Chantal (TV Series)

''Chantal'' is a Belgian crime drama, comedy television series, which was broadcast from 4 September 2022 by Eyeworks Film and TV Drama. It is a spin-off of ''Eigen Kweek'' (English: ''Home Grown'') (2013, 2016, 2019), which introduced the character of Chantal Vantomme, portrayed by . Cafmeyer reprises her role as Chantal, who has been appointed police inspector in the fictitious West Flanders town of Loveringem. She investigates various crimes with assistance from local police officer Rik () despite interference from her rival Johnny (). Besides acting, Sercu created and wrote the series while directed. ''Chantal''s first season of eight episodes was followed by a second season of six episodes from 21 January 2024. The third season was filmed during 2024, and streamed from 6 March 2025.

Premise

Chantal is the newly appointed chief inspector at the Loveringem police station. Initially she faces condescending or abrasive behaviour from male colleagues and community leaders. The station is attached to the town hall where Mayor Wim often checks in on their investigations. At first, her second-in-charge, Rik, believes she will be a failure. Rik becomes more accommodating after Chantal out-smarts her rival detective, Johnny. Chantal and her daughter Emma make friends with their truck driver, neighbour Arne. Rik's friend Muze runs Café de Miserie, which often holds Cowboy-themed events. Chantal intends to sit for a Commissioner's exam, move to Brussels for training and become a chief of police. Chantal, Rik and her squad continue to solve various cases despite misdirection or interference from Johnny. One of her cases has Emma's class taken hostage in the town hall by Bjorn. Bjorn is Emma's teacher Els' brother, who attempts to discredit an influential businessman, Roland.

Both Chantal and Johnny sit the Commissioner's exam, but only Chantal passes. However, she decides to remain in Loveringem due to Emma's friendships with her classmates. During season two Chantal is investigated by Committee P to determine whether her conduct was professional during the town hall hostage case.

Cast and characters

* as Chantal Vantomme: Loveringem police chief inspector, Emma's mother
* as Rik Cloedt: police inspector, self-styled "Sheriff", initially contemptuous of Chantal
* as Johnny D'Haese: Veurne-based Crime Unit's chief inspector, Chantal's rival, former police college classmate
* as Arne Goedvriendt: trucker, former bus driver, Chantal's neighbour, widower, becomes Chantal's friend
* as Wim Vanhecke: Mayor, married to Dorien, also realtor
* as Muze: Café de Miserie bar manager, Rik's best friend, Noor's father
* as Emma Vantomme: Chantal's daughter, her father fled overseas on criminal charges, fifth grade student, becomes friends with Noor and Milou

Recurring cast

* as Pascal Plovy The Indian: former West Coast Warrior biker, Indian enthusiast, Didier's cousin
* as Koen Huyghe: Veurne's Chief of Police, Chantal's and Johnny's boss, dismissive of Chantal's career aspirations
* Hanna Lesage as Noor: Muze's daughter, Emma's classmate-friend
* Julie Delrue as Els Heytens: Emma's schoolteacher, Bjorn's sister, Bart's daughter
* Wim Opbrouck as Roland Schiettekatte: Ria's husband, Véronique's father, Willy's son. Influential businessman, construction company owner, land speculator
* Emma Catry as Milou: Noor's classmate, Roland's granddaughter, becomes Emma's friend
* as Eddy Driessens: policeman-receptionist
* Benoit Dorné as Kurt: policeman, Rik's assistant
* Begir Memeti as Besnik Dushku: national crime police, Bart's colleague
* Steve Geerts as Bart Storms: national crime police, Besnik's colleague
* as Dorien: Wim's wife, Wibe's mother
* as Sylvie Velghe: Johnny's wife, Rik's former girlfriend, glamour model (Miss Elegance 2011)
* Anouk David as Mia Verkest: local, erratic driver, Roger's wife

Season one only

* Patrycja Pulit as Goska Boniek: biker, "Dirty" Didier's sometime girlfriend
* as Christophe Bulcke: Véronique's widower, Roland's son-in-law, Veurne politician, Wim's rival
* as Daniël Louage: Siska's domineering brother, wastrel, serial pest
* as Siska Louage: Daniël's sister, Chantal's neighbour
* Michiel Soete as Bjorn Heytens: Els' brother, Bart's son
* Aiko Vanparys as Lise Loosveldt: Chantal's neighbour, Daisy's owner, long-running feud with Louages
* Mil Degrijse as Jordy: Noor's classmate, boisterous
* Hans Roelens as Landbouwer (English: "Farmer"): show dog owner, Lise's rival
* as Ria Schiettekatte: Roland's wife, Véronique's mother

Season two only

* Patricia Kargbo as Felke Debruyne
* Peter Bulckaen as Firmin Dezutter
* Han Coucke as Meeuws

Production

''Chantal'' was announced in June 2020, as a spin-off of ''Eigen Kweek'', which had ended after three seasons in the previous year. It was produced by Eyeworks Film and TV Drama. Mathias Sercu created and wrote the series with directing. Main music was composed by Steve Willaert, while the opening credits song, "t Kan Ier Oal" (English: "It's all Possible Here") was performed by Cafmeyer on lead vocals, lyrics by Annelies Cappaert and music by Willaert. An expanded version of that song was issued as a single by Cafmeyer in January 2024. West Flanders towns of Alveringem and Lo-Reninge are used to depcit fictitious Loveringem.

Episode guide

Season one

Season two

References

External links

*

{{Authority control
2022 Belgian television series debuts
Belgian crime television series
Belgian comedy television shows
Belgian drama television shows
VRT 1 original programming