50 Essential Films from the Dutch Film Festival

In 1920s Germany, two sisters, separated shortly after their last parent's death – Lotte sent to live with her Dutch aunt in Holland, Anna to work on her uncle’s farm – experience the impact of World War II on their…

This movie follows a family whose peaceful life is disrupted when their teenagers begin puberty. The children's growing physical and emotional changes lead them to seek independence and question family rules, leaving their parents struggling to adjust. It’s a realistic…

The residents of Sister Klivia's guest house are warm and friendly, their close-knit community a stark contrast to their grumpy neighbor, Mr. Boordevool, who constantly seeks ways to shut the place down. When a guest falls for a charming young…

This romantic comedy weaves together several Christmas stories exploring themes of life, love, forgiveness, and kindness. A charming homeless man unexpectedly becomes a TV star as "Santa Claws," while a prince takes on an ordinary job in a department store…

Set in 1960s Netherlands, this darkly comedic film follows a group of unusual people in a close-knit town. Each character has distinctive, largely unfulfilled sexual desires. Their lives become intertwined, exploring the complexities of relationships, repression, and societal expectations through…

A group of friends in their early twenties begin to question their unfulfilling lives in a quiet Dutch fishing village.

A rigid social worker nearing retirement finds a young woman, Anna, hidden in the closet of a recently deceased acquaintance. Discovering Anna has lived her entire life isolated within the apartment, he takes her in and guides her as she…

Dennis, a taxi driver with entrepreneurial dreams, finds a chance to launch his own business when he's offered the opportunity to purchase a rare and valuable license.

A skilled lift technician investigates a series of suspicious elevator accidents in a new office building. Drawn to the puzzling incidents, he begins an intense investigation filled with unexpected turns. He navigates corporate secrets and hidden motives, using his technical…

Abdullah "Ap" Bentarek is grateful his father Ali immigrated to the Netherlands, unlike his Uncle Yusuf who remained in Morocco. Though he faces challenges with difficult friends and frustrating job searching, Ap enjoys a life far from home. This is…

This drama centers on a boxing school owner and his son.

Rex and Saskia take a break from their busy lives for a relaxing vacation. Their peaceful trip is interrupted when Saskia disappears during a stop at a service station. Years later, with no news of her, Rex begins receiving unsettling…

Two young men in a small Dutch town share an intensely close friendship, disregarding societal and religious norms. Their bond deepens to the point where they lose touch with reality, leading them down a path of violent crime.

In the quiet Dutch village of Lagerheide, a disagreement between two members of the brass band leads to a split in the group. Now, each faction is working hard to undermine the other, determined to be the band chosen to…

Novelist Giph is in a relationship with Samarinde, a doctor and model. His mother, Ria, is suffering from a terminal illness that has left her paralyzed. She chooses to end her life with euthanasia, a difficult situation for Giph to…

Winky desires nothing more than to ride a real horse. But horses cost a lot of money. Luckily, it's Sinterklaas season, and Winky asks for a horse. Everything should go right. Or will it?

Eric, a talented sculptor, experiences a passionate and complicated relationship with the captivating Olga. Their bond goes beyond physical attraction, developing into a deep emotional connection filled with intense moments. The film explores the complexities of their relationship, showing the…

This film is based on a true story of a major corruption scandal in the Netherlands. It exposes the devastating impact of corruption on law enforcement and criminals alike. A young police officer is pressured to get information from a…

"Matlock" is an American legal drama starring Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock, a criminal defense attorney. The series aired on NBC from 1986 to 1992 and then moved to ABC until 1995. Inspired by "Perry Mason," the show follows Matlock's…

Bennie, a clumsy criminal insecure about his weight, joins forces with his adoptive father's son – a serial killer’s offspring – along with his employees, who have transformed his snack bar into a quiche bakery in his absence. Their unlikely…

Armin faces a devastating realization: he's been infertile his entire life. This discovery leads him to suspect his first wife, Monika, was unfaithful before her death, potentially explaining the child he always believed was his. Driven by paranoia, Armin becomes…

Edgar is a waiter at a restaurant called 'Het Westen'. He's married, but also having an affair. His neighbors constantly disturb him with noise and trash. After a particularly bad experience with demanding customers, Edgar reaches a breaking point and…

This costume drama tells the story of a writer and a socialist politician navigating a complicated marriage amidst turbulent times. The film is set in a Frisian-speaking region.

Poet Valentijn Boecke reconnects with his former teacher, Mieke, and they begin a brief relationship. Soon after, Mieke reveals she is pregnant. Valentijn, however, ends the relationship and leaves her.

Years after the war, a young man has a powerful encounter with a group of Dutch resistance fighters. Flashbacks reveal the group's wartime actions: they executed a German officer outside a family's home, a violent event witnessed by a young…

Abel, a 31-year-old with severe social anxiety, unexpectedly begins a journey of self-discovery and friendship in this quirky comedy. His father, Victor, tries various treatments to help him, then brings Christine, a friend with unusual teaching methods, into their home.…

After a move to a new city, a young boy realizes he still has his best friend's pocket knife. He decides to return it to its owner.

Two friends from childhood are recruited to carry out a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

A cat who transforms into a young woman teams up with a journalist to defend their town from a factory owner with a sinister scheme.

A quiet gay dentist and a charming bar owner reconnect after ten years. Their chance meeting is complicated when the bar owner reveals he is seriously ill.

A working-class family moves into a wealthy neighborhood, upsetting the established order among their new neighbors. This unconventional but lovable family, known for their straightforwardness and lightheartedness, disrupts the refined routines of the upper class. As they adjust to unfamiliar…

All Stars follows seven friends who bonded over soccer as kids, but whose lives diverge as they grow older, prompting them to re-evaluate their bond. Set in the Netherlands with a lighthearted touch, the film explores themes of impending parenthood,…

A doctor in a quiet town is visited by an old friend from medical school. Unbeknownst to him, the friend is now a drug addict with a desperate plan: to steal the doctor's morphine.

A man is haunted by disturbing visions of an impending disaster. He begins a passionate relationship with a mysterious woman, believing she may be connected to his premonitions. As their relationship deepens, they face increasing danger, and he questions whether…

Guernsey is about a woman who begins to question her life and how she's drifted away from the people she cares about most.

Max, a handsome young man from the Netherlands, is driven by his love of acting and women. His acting career quickly takes off, leading to an invitation to a year-long program at a renowned theatre school in New York. However,…

Keet, married to a farmer who cannot read, desperately wants a child. She orchestrates bringing a bright city woman, Lena, into their home to tutor Brand, the farmer's son. Keet encourages a relationship between Lena and Brand, willingly accepting a…

Amsterdam, 1970s. A privileged grammar school student named Klaas and his friend begin dealing hashish and find themselves drawn into a dangerous world of organized crime.

During World War II, the unassuming cigar trader Ducker lives a quiet life. His world is upended when a parachutist, Dorbeck, lands in his yard, strikingly resembling him. Ducker becomes obsessed with Dorbeck, joining the Dutch resistance and increasingly taking…

The film follows the blossoming romance between a Polish woman and a farmer. Anna escapes from a brothel, and is found by Henk, the farmer, who offers her refuge. However, her past continues to haunt her.

After World War II, Antonia and her daughter Danielle return to their hometown in the Netherlands to inherit a small farm from Antonia's mother. They find themselves embraced by a close-knit community of unique individuals, including the quirky Crooked Finger…

During World War II in Nazi-occupied Netherlands, a Jewish singer goes undercover at the local Gestapo headquarters, working with the Dutch resistance.

In pre-World War II Holland, a young man born out of wedlock to a wealthy but cold bailiff strives to overcome his illegitimate birth and gain his father's respect by becoming a lawyer. The film explores themes of determination, family,…

In Amsterdam, we meet Ciske, an 11-year-old boy who wins us over despite his playful naughtiness. The title "Ciske the Rat" suggests his endearing yet rebellious spirit as he deals with a complicated world. Though he acts out, like dumping…

During World War II, a Jewish man buried suitcases filled with cherished possessions. The war took his family, and after the conflict, he obsessively digs up the soil of Antwerp, searching for those suitcases—a desperate attempt to find what he…

During World War II, this moving drama follows Erik Lanshof and his circle of friends as their lives change when Germany invades the Netherlands in 1940. The film examines how people respond to the occupation, exploring choices between resistance and…

Martijn reconnects with his sister Daantje in Amsterdam as she embraces independent living. After years apart, he decides to film her life, documenting her experiences through a documentary. The film explores trust, vulnerability, and family relationships as seen through Daantje's…

Four friends, in their forties, reconnect during a difficult period. They briefly recapture past happiness, but their current struggles prove too profound. These challenges ultimately threaten the bonds of their friendship.

A middle-aged journalist, Pierre, normally a political correspondent, finds himself assigned to interview Dutch actress Katja Schuurman in her loft. Initially dismissive of the light assignment, Pierre soon finds himself drawn into a revealing conversation with Katja, as they begin…

Oliver B. Bumble discovers an egg containing a small dragon. The dragon grows larger with each surge of emotion – excitement or anger. This escalating size creates considerable difficulties for Bumble, forcing him to confront a challenging decision.