Ulrike Nagel

30 January 202530 July 2026

Article by Ulrike Nagel for the Germany Institute: Discussion on TV Debates

In the run-up to the early German elections, a debate arose over the format of the televised debates. Public broadcaster ZDF initially planned two separate head-to-head debates: one between Scholz and Merz, and one between Weidel and Habeck. The latter met with resistance from Habeck, who advocated for a broader debate format.

Under pressure from political parties and public debate, several broadcasters adjusted their plans. The commercial network RTL expanded its debate to include four candidates. Merz indicated that he actually welcomed a direct confrontation with Weidel, while the CDU warned that larger panels would come at the expense of substantive depth.

🔗 https://duitslandinstituut.nl/artikel/62050/discussie-over-tv-debatten

One arena. Two people facing each other. Ready to begin a fight, swords at the ready. A real duel!

9 November 202431 July 2026

Radio 1: Interview in VINK: The Netherlands' Podcast Guide

November 9, 2024 — 35 years after the fall of the Wall. Listen to the interview with Mischa Blok on Radio 1 about the podcast “Over de Muur”: Ulrike Nagel looks back on her childhood in the GDR from today’s perspective and wonders how much of the GDR is still inside her.

5 November 202423 June 2026

"Over the Wall" Podcast

I come from a country that no longer exists. The Berlin Wall fell 35 years ago, on November 9, 1989. I grew up on the eastern side of it, but I’ve now been living in the Netherlands for half my life.

In the podcast “Over de Muur,” I look back. What memories do I still have? And how do my elementary school classmates look back on this? But the Netherlands also played an important role in the Cold War and maintained (trade) relations with the GDR. How did my new homeland view my old one back then?

📻 Listen

1 November 202423 June 2026

Article in the VPRO Guide about the podcast series "Over de muur"

Journalist Ulrike Nagel, who grew up in East Berlin and now lives in the Netherlands, explores in the six-part podcast series “Over de muur” what the GDR era still means to people who grew up there as children.

VPRO Magazine published an article about Nagel and her podcast series, which can be read on the VPRO Guide website.

22 October 202431 July 2026

"When I Was 12" podcast by NPO Zapp / KRO-NCRV, the fall of the Wall

In the podcast series “When I Was 12,” Ulrike talks about life in the GDR and the fall of the Wall.

30 September 202431 July 2026

Ulrike Nagel is the chairperson for the day at the RH2INE Conference 2024

On Monday, September 30, 2024, policymakers, experts, and industry representatives gathered at the Haus der Unternehmer in Duisburg for the annual RH2INE conference, organized by NRW.Energy4Climate and the Province of South Holland. Ulrike Nagel moderated the event.

The theme of the conference was “Decarbonization of Inland Waterway Transport.”

9 June 202330 July 2026

RTV Utrecht: Woman from Utrecht Teaches About East Germany Through Role-Playing

Utrecht — “Freundschaft!” Anja’s loud voice echoes through the classroom; they can even hear it next door. All the students jump to their feet and stand at attention. Arms straight, hands pressed tightly against their thighs. “Freundschaft” comes back timidly. Anja thinks they can do better. “You forgot to say the word,” she points out to a student. “One more time!” Laughter breaks out, but they’re still listening. All the third-grade students sit back down and then have to stand up again. This time it goes well. “Very nice, sit down. Wonderful.”

TV segment (RTV Utrecht), photos and text by Ulrike Nagel.

29 May 202331 July 2026

From RTV Utrecht to NOS Regional Bureau

NEW JOB!

Starting in July, I’ll be leaving the RTV Utrecht “nest” where I grew up—and where I was able to settle back in for a while after all my years as a freelancer in Berlin. It’s a very warm nest, because—especially after moving during the strictest lockdown 😷—it was a real relief to be back at my old, familiar workplace, with new, vibrant, and talented colleagues. There, I once again produced dozens of new reports and often appeared live on air, feeling right at home.

28 April 202330 July 2026

Item for RTV Utrecht: Watching the grass grow: it’s possible in Groenekan

Groenekan — Which grass mixture is best suited to our dry summers? Should the plants have deep roots or shallower ones? And which type of vegetation is ultimately the best choice for a farmer? Utrecht University is seeking to investigate these and other questions this year in Groenekan.

TV segment (RTV Utrecht), photos and text by Ulrike Nagel.

17 March 202331 July 2026

Chair of the Trilateral Conference "Building Connections"

In addition to my work in radio and TV, I also serve as a bilingual moderator a few times a year. This allows me to delve deeper into cross-border cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands. Like last week at the trilateral conference in Assen, which brought together fire departments, police forces, and ministers from the Netherlands, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).