World Class success story

“The Travel Magazine has helped us plan our vacations for several years now”, one viewer from New Orleans wrote in a typical reaction, “and we have never felt let down. Kudos to you and your crew”.

To all such accolades and the prestigious awards that have come this way, Jake de Boer responds: “Although we produce the most widely broadcast travel show in the world, we’ll continue to try even better. This is what makes our work so interesting”.

He emigrated to Canada in 1954 at age 19; determined to find a career totally different from the one of his father Ten Boer, in Groningen, had to offer working in a clothing store. He headed for Alberta, where his sister lived and eventually ended up in Calgary as the owner of two travel agencies.

“I was fascinated with the field of travel and tourism”. He says, “and I knew right from the start that I had found the career for which I had come to Canada”.

His interest in tourism expanded into the media field. In 1967, the local CBC affiliate asked him to produce a travel show in the studio which he did using footage supplied by international tourist offices. The reaction from station executives and viewers was so favourable that he soon found himself producing and hosting more travel-related TV shows as well as radio shows.

It was in Toronto that he met Mieke, his future wife and business partner, who was born to Dutch parents on Johannesburg, South Africa. She taught school for a number of years, including a class of ranger’s children in the renowned Kruger National Game Park. Following that she spent three years in tourism public relations work for the Dutch city of Rotterdam and then joined the tourism division of South Africa’s diplomatic service and was sent to Toronto

Among her many duties in Canada, she dealt with travel and trade press in North America. This work brought her in contact with Jake de Boer

In 1972, Jake decided to move to Toronto, a main centre for TV production, where he and Mieke would have a better opportunity to pursue and develop what they had in mind: a syndicated travel show featuring familiar and exotic places. Since many people like to travel the potential audience for a quality show was deemed to be considerable. This did not escape the attention of TV executives.

Jake and Mieke set up a company called Bonaventure Travel Productions, and the show was on the road. The first production was on a familiar subject: the Netherlands. 'Springtime in Holland', an in-depth overview of the country, became a success story. The film was seen by viewers in many countries around the world.

From then on there was no looking back. More than 200 shows have been produced so far, and there’s no end in sight. When we visited the couple in their rural home, they were making preparations to visit a number of places in Africa, including the Cape wine region of South Africa, to be followed a few weeks later with a trip to Bavaria, Vienna and Budapest, as well as on the Danube. Each filming excursion provides enough material for four shows, each with two segments featuring different countries.

“The southern part of the African continent is my favourite area, not only because Mieke comes from there,” says de Boer. “It’s so different, so unique, so demanding in terms of the viewing public, and for these reasons we have made it one of our specialties. A close second is The Netherlands and again not because I come from there. It’s such a lovely country with so much history and with so many different things to see and do. We’ve done seven or eight shows on Holland, which is a lot.”

A great amount of planning and groundwork is required for each trip. This entails research, discussion of options, contact with tourism authorities and arrangements for travel and accommodation. An itinerary is worked out in detail: it usually leaves little free time or relaxation or side trips.

“The hardest part is the planning and seeing that everything falls into place,” says Mieke. The de Boers take along a cameraman, and a production assistant. At the destination, local tourism people are on hand to provide guidance and assistance. Invariably, they are called upon to appear before the camera and explain facets of local history or folklore and attractions in their jurisdictions.

“We get the locals to tell the story,” says de Boer. “and Mieke and I, as co-hosts, tie it all together, often in a lighthearted and entertaining way. The big thing is not to do everything ourselves.”

Back home the material is handed to a post production supervisor who, with the aid of computer technology, comes with the finished product with will be seen throughout North America. For the rest of the world it is broadcast by British Sky Channel, SABC in South Africa, and the Travel Channel throughout South America, to name just a few. Jake and Mieke are familiar to millions of viewers. Indeed, they’ve been stopped on the street in foreign places by people who recognized them from The Travel Magazine.

Their two children Jakob and Marieke, are graduates of the University of Western Ontario in London. Jakob has majored in business administration and Marieke in English. Jakob, who is following in his father’s footsteps, completed his graduate degree at New York University, majoring in film direction. Marieke is now a Youth Activity Coordinator for Princess Cruises (The Loveboat).

After the airing of a particular production, an executive of Costa Cruises sent a flattering letter: 

“…because your reputation had preceded you, I was frankly surprised that you didn’t live up to it: of course you greatly exceeded it. Never could I have imagined the production of such a complete and entertaining show. The production values were of the highest quality…”

De Boer turns to his wife, smiles, puts his arm around her and says:

“All this could not have been possible without her. She is a great source of strength, who knows her business well. It has been a team effort all the way”.

Taken from "The Dutch Touch in Ontario" book. Authors: Albert van der Mey and Marten A Mol. Publisher: Marten A Mol