Browsing for a Netflix show or film to watch on a gloomy day in the Netherlands? Maybe youโre about to visit your Dutch partnerโs parents or simply want to brush up on your Dutch skills. Well, weโve got a treat for you!
Watching films and series in Nederlands is a great way to develop comprehension skills. This is the strategy the Dutch use to speak near-perfect English (by not dubbing English movies or series) โ so they must be onto something! ๐ฌโจ
Grab some popcorn, and letโs take a look at some Dutch films and series available on Netflix now! ๐ฟ๐
1. Anne+: De Film
Anne+ is a two-season series about the life of a 24-year-old lesbian living in Amsterdam. After breaking up with her girlfriend, she reflects on her love life over the years and reminisces about how it led to her becoming the person she is.
Sadly, this series is currently not available on Netflix โ but geen paniek! We have a close enough alternative for you.
Due to its success, Anne+ was also made into a movie. The main character, much like in the series, grapples with the challenges of finding love while still growing and changing.
READ MORE | The best tips to learn Dutch: my experience of grasping the language
The movie is a lovely but realistic exploration of sexuality, relationships, and love! ๐ณ๏ธโ๐โค๏ธ Itโs also great if youโre looking to add a dash of Dutch to your day.ย
๐บ Type: Film
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Beginner
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: If you want something easy for beginners, then this is the movie for you! The storyline is easy to follow and to the point. Sometimes, the dialogue does go fast, but the conversations are normally very short and rich in everyday vocabulary.
2. Bankier van het Verzet (The Resistance Banker)
The Resistance Banker takes place during World War II in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.
The film tells the story of a Dutch banker who risked it all to build a secret underground bank to fund the Dutch resistance against the Nazis. How heroic!
READ MORE | 8 unmissable movies about the Netherlands in WWII
Bankier van het Verzet is suspenseful, thrilling, and absolutely heart-wrenching. It hits even harder when you find out itโs based on true events. ๐
๐บ Type: Film
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: The actors speak quickly but clearly in this film. The phrases arenโt too difficult, but the plot is fast-paced. Some parts are also in German with Dutch subtitles. Itโs definitely a film for someone whoโs been studying Dutch for a while.ย
3. Keizersvrouwen (Women of the Night)
In the mood for a thrilling Dutch crime series with a female protagonist? Look no further! Keizersvrouwen is available to stream on Netflix.
The show follows Xandra, a woman with a stable, happy life with her husband and daughter. However, she longs for something more.
When she gets an opportunity to organise an event for her friendโs escort agency, she is drawn back into the dark underbelly of a world she thought she escaped forever.
๐บ Type: Series
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: This series has a medium pace, with sentences that arenโt too long or complicated.ย The storyline can sometimes be difficult to keep up with, but the actors generally speak clearly.
4. Liefde zonder grenzen (Love without borders)
As you might have gathered, this is a movie about love โ but it is no usual rom-com!
Rather, “Love without borders” explores love in more than just its romantic form.
It portrays the story of a recently widowed Dutchman and his children as they all navigate their love lives differently while also learning how to love each other โ without renouncing a touch of humour!
๐บ Type: Film
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: As an outsider, the language native speakers use in more intimate settings, such as their family and dating life, can be quite hard to access. This film is a great opportunity to get a glimpse of that while also serving as advice for your own love life. ๐
5. Undercover
Okay, so maybe youโve already binged tons of drug-related crime series like Breaking Bad or Narcos. Good news! Thereโs a Flemish/Dutch drama that is worth just as much hype โ AND itโs based on a true story. ๐คฏ
Undercover follows secret agents Bob Lemmens (Belgian) and Kim de Rooij (Dutch), who are investigating a drug kingpin, Ferry Bouman.
They track him down to Limburg, the ecstasy capital of the world, and pose as friendly neighbours at a campground where Ferry spends his weekends. ๐ฎ
The series was very well-received, with IMDB giving the show a 7.8/10! Who says there arenโt any good Dutch shows out there?!
๐บ Type: Series
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: If youโre looking for a slow burn to expand your Dutch accent skills and learn a little Flemish, we recommend taking on this challenge once you are at a more intermediate level. The actors speak clearly and at a moderate pace, but the plot can be complicated, so be prepared to pay attention!
6. Ares
In the mood for something scary? This Dutch horror series will definitely give you goosebumps! ๐ป
Ares follows the story of a first-year medical student in Amsterdam, Rosa Steenwijk. She joins a secretive Dutch student society and uncovers dark secrets and nightmarish experiences that will leave you gasping โ and perhaps a little wary of your local student groups. ๐
The series also has subtitles in TONS of languages, such as English, Arabic, Korean, etc.
Trigger warning: Sexual assault, suicide, hazing, gore. Definitely donโt watch this before bed, or if you donโt like blood or gore!
๐บ Type: Series
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: If youโre an intermediate learner and youโre looking for a Dutch series thatโs suspenseful, intense and gory, then look no further than Ares. Also, if youโre a student, this is also a good place to pick up Dutch student slang, as well as the Amsterdam dialect.
7. Pietje Bell (Peter Bell)
If your childhood was shaped by classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda, then this is the Dutch film for you!
Based on a book series, the story follows Pietje Bell, the son of a shoemaker in Rotterdam. Pietje is known to get into all kinds of antics and trouble at school and in the town, much to the dismay of the townsfolk.
However, his pranks and adventures become so famous that they end up in the newspaper.
But when he tries to stop a criminal, nobody believes him! So itโs up to Pietje to find a way to save the day! โ
๐บ Type: Film
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Beginner-Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: This film is great for adults and kids starting out with the Dutch language. As a childrenโs film, the language isnโt overly difficult, and the actors speak clearly and in an exaggerated manner. A good pick for the family! ๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ง
8. Mijn beste vriendin Anne Frank (My best friend Anne Frank)
Another movie set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, My best friend Anne Frank is the first Dutch cinema film to tell the story of the most famous Holocaust victim in the Netherlands.
It’s told from the perspective of Anne’s best friend, Hanneli Goslar, and explores themes of friendship, persecution, and resistance.
If you’re a history buff who isn’t afraid of shedding a few tears, this film is the perfect choice for you!
๐บ Type: Film
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Beginner-Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: Although the movie deals with a heavy subject matter, the actors speak clearly and slowly. But let op! Parts of the movie are in German, so turn on subtitles โ or start another language-learning journey. ๐
9. Crypto boy
This Dutch drama deals with numerous issues that are unfortunately oh-so-relevant.
It follows the story of Amir, who can’t see eye to eye with his father about the future of their failing restaurant in a rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood.
At the brink of financial collapse, Amir sees hope for financial freedom in a cryptocurrency startup but discovers that the crypto world comes with more challenges than solutions.
The drama explores family relations and class issues while also teaching you some Dutch slang. ๐ช
๐บ Type: Film
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: Although the plot is easy to follow, the language used in Crypto Boy is often colloquial, and some actors have accents. It’s recommended you’re somewhat familiar with the Dutch language already, but if you’re looking to speak like an Amsterdam local, this is the movie for you.
10. Toon
Do you ever feel tired of social media? So does the protagonist of this Dutch sitcom, introverted jingle writer Toon, who accidentally becomes a social media sensation after performing a song at his sister’s party.
The show hilariously portrays the absurd world of social media fame while also exploring the personal issues Toon faces due to his unwanted fame.
It’s awkward, it’s silly, and it’s a great pick if you’re looking for a show to help you unwind.
๐บ Type: Series
๐ช Minimum Dutch level recommended: Intermediate
โ
Why it’s great to learn Dutch: If you already have a grip on the basics of Dutch, Toon is a great way to learn some new informal phrases and language usually spoken among friends. Some actors speak fast or mumble, but the plot is easy to follow โ so this is a great listening comprehension test!
Ready to leer Nederlands while sitting on the couch? With this list, you’re well on your way โ succes! โจ
Which Dutch series or films would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments below!
what is number 2?
I can’t believe you didn’t include _Toon_ ! It’s a riot! Here’s the trailer: https://youtu.be/E44KCJMOS9c
Do they have English subtitles? I am struggling to find Dutch shows with English subtitles!
Not all MOVIES arE we showing up here in the USA
Ferry is a great film itโs 2parts and the acting is great.I would give it a 10+
I loved Ares when I first saw it. And found the Dutch to be understandable. I saw it when it first came out on Netflix. Currently watching nemesis on Disney+. Same actress.