Inspired by Real-Life Murder That Gripped the Netherlands for Over a Decade

Winner: Best Direction (Michiel Van Erp), Best Leading Role (Abke Haring),

Netherlands International Film Festival 2024

Nominee: Best Drama Series, Best Screenplay, Netherlands International Film Festival 2024

 Critical Acclaim:

VARA-gids: "A milestone in Dutch television history"

Parool: "Haunting"

Volkskrant: “A convincing portrait of the many guises of guilt"

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyk1t83XReI 

Interview Opp: Cast/Director/Writer

The multiple award-winning, acclaimed true crime Dutch drama series The Hunt follows the emotional 13-year search for the perpetrator of a horrific assault and killing of a 16-year-old girl – a tragedy that tore families and the village apart and terrified the entire country. Inspired by the real-life murder of teenager Marianne Vaatstra, The Hunt makes its exclusive debut in the U.S. on the Viaplay streaming service on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

The Hunt opens in the spring of 1999, when a 16-year-old girl last seen bicycling home late at night after arguing with her boyfriend was found raped and murdered between a small village and a refugee center in a Dutch province. The murder of Anneke Boorsma tore apart not only entire families and a community, but also kept the whole nation in its grip. This six-episode crime drama series chronicles the long and frustrating search for the perpetrator, with each episode presenting the story from a different main character's perspective and exploring the impact of the murder on their lives. The crime remained unsolved until two main detectives managed to initiate a large-scale DNA investigation, which finally broke the case open.

The winner of ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Best Leading Role’ (Abke Haring) and nominee for ‘Best Drama Series’ and ‘Best Screenplay’ at the Netherlands International Film Festival, The Hunt stands out as a reconstruction of a case once deemed the “murder of the century,” offering not just a gripping crime story but also a deeply human exploration of its aftermath on ordinary lives. Its issues facing increasing relevance today are xenophobia, racism, fake news, conspiracy theories and the rural-urban divide.

The cast of The Hunt is a blend of seasoned actors and fresh, up-and-coming talent: Hans Kesting (Sleepers, Nobody in the City) as Rinas Boorsma (Anneke’s dad), Abke Haring (Splendid Isolation) as neighbor Inge Schepenaer, Mara van Vlijmen (Beatrix, Orange Under Fire) as Dinie Boorsma (Anneke’s mother), Richelle Plantina (Swanenburg) as Anneke Boorsma, Gijs Blom (Emmy-nominated for The Letter for the King) as Anneke’s boyfriend Jeroen Bovenkamp, Aus Greidanus Jr (A Beautiful Imperfection) as Evert Schepenaer (Inge’s husband), Imanuelle Grives (Only Decent People) as Joanna, Eefje Paddenburg  as Fenna Schepenaer (Inge and Evert’s daughter), and Jack Wouterse as mayor Kees Vormer.

Produced by Pieter Kuijpers (Riphagen, Van God Los, TBS) at Pupkin Productions for Viaplay, The Hunt is directed by Michiel van Erp (Niemand in de stad, Ramses) and was written by Willem Bosch (The Spectacular, Van God Los, Penoza). (Viaplay Original series, 6x50’series, Dutch, w/English subtitles)

Viaplay is the destination of hundreds of true crime stories, including the recently-launched The Case of Iwona Wieczorek, The Bunker, Under the Radar – Secrets of a Swedish Serial Killer, Norwegian Crime Stories, Crime Scene Sweden (10 Seasons, 68 stories), Polish Murder Secrets, The Priest from Hell, In the Mind of a Criminal, Deadly Women, The Copenhagen Killer, In the Mind of a Murderer, The Prize of Silence, The Preacher’s Dark Side, A Murderer Goes Missing, and Natascha Kampusch - A Lifetime in Prison.

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COMING UP ON VIAPLAY US: 

·          Crime Scene Sweden, Seasons 1-4 (March 1): A shocking in-depth look into the most heinous crimes and infamous murders in modern Swedish history

·          Like Tears in Rain (March 13, Feature Film): A star-studded, intimate portrait of iconic Dutch actor Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) captured through private, never-before-seen footage and directed by his goddaughter (Interviews Available)

·         The Beach Hotel, Season 3 (March 20): In the vein of White Lotus and created by the “Queen of Nordic crime fiction” Camilla Läckberg, the popular series returns with its mix of soap opera and crime drama

·         The Hunt (March 27): Called "a milestone in Dutch television history," this award-winning, spine-chilling crime drama is inspired by the real-life murder of Marianne Vaatstra, a case that gripped the Netherlands for more than a decade (Interviews Available)

About Viaplay:

The Viaplay streaming service features thousands of hours of premium Nordic and European series and films from Scandinavia's largest and most recognized television/streaming platform. Viaplay’s US content offering focuses on the Nordic region’s high-quality and psychologically penetrating titles: from atmospheric and suspenseful crime dramas and provocative and stylish young adult series to award-winning dramas and riveting documentaries. On par with the best on television, Viaplay series feature first-rate production values, incredible scenery, award-worthy acting, and edge-of-your-seat storylines. Viaplay is available as an add-on subscription on Prime Video Channels, The Roku Channel, Comcast Xfinity, and more for only $5.99 a month. All titles are available in their original language with English subtitles. Link: http://amazon.com/video/viaplayus

Press Contacts:

Chad Campbell, Head of PR, Viaplay SVOD – chad.campbell@viaplaygroup.com 

Eddie Ward, On behalf of Viaplay - 917-864-6446 / eddie@eddiewardPR.com