The Hunt, a critically praised Dutch true-crime drama series, makes its exclusive US debut on Viaplay on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The six-part series explores the 13-year search for the killer of a 16-year-old girl, a case that gripped the Netherlands.
Here’s the Lowdown: Inspired by the real-life murder of Marianne Vaatstra, The Hunt begins in 1999 with the discovery of 16-year-old Anneke Boorsma’s body. She was last seen cycling home after an argument with her boyfriend. Each episode presents the story from a different character’s point of view, showing the impact of the crime on their lives. The series features Hans Kesting, Abke Haring, Mara van Vlijmen, and Gijs Blom.
What This Means Now: American audiences get access to a highly acclaimed international drama that won Best Direction (Michiel Van Erp) and Best Leading Role (Abke Haring) at the Netherlands International Film Festival 2024. It’s not just a crime procedural; it’s a character study, that features a compelling and suspenseful police investigation.
The Bigger Picture: The Hunt goes beyond the “whodunnit” aspect, It presents themes that still apply to today’s society, such as xenophobia, racism, fake news, and the rural-urban divide. The series is a reconstruction of a case once labeled the “murder of the century” in the Netherlands, presenting a deeply human exploration of the crime’s aftermath. The series finally cracked the case open with a DNA investigation. The Hunt premieres on Viaplay on March 27, 2025.
