Van der Valk

Set in contemporary Amsterdam, Van der Valk follows Chief Inspector Piet van der Valk and his tight-knit team as they investigate a string of high-profile crimes tied to the city’s elite. Cases spill into the art market, political circles, addiction scenes, mystical subcultures and the fashion world, each investigation exposing different shades of power and vulnerability. Van der Valk leans on instinct and experience while younger colleagues bring new techniques, and the interpersonal tensions that surface during cases often matter as much as the forensic details. Marc Warren leads the cast, supported by Maimie McCoy, Darrell D'Silva, Emma Fielding and Azan Ahmed.

The 2020 Van der Valk was created by Chris Murray and adapts the long-running detective concept originating with Nicolas Freeling. The series premiered in 2020 and was filmed on location in Amsterdam, offering a modernized take on a familiar literary figure for television audiences.

The revival hasn't secured major awards recognition and remained largely absent from top international ceremonies. It drew a range of reviews and some niche praise, but didn't translate into prominent nominations, so its standing depends more on steady viewer interest and the strength of the lead performance than on formal accolades.

By placing episodes in galleries, museums and fashion houses, the show spotlighted Amsterdam's visual and cultural textures, renewing interest in the city as a setting for crime drama. The contemporary production introduced the character to a wider international audience and encouraged discussion about how crime intersects with cultural institutions and urban life.

Critical and audience response has been mixed to modestly favorable, reflected in a 6.4/10 user average from 48 votes. Viewers often point to Marc Warren's work and the series' moody atmosphere as strengths, while noting that pacing and procedural formula limit its reach. Recurring themes include corruption, influence, addiction, spiritual strangeness and the tensions between traditional policing and modern investigative methods.