Chris and Xand van Tulleken
Doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken are identical twins, medical doctors and science broadcasters. They grew up in London, surrounded by old paintings and documents commemorating a host of characters from their Dutch ancestry. But despite the wealth of the family archive, the twins know very little about their Dutch family history, except how to pronounce their surname correctly and rumours of a connection to Dutch nobility.
A chat with mum and dad provides some intriguing clues, a coat of arms that no-one can translate, a silver shovel that hints at an Indonesian connection and a document about a Dutch sea captain with links to the British Navy. Keen to find out the family stories behind all these familiar but mysterious artefacts, Chris and Xand start with sea captain Jan Tulleken and head to Chatham Docks.
They soon uncover the eventful seafaring career of their four-times great-grandfather Jan Tulleken, a staunch royalist who joined the Dutch navy at 13 and, as war engulfed the Netherlands, was exiled in England alongside his leader, the prince of Orange.
Chris and Xand follow the trail of Jan back to the Netherlands, where they discover how Jan was tasked to protect Dutch trade routes against Algerian pirates – a mission that ended in failure. Undaunted by his tarnished reputation, Jan applied for noble status. Excited to finally get to the bottom of their noble roots, a trip to The Hague's Supreme Council of Nobility brings Chris and Xand firmly back down to earth.
By following Jan's line further back, the twins uncover a letter that reveals an Ambrosius Tulleken, Jan's father and the twins' five-times great-grandfather, who died in Demerara (now Guyana,) which at the time was a Dutch colony. Following this lead reveals a troubling story.
The twins also believe there is a family connection with Indonesia and taking the silver shovel to an expert reveals the story of their three-times great-grandfather Hendrik de Bruijn, a Dutch engineer working on canals in Indonesia who married Maria de la Brethoniere, the daughter of a French coffee baron and an Indonesian woman. Chris and Xand have confirmed their Indonesian heritage and as they learn more about their three-times great-grandparents, the twins are moved to read a document that recounts Hendrik's profound grief after his wife's death, suggesting that this was a marriage of deep love.
For Chris and Xand, it's a journey that has changed them forever, as they've found answers about their name and their heritage that were previously unknown and entirely unexpected.
Trailer
Recently Updated Shows
On the Case with Paula Zahn
Led by Emmy Award-winning journalist Paula Zahn, On the Case features in-depth interviews and original reporting that go beyond the headlines in search of fascinating mysteries from within our nation's justice system. Each episode is highlighted by Zahn's riveting exclusive interviews, which draw out different viewpoints from the people personally connected to tragedies that rocked their local community and the investigations that attempted to piece together the truth On the Case with Paula Zahn.
Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy unlocks a hidden world: other people's relationships. Far from reality-show caricatures, this is true documentary filmmaking that brings viewers into the authentic and visceral experience of weekly therapy with four couples. World-class therapist Dr. Orna Guralnik deftly guides the couples through the minefield of honest confrontation with each other and with themselves, revealing the real-life struggles - and extraordinary breakthroughs - typically hidden behind closed doors.
Tyler Perry's The Oval
The Oval tells the story of a family placed in the White House by people of power while also highlighting the personal side and everyday lives of the staff who run the inner workings of the nation's most iconic residence.
Holmes Family Rescue
Mike Holmes has been making it right for years, and now it's a family affair. Mike's daughter Sherry and son Michael share their own dedication and expertise as they join forces to rescue homeowners from botched construction jobs and renovation fatigue.
Beyond the Gates
Beyond the Gates is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States. Here you'll find a posh gated community with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions to call home. At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those that live outside these gates are watching closely. These are the places where our characters live, love, work and play. Those who have "made it" and those who haven't are all trying to navigate life … and some with more grace than others.