Van der Valk

Van der Valk has built a devoted audience in the US on PBS and Thirteen, and in the UK on ITVX Premium among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. Across 5 seasons, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. With 10 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Barry Foster — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Start it on PBS whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Van der Valk keeps coming up in conversation. Van der Valk takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Van der Valk is a British television series that was produced by Thames Television for the ITV network. It starred Barry Foster in the title role as Dutch detective Commissaris "Piet" van der Valk. Based on the characters and atmosphere of the novels of Nicolas Freeling, the first series was shown in 1972. Barry Foster and Meg Davis lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It ran for 5 seasons (1972–1992), and the writing holds up across every one of them. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Van der Valk delivers. If you have already watched SkyMed, Van der Valk is a natural next step. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Barry Foster anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.

Van der Valk wrapped up in 1992, created by Nicolas Freeling — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.