. "We're sitting here, two Dutchies in Eindhoven... and yet we're doing this in English."
Milaine raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Yeah, I was about to ask — why the hell are we speaking English? This is literally your podcast. We're in Eindhoven. And I'm Dutch."
He laughed. "It's a special episode. I figured I'd save the translators some work... You know, for the international crowd."
"Ohhh," Milaine nodded slowly in amusement. "So you're doing it for views."
"Absolutely."
She snorted, leaning back. "Fair enough. I'd probably do the same."
Daan chuckled. "Ladies and gentlemen... this is already my favorite episode." He turned toward the mic. "With me today — a four-time Grand Slam champion, someone who's taken over courts all over the world, and, if I may say so, also one of the most talented athletes in the game — Milaine Vanboven."
She gave him a playful side-eye. "You rehearsed that, didn't you?"
"Maybe."
They both laughed.
After a beat, Daan leaned in, his tone softening. "So, Milaine... before we talk about the wins and the rivalries and all the wild headlines... I want to go back your chilhood.. What was it like for you?"
Milaine's posture relaxed slightly. "I was born and grew up here," she said. "In Eindhoven. With my mom and dad. The first five years of my life were... fast. Loud. A blur, honestly."
"Because of your dad?"
"Yeah. He was still racing then. He was winning titles, traveling constantly. I don't remember much from those races—we were always on the move. But I remember following him. Me and my mom. Every track, every city."
"And then your parents separated?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I was five. They divorced, and everything changed. My mom went back to Paris—fashion was always her world. Modeling, shows, all that. But she wasn't exactly in a place to raise a kid full-time. Too unstable. So I stayed with my dad."
"That's when he retired?"
Milaine nodded again, this time with a small smile. "He retired after winning his second F1 title in 2005. Said it was for me. He didn't want me growing up without at least one parent fully there."
