Van der Valk

Van der Valk (2020) is a British-Dutch crime drama reboot of the classic 1970s-90s series, created by Chris Murray (Midsomer Murders, The Bill, Casualty) and broadcast on ITV since 26 April 2020, with PBS Masterpiece airing the series in the United States. Based on Nicolas Freeling’s original Van der Valk novels—though departing almost entirely from the books’ plots in favour of original contemporary storylines—the reboot stars Marc Warren (Hustle, Beecham House, The Good Wife) as Commissaris Piet van der Valk, stepping into a role originated by the late Barry Foster in the beloved original series. Produced by Company Pictures and NL Film, with all episodes filmed entirely on location in Amsterdam, the series has run for four series and twelve feature-length episodes (each approximately 90 minutes) as of its most recent run in September 2024.

Marc Warren’s Van der Valk is presented as a character who “reflects the energies of Amsterdam: its tolerance and liberalism”—a loner who can seem taciturn or moody, carrying unresolved personal history that emerges gradually across the series, whilst remaining comfortable in his own skin, instinctive, and unapologetically himself. Living alone aboard an old sloop anchored in Amsterdam’s harbour, Van der Valk wrestles with the painful memory of a lost love even as he brings sharp psychological insight and genuine empathy to his investigations, favouring careful observation of people and their motivations over pure procedural technique. Warren, notably some years older than Barry Foster was when he first originated the role, brought a more athletic, physically engaged interpretation to the character, opening the very first episode with displays of cycling and combat skills befitting a thoroughly modern Amsterdam detective.

Van der Valk’s team combines steady competence with personal complication. Inspecteur Lucienne Hassell (Maimie McCoy, The Musketeers, Wallander) serves as his trusted right-hand woman and closest professional confidante, herself thwarted in romance and providing the emotional throughline that anchors much of the series’ character work. Sergeant Brad de Vries (Luke Allen-Gale, Series 1-2) is the scruffy, appetite-driven junior officer with limited ambition beyond life’s simpler pleasures, whilst Lieutenant Job Cloovers (Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Series 1-2) provides brainy, eager energy as the squad’s newest addition. From Series 3 onwards, Sergeant Citra Li (Django Chan-Reeves) joined the team, refreshing the ensemble as the show evolved. Rounding out the recurring cast, Julia Dahlman (Emma Fielding, Unforgotten, Cranford) serves as Van der Valk’s incorruptible but indulgent superior—herself recovering from a near-death experience sustained during an earlier case—whilst Hendrik Davie (Darrell D’Silva, Game of Thrones) provides the show’s most colourful supporting turn as the squad’s hard-living, virtuoso forensic pathologist, having settled comfortably into Amsterdam’s guilt-free pleasures.

Each series presents Van der Valk and his team investigating cases that expose the tension between Amsterdam’s polished, cosmopolitan reputation and the darker realities lurking beneath—murders entangled with political elections, corruption, historical grievances, and the particular pressures of a city renowned for tolerance yet not immune to violence and deception. The show leans deliberately into Amsterdam’s visual splendour—its canals, historic architecture, vibrant art scene, and distinctive urban texture—providing consistently gorgeous cinematography that critics and viewers alike have praised even when finding individual plots somewhat formulaic or clichéd. One recurring viewer gripe has been the show’s inconsistent approach to accents, with some cast members adopting Dutch-inflected English whilst others retain distinctly British cadences—a minor but persistent point of discussion among fans of the series.

Critical and audience reception has been generally positive across the earlier series, with many viewers praising Amsterdam as a genuinely great backdrop, strong chemistry between Warren and McCoy, and a well-balanced ensemble including “the genius, the ladies’ man, and the oddball coroner.” However, reception grew more mixed by Series 3, with some longtime viewers feeling that cast changes—particularly the departure of Allen-Gale and Barnes-Worrell—and a shift toward outside writers weakened the show’s consistency compared to its stronger opening two series, with creator Chris Murray moving on to develop his new series Cannes Confidential. Despite this, the show has maintained a loyal international following, continuing its run on both ITV and PBS Masterpiece.

Van der Valk (2020) represents a successful modern reimagining of a beloved 1970s British-Dutch detective franchise, proving that the character and setting could be refreshed for contemporary audiences whilst retaining the essential appeal that made the original so enduringly popular—an outsider’s eye on Amsterdam’s distinctive blend of beauty, tolerance, and hidden danger, anchored by a compelling central detective whose quiet, instinctive brilliance consistently cuts through the city’s more glamorous surface to reach the truth beneath.

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