StoryScanner
Start free

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden

Here's what we found in Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.

Screen for YOUR family
General Review

Parent's Guide to Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden (GTST), meaning 'Good Times, Bad Times,' is the longest-running Dutch soap opera, captivating audiences since its debut in 1990. The series, set in the fictional town of Meerdijk, revolves around the intricate lives of several interconnected families, exploring themes of love, jealousy, secrets, ambition, and unexpected hardships. Known for its dramatic and often controversial storylines, GTST features a blend of romance, family drama, and suspenseful plot twists, including intense cliffhangers at the end of each season. The show reflects a mature and often complex view of adult relationships and societal issues. It is primarily targeted at an adult and young adult audience, given its depiction of mature themes and realistic, sometimes graphic, content.

Things to Consider

High5

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden features significant LGBTQ+ representation, including prominent same-sex romantic relationships and groundbreaking events in Dutch television history. The portrayal of these relationships is explicit and central to character development and plotlines, indicating a high level of inclusion.

The series depicted the first gay marriage on Dutch television in a 2014 Christmas Day episode, featuring the characters played by Ferry Doedens and Dave Mantel. Additionally, a significant lesbian romantic storyline involving characters Tiffy and Kimberly is highlighted in fan communities, with a YouTube video titled 'TOP 3: MEEST OPWINDENDE MOMENTEN TUSSEN TIFFY EN KIMBERLY' discussing their 'liefdesexperiment.'

Violence

The series frequently includes intense and sometimes graphic depictions of violence and perilous situations. Characters are often subjected to extreme physical danger, including life-threatening assaults and accidents, contributing to the show's dramatic tension and cliffhangers.

Romance and Sexual Content

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden is a drama and romance series known for its explicit and numerous intimate scenes. The show delves into complex romantic relationships, including infidelity and suggestive encounters, often involving detailed portrayals of physical intimacy.

Substance Use

Alcohol consumption is a prominent and frequent element within Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden, often depicted as a coping mechanism for characters dealing with problems. Research indicates a high frequency of alcohol portrayal, with concerns raised about the show's tendency to depict positive or neutral consequences.

Scary & Intense Content

The series is well-known for its high-stakes, intense storylines and dramatic cliffhangers designed to create suspense and fear. Characters are often placed in situations of extreme peril, including psychological distress and direct threats to life.

Would these 5 concerns matter to your family?

Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.

Medium2
ProfanityDisrespect & Rebellion
Low2
Witchcraft & OccultAnti-Christian Themes
Medium2

Profanity

The series includes coarse language as indicated by official content ratings. While specific explicit quotes are not readily available from searches, the nature of a long-running adult drama implies that profanity is a regular, though not necessarily gratuitous, element of character dialogue.

Disrespect & Rebellion

As a soap opera centered on family and social dynamics, Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden inherently features frequent instances of disrespect and rebellion. Characters, particularly younger ones, often defy authority figures and societal expectations, driving many of the dramatic conflicts.

Low2

Witchcraft & Occult

No evidence was found to suggest that Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden features themes of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, or supernatural elements. The series remains firmly within the drama and romance genres, focusing on realistic human experiences and relationships.

Anti-Christian Themes

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden does not exhibit overt anti-Christian themes. The series primarily focuses on secular human drama, relationships, and societal issues, with little emphasis on religious belief systems or spiritual conflict.

Want these personalized to YOUR family?

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden functions within a largely secular and contemporary framework, consistent with the soap opera genre. Its core narratives revolve around complex human relationships, personal desires, societal issues, and the pursuit of happiness or success. The series often portrays a relativistic morality, where characters' actions are judged more by their immediate consequences or personal impact than by a transcendent moral code. Virtue is not consistently rewarded, nor is vice always punished with clear moral accountability, reflecting a often chaotic and consequences-driven world rather than one guided by divine justice. The worldview presented is primarily materialistic, focusing on worldly gains, romantic entanglements, and social status, with spiritual or existential questions rarely taking center stage. Redemption, when explored, typically manifests through human reconciliation, apologies, or efforts at self-improvement, rather than concepts of divine grace, forgiveness, or sacrifice in a spiritual sense. Family values are a recurring motif, but often highlighted through discord, infidelity, and rebellion, alongside moments of profound loyalty and support. Parental authority is frequently challenged by younger generations, showcasing a dynamic and often turbulent portrayal of family life. Faith representation, particularly Christian faith, appears minimal and is not a significant driver of character motivation or overarching plot. The series generally omits overt religious discussion, establishing a narrative where secular perspectives and interpersonal dynamics are paramount, without explicitly promoting anti-Christian sentiments but rather operating in a largely faith-neutral context. The focus remains squarely on the 'good times' and 'bad times' of human experience, largely devoid of a prominent spiritual dimension.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

16+ (Sixteen and older). This recommendation is based on the consistent portrayal of high-severity content across multiple categories, including explicit romantic and sexual situations, significant violence with graphic consequences, frequent substance use (particularly alcohol), and intense dramatic storylines. While the initial Kijkwijzer rating for Season 1 indicated 'Mogelijk schadelijk tot 6 jaar' for violence and coarse language, the series' evolution over decades has introduced increasingly complex and mature themes, making it unsuitable for younger audiences and requiring parental guidance for teenagers.

Good to Know

Due to its long-running nature (since 1990) and evolution, the content intensity in Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden has likely varied and potentially increased over its many seasons. The show's commitment to 'more controversial storylines' in recent years suggests a continued trend towards mature and sometimes explicit content. Viewers accessing older seasons should be aware that content descriptors for initial seasons may not fully capture the breadth and intensity of themes in later installments. The show also produced a spin-off, 'Nieuwe Tijden,' following younger characters, which might have its own specific content considerations.

How does this review compare?

This review
  • 9 standard concerns
  • General sensitivity level
  • One-size-fits-all perspective
Your report
  • Concerns you choose
  • Sensitivity levels you set
  • Tailored to your family

What are you watching next?

Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.

Personalized to your valuesDetailed findingsAny title, instantly
Start with 10 free scans

No credit card required — join hundreds of families