The Hunt, an award-winning Dutch true-crime drama, is making its US debut on the Viaplay streaming service on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The six-episode series explores the 13-year search for the killer of a 16-year-old girl, a case that shocked the Netherlands.
Here’s the Lowdown: The Hunt is based on the real-life 1999 murder of Marianne Vaatstra, fictionalized here as Anneke Boorsma. The series begins when Anneke, last seen cycling home after a fight with her boyfriend, is found raped and murdered. The crime occurred near a small village and a refugee center. Each episode presents the case from a different character’s perspective, showing the widespread impact of the tragedy.
What This Means Now: The series takes a look at a “murder of the century” case that captivated a nation and remained unsolved for over a decade. It shows the challenges of a large, complicated investigation and how such a crime affects families and communities. It also presents themes with modern relevance such as xenophobia, racism, fake news and conspiracy theories.
The Bigger Picture: The Hunt won awards for ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Best Leading Role’ (Abke Haring) at the Netherlands International Film Festival. It’s not just a crime procedural; it’s a human story about the long-term effects of violence. The series features Hans Kesting, Abke Haring, Mara van Vlijmen, and Richelle Plantina, among others. The case was eventually solved through a large-scale DNA investigation, a key element of the series. The drama was produced by Pieter Kuijpers for Viaplay.
