Dutch feature films: these are the 15 best
When you talk about movies, do you ever mention Dutch feature films? Oops, caught. It's very tempting to immediately mention big names like Star Wars, The Godfather, Dune, Love Actually, or When Harry Met Sally – but we really do have good films made in the Netherlands. There's more than just reading subtitles and hitting your partner when they eat chips because you just couldn't understand that one sentence. Just relax and listen, without translating. Are they not boring? Nope, those Dutch ones are just as good. So pay attention: these are the crème de la crème:
1. Black Book (2006) (Disney+)
I can say that this is one of my favorites. If there's a film that perfectly captures the hope and despair of World War II, it's this one. We follow Ellis de Vries, a Jewish woman who narrowly escapes the Germans. Traumatized by her grief, she decides that things must change. With a new identity, she joins the Resistance. And whether you're talking about the star-studded cast (and I mean almost every famous actor in our little country), the top director Paul Verhoeven, or how the time period is depicted: everything – is – perfect. There's a lot of emotion, good scripts, great acting, and a plot twist that will blow your mind.
2. Soldier of Orange (1977)
Yes, this is an oldie – but definitely a goldie. This is one of those classics that you must have seen at some point. Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbé shine as students Erik Lanshof and Guus LeJeune. We see how they grow from ‘student scum’ to resistance fighters. The film, directed by Paul Verhoeven (because how could it be otherwise), is based on the autobiography of the real Erik. It might be a bit slow, but it's so beautiful to see how films were made in the 70s – because it's really good. It was even the official Dutch entry for the Oscars that year. And even better: it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1979. Unfortunately, they didn't win either award, but it was designated as cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2022.
3. The Conviction (2020) (HBO)
The journalist in me couldn't leave this film off this list. This thriller is based on the book by journalist Bas de Haan, who investigated the Deventer Murder Case. He is convinced that the fiscal-legal advisor Ernest Louwes is innocent of the murder of widow Jacqueline Wittenberg. He puts everything on the line to have the evidence re-examined. Due to all the media attention, a new suspect comes into view, who fights against the ‘media machine’. This is a glimpse into journalistic work in the early 2000s. It may sound boring, but this is anything but dull.
4. Everything is Love (2007) (Prime Video)
How romantic, then. The whole film school seems to have auditioned again, because half of known Netherlands is in this: Carice van Houten, Wendy van Dijk, Chantal Janzen, Thomas Acda, Jeroen Spitzenberger – name them and they are in this. It's a bit of the ‘Dutch Love Actually’, because we see different couples blossoming. Everyone knows each other for some reason. It starts with the fact that the actor playing Sinterklaas dies just before the arrival. Well, if that isn't a bang of a start, then I don't know what is. We see separated couples, a lifeguard who is getting married, and a romance between a Bijenkorf employee and a real crown prince. A feel-good watch, then.
5. Turkish Delight (1973)
Tuu duu duu tuu tuu, do you hear it already? Rutger Hauer cycling through Amsterdam? Yes, if there's a legendary Dutch film, it's this one. Here he plays Eric (yes, another Eric!) Vonk, who falls head over heels for the wealthy Olga. Together they share a romantic summer, after which they marry against Olga's parents' wishes. All the love happiness takes a sudden turn when Olga abruptly breaks up with him and goes back to live with her parents. And all this takes place during the sexual revolution of the 70s. Beautiful, right? It's a film about love, loss, art, and physical love. Which was quite controversial at the time, due to all that nudity and sex scenes. Yet it was nominated for an Oscar.
6. A Woman Goes to the Doctor (2009) (Netflix)
Again the third film with Carice, but really: it's fantastic. Advertising man and womanizer Stijn falls head over heels for the Amsterdam Carmen, after which they quickly marry against the advice of his friends. She leads the perfect ‘young’ life, which collapses when Carmen gets breast cancer. To try to deal with their problems, Stijn dives into alcohol and the bosom of other women. The anger and reality behind a life with cancer bursts off the screen. This is a ‘true story’, which is played wonderfully.
7. Banker of the Resistance (2018) (Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV and Videoland)
As if we hadn't seen enough of Barry Atsma, here's another one of his films. And one of the best, perhaps. We stay in the war, because this takes place when we were overwhelmed by Nazis. It’s about the two brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall. The two bankers feel powerless and want to do something against the occupation. They do the only thing they can: finance the resistance. They start with a secret structure that allows them to lend money inconspicuously, but the more the brothers try to do, the more danger they find themselves in. I can hear you thinking: another war film, but trust me: this one is so beautiful. I could hardly believe it was a Dutch film; it's that good.
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
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1. Black Book (2006) (Disney+)
I can say that this is one of my favorites. If there's a film that perfectly captures the hope and despair of World War II, it's this one. We follow Ellis de Vries, a Jewish woman who narrowly escapes the Germans. Traumatized by her grief, she decides that things must change. With a new identity, she joins the Resistance. And whether you're talking about the star-studded cast (and I mean almost every famous actor in our little country), the top director Paul Verhoeven, or how the time period is depicted: everything – is – perfect. There's a lot of emotion, good scripts, great acting, and a plot twist that will blow your mind.
2. Soldier of Orange (1977)
Yes, this is an oldie – but definitely a goldie. This is one of those classics that you must have seen at some point. Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbé shine as students Erik Lanshof and Guus LeJeune. We see how they grow from ‘student scum’ to resistance fighters. The film, directed by Paul Verhoeven (because how could it be otherwise), is based on the autobiography of the real Erik. It might be a bit slow, but it's so beautiful to see how films were made in the 70s – because it's really good. It was even the official Dutch entry for the Oscars that year. And even better: it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1979. Unfortunately, they didn't win either award, but it was designated as cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2022.
3. The Conviction (2020) (HBO)
The journalist in me couldn't leave this film off this list. This thriller is based on the book by journalist Bas de Haan, who investigated the Deventer Murder Case. He is convinced that the fiscal-legal advisor Ernest Louwes is innocent of the murder of widow Jacqueline Wittenberg. He puts everything on the line to have the evidence re-examined. Due to all the media attention, a new suspect comes into view, who fights against the ‘media machine’. This is a glimpse into journalistic work in the early 2000s. It may sound boring, but this is anything but dull.
4. Everything is Love (2007) (Prime Video)
How romantic, then. The whole film school seems to have auditioned again, because half of known Netherlands is in this: Carice van Houten, Wendy van Dijk, Chantal Janzen, Thomas Acda, Jeroen Spitzenberger – name them and they are in this. It's a bit of the ‘Dutch Love Actually’, because we see different couples blossoming. Everyone knows each other for some reason. It starts with the fact that the actor playing Sinterklaas dies just before the arrival. Well, if that isn't a bang of a start, then I don't know what is. We see separated couples, a lifeguard who is getting married, and a romance between a Bijenkorf employee and a real crown prince. A feel-good watch, then.
5. Turkish Delight (1973)
Tuu duu duu tuu tuu, do you hear it already? Rutger Hauer cycling through Amsterdam? Yes, if there's a legendary Dutch film, it's this one. Here he plays Eric (yes, another Eric!) Vonk, who falls head over heels for the wealthy Olga. Together they share a romantic summer, after which they marry against Olga's parents' wishes. All the love happiness takes a sudden turn when Olga abruptly breaks up with him and goes back to live with her parents. And all this takes place during the sexual revolution of the 70s. Beautiful, right? It's a film about love, loss, art, and physical love. Which was quite controversial at the time, due to all that nudity and sex scenes. Yet it was nominated for an Oscar.
6. A Woman Goes to the Doctor (2009) (Netflix)
Again the third film with Carice, but really: it's fantastic. Advertising man and womanizer Stijn falls head over heels for the Amsterdam Carmen, after which they quickly marry against the advice of his friends. She leads the perfect ‘young’ life, which collapses when Carmen gets breast cancer. To try to deal with their problems, Stijn dives into alcohol and the bosom of other women. The anger and reality behind a life with cancer bursts off the screen. This is a ‘true story’, which is played wonderfully.
7. Banker of the Resistance (2018) (Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV and Videoland)
As if we hadn't seen enough of Barry Atsma, here's another one of his films. And one of the best, perhaps. We stay in the war, because this takes place when we were overwhelmed by Nazis. It’s about the two brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall. The two bankers feel powerless and want to do something against the occupation. They do the only thing they can: finance the resistance. They start with a secret structure that allows them to lend money inconspicuously, but the more the brothers try to do, the more danger they find themselves in. I can hear you thinking: another war film, but trust me: this one is so beautiful. I could hardly believe it was a Dutch film; it's that good.
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
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2. Soldier of Orange (1977)
Yes, this is an oldie – but definitely a goldie. This is one of those classics that you must have seen at some point. Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbé shine as students Erik Lanshof and Guus LeJeune. We see how they grow from ‘student scum’ to resistance fighters. The film, directed by Paul Verhoeven (because how could it be otherwise), is based on the autobiography of the real Erik. It might be a bit slow, but it's so beautiful to see how films were made in the 70s – because it's really good. It was even the official Dutch entry for the Oscars that year. And even better: it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1979. Unfortunately, they didn't win either award, but it was designated as cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2022.
3. The Conviction (2020) (HBO)
The journalist in me couldn't leave this film off this list. This thriller is based on the book by journalist Bas de Haan, who investigated the Deventer Murder Case. He is convinced that the fiscal-legal advisor Ernest Louwes is innocent of the murder of widow Jacqueline Wittenberg. He puts everything on the line to have the evidence re-examined. Due to all the media attention, a new suspect comes into view, who fights against the ‘media machine’. This is a glimpse into journalistic work in the early 2000s. It may sound boring, but this is anything but dull.
4. Everything is Love (2007) (Prime Video)
How romantic, then. The whole film school seems to have auditioned again, because half of known Netherlands is in this: Carice van Houten, Wendy van Dijk, Chantal Janzen, Thomas Acda, Jeroen Spitzenberger – name them and they are in this. It's a bit of the ‘Dutch Love Actually’, because we see different couples blossoming. Everyone knows each other for some reason. It starts with the fact that the actor playing Sinterklaas dies just before the arrival. Well, if that isn't a bang of a start, then I don't know what is. We see separated couples, a lifeguard who is getting married, and a romance between a Bijenkorf employee and a real crown prince. A feel-good watch, then.
5. Turkish Delight (1973)
Tuu duu duu tuu tuu, do you hear it already? Rutger Hauer cycling through Amsterdam? Yes, if there's a legendary Dutch film, it's this one. Here he plays Eric (yes, another Eric!) Vonk, who falls head over heels for the wealthy Olga. Together they share a romantic summer, after which they marry against Olga's parents' wishes. All the love happiness takes a sudden turn when Olga abruptly breaks up with him and goes back to live with her parents. And all this takes place during the sexual revolution of the 70s. Beautiful, right? It's a film about love, loss, art, and physical love. Which was quite controversial at the time, due to all that nudity and sex scenes. Yet it was nominated for an Oscar.
6. A Woman Goes to the Doctor (2009) (Netflix)
Again the third film with Carice, but really: it's fantastic. Advertising man and womanizer Stijn falls head over heels for the Amsterdam Carmen, after which they quickly marry against the advice of his friends. She leads the perfect ‘young’ life, which collapses when Carmen gets breast cancer. To try to deal with their problems, Stijn dives into alcohol and the bosom of other women. The anger and reality behind a life with cancer bursts off the screen. This is a ‘true story’, which is played wonderfully.
7. Banker of the Resistance (2018) (Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV and Videoland)
As if we hadn't seen enough of Barry Atsma, here's another one of his films. And one of the best, perhaps. We stay in the war, because this takes place when we were overwhelmed by Nazis. It’s about the two brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall. The two bankers feel powerless and want to do something against the occupation. They do the only thing they can: finance the resistance. They start with a secret structure that allows them to lend money inconspicuously, but the more the brothers try to do, the more danger they find themselves in. I can hear you thinking: another war film, but trust me: this one is so beautiful. I could hardly believe it was a Dutch film; it's that good.
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
3. The Conviction (2020) (HBO)
The journalist in me couldn't leave this film off this list. This thriller is based on the book by journalist Bas de Haan, who investigated the Deventer Murder Case. He is convinced that the fiscal-legal advisor Ernest Louwes is innocent of the murder of widow Jacqueline Wittenberg. He puts everything on the line to have the evidence re-examined. Due to all the media attention, a new suspect comes into view, who fights against the ‘media machine’. This is a glimpse into journalistic work in the early 2000s. It may sound boring, but this is anything but dull.
4. Everything is Love (2007) (Prime Video)
How romantic, then. The whole film school seems to have auditioned again, because half of known Netherlands is in this: Carice van Houten, Wendy van Dijk, Chantal Janzen, Thomas Acda, Jeroen Spitzenberger – name them and they are in this. It's a bit of the ‘Dutch Love Actually’, because we see different couples blossoming. Everyone knows each other for some reason. It starts with the fact that the actor playing Sinterklaas dies just before the arrival. Well, if that isn't a bang of a start, then I don't know what is. We see separated couples, a lifeguard who is getting married, and a romance between a Bijenkorf employee and a real crown prince. A feel-good watch, then.
5. Turkish Delight (1973)
Tuu duu duu tuu tuu, do you hear it already? Rutger Hauer cycling through Amsterdam? Yes, if there's a legendary Dutch film, it's this one. Here he plays Eric (yes, another Eric!) Vonk, who falls head over heels for the wealthy Olga. Together they share a romantic summer, after which they marry against Olga's parents' wishes. All the love happiness takes a sudden turn when Olga abruptly breaks up with him and goes back to live with her parents. And all this takes place during the sexual revolution of the 70s. Beautiful, right? It's a film about love, loss, art, and physical love. Which was quite controversial at the time, due to all that nudity and sex scenes. Yet it was nominated for an Oscar.
6. A Woman Goes to the Doctor (2009) (Netflix)
Again the third film with Carice, but really: it's fantastic. Advertising man and womanizer Stijn falls head over heels for the Amsterdam Carmen, after which they quickly marry against the advice of his friends. She leads the perfect ‘young’ life, which collapses when Carmen gets breast cancer. To try to deal with their problems, Stijn dives into alcohol and the bosom of other women. The anger and reality behind a life with cancer bursts off the screen. This is a ‘true story’, which is played wonderfully.
7. Banker of the Resistance (2018) (Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV and Videoland)
As if we hadn't seen enough of Barry Atsma, here's another one of his films. And one of the best, perhaps. We stay in the war, because this takes place when we were overwhelmed by Nazis. It’s about the two brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall. The two bankers feel powerless and want to do something against the occupation. They do the only thing they can: finance the resistance. They start with a secret structure that allows them to lend money inconspicuously, but the more the brothers try to do, the more danger they find themselves in. I can hear you thinking: another war film, but trust me: this one is so beautiful. I could hardly believe it was a Dutch film; it's that good.
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
4. Everything is Love (2007) (Prime Video)
How romantic, then. The whole film school seems to have auditioned again, because half of known Netherlands is in this: Carice van Houten, Wendy van Dijk, Chantal Janzen, Thomas Acda, Jeroen Spitzenberger – name them and they are in this. It's a bit of the ‘Dutch Love Actually’, because we see different couples blossoming. Everyone knows each other for some reason. It starts with the fact that the actor playing Sinterklaas dies just before the arrival. Well, if that isn't a bang of a start, then I don't know what is. We see separated couples, a lifeguard who is getting married, and a romance between a Bijenkorf employee and a real crown prince. A feel-good watch, then.
5. Turkish Delight (1973)
Tuu duu duu tuu tuu, do you hear it already? Rutger Hauer cycling through Amsterdam? Yes, if there's a legendary Dutch film, it's this one. Here he plays Eric (yes, another Eric!) Vonk, who falls head over heels for the wealthy Olga. Together they share a romantic summer, after which they marry against Olga's parents' wishes. All the love happiness takes a sudden turn when Olga abruptly breaks up with him and goes back to live with her parents. And all this takes place during the sexual revolution of the 70s. Beautiful, right? It's a film about love, loss, art, and physical love. Which was quite controversial at the time, due to all that nudity and sex scenes. Yet it was nominated for an Oscar.
6. A Woman Goes to the Doctor (2009) (Netflix)
Again the third film with Carice, but really: it's fantastic. Advertising man and womanizer Stijn falls head over heels for the Amsterdam Carmen, after which they quickly marry against the advice of his friends. She leads the perfect ‘young’ life, which collapses when Carmen gets breast cancer. To try to deal with their problems, Stijn dives into alcohol and the bosom of other women. The anger and reality behind a life with cancer bursts off the screen. This is a ‘true story’, which is played wonderfully.
7. Banker of the Resistance (2018) (Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV and Videoland)
As if we hadn't seen enough of Barry Atsma, here's another one of his films. And one of the best, perhaps. We stay in the war, because this takes place when we were overwhelmed by Nazis. It’s about the two brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall. The two bankers feel powerless and want to do something against the occupation. They do the only thing they can: finance the resistance. They start with a secret structure that allows them to lend money inconspicuously, but the more the brothers try to do, the more danger they find themselves in. I can hear you thinking: another war film, but trust me: this one is so beautiful. I could hardly believe it was a Dutch film; it's that good.
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
6. A Woman Goes to the Doctor (2009) (Netflix)
Again the third film with Carice, but really: it's fantastic. Advertising man and womanizer Stijn falls head over heels for the Amsterdam Carmen, after which they quickly marry against the advice of his friends. She leads the perfect ‘young’ life, which collapses when Carmen gets breast cancer. To try to deal with their problems, Stijn dives into alcohol and the bosom of other women. The anger and reality behind a life with cancer bursts off the screen. This is a ‘true story’, which is played wonderfully.
7. Banker of the Resistance (2018) (Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV and Videoland)
As if we hadn't seen enough of Barry Atsma, here's another one of his films. And one of the best, perhaps. We stay in the war, because this takes place when we were overwhelmed by Nazis. It’s about the two brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall. The two bankers feel powerless and want to do something against the occupation. They do the only thing they can: finance the resistance. They start with a secret structure that allows them to lend money inconspicuously, but the more the brothers try to do, the more danger they find themselves in. I can hear you thinking: another war film, but trust me: this one is so beautiful. I could hardly believe it was a Dutch film; it's that good.
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
7. Banker of the Resistance (2018) (Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV and Videoland)
As if we hadn't seen enough of Barry Atsma, here's another one of his films. And one of the best, perhaps. We stay in the war, because this takes place when we were overwhelmed by Nazis. It’s about the two brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall. The two bankers feel powerless and want to do something against the occupation. They do the only thing they can: finance the resistance. They start with a secret structure that allows them to lend money inconspicuously, but the more the brothers try to do, the more danger they find themselves in. I can hear you thinking: another war film, but trust me: this one is so beautiful. I could hardly believe it was a Dutch film; it's that good.
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
8. What is Love Then (2019) (Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
A modern Dutch rom-com. On this list? Yes, to your surprise, they have indeed stolen my heart. And not the ‘In Love in Bali’, ‘Our Boys’, and the hundredth film with Barbara Sloesen. But this one, with Maarten Heijemans and Elise Schaap. I didn't have high expectations for this, but boy: it was really good. Divorce lawyer Cato gets the chance to become a partner at a commercial firm that needs change. She is the washed-out person to instill some morality in those lawyers. She is ambitious and especially unimpressed by the ‘Old Boys Network’, until she meets colleague Gijs. He repeatedly gets under her skin: he is everything she hates. She wants a loving solution for the children, and he prefers to throw oil on the fire in hopes of a long-lasting divorce battle. They have to work together, which brings a lot of hassle and strange feelings. A real enemies to lovers, in Dutch.
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
9. War Winter (2008)
Um. Do you feel a theme coming? Yes, sorry about that. But we really do excel in war films in the Netherlands. This is the very last one. You probably watched this in class when you were younger, or just on the couch. The fact that this is a ‘youth film’ doesn't mean it's a mess of positive and poorly acted scenes. We see a realistic picture of the war and how children played an important role in it. Michiel lives in the Veluwe and becomes unintentionally involved in the resistance during the hunger winter of 1944-45. This was the breakthrough of Martijn Lakemeier, whom we know all too well from the series Máxima.
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
10. Soof (2013) (Prime Video and Apple TV)
We already knew Lies Visschedijk is amazing, but she really steals the show in Soof. Sophie, or Soof, is basically the Dutch Bridget Jones. She smokes, thinks she's too fat, and loves to eat. As a forty-something, she is happy with her husband, Kasper, children, and her job as a freelance caterer. And then suddenly she starts experiencing a midlife crisis. She doubts whether she wants more in life, and that turns everything upside down. This causes a domino effect of comedic, crazy, and especially relatable scenes. This is a true feel-good movie that you put on to enjoy with a nice drink and snack. I'm already getting the itch to watch it.
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
Thousands of women receive our weekly updates. You too?
11. The Marathon (2012) (Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and Apple TV)
A film about friendship and perseverance. That's The Marathon. Real Rotterdammers Gerard, Leo, Kees, and Nico work together in Gerard's garage. The business isn't doing too well, and that's not so strange, because they're really just busy telling tough stories, playing cards, drinking cheap beer, and pulling pranks on each other. To avoid bankruptcy, the men have to ‘get off their butts’. Mechanic Youssoef is the only one doing anything and tells them he used to make a lot of money running marathons. If they want to save the business, they have to do something: run the marathon and win sponsors. There's a lot of swearing and cursing to reach the finish line, but that makes the film so fun.
