Investigate Amsterdam’s sights like Van der Valk – both the usual suspects and new hot spots
Van der Valk Sunday 8.00pm ITV
Katie Bowman - 29 July 2022
Van der Valk is back for a second series – and in the same feature-length format as before, giving viewers a couple of hours to immerse themselves in the spectacular city of Amsterdam as each investigation unfolds, with its avenues and alleyways so tightly, ingeniously and cinematically woven into the plotline. Those who want to go further, meanwhile, can easily follow in lead actor Marc Warren’s footsteps.
Begin your journey at the industrial waterfront in Noord. This is the northern part of the city, across the river Ij, where docklands once crammed with warehouses and factories were later abandoned, leaving behind a wasteland. For dramatic purposes, this gritty scenery is perfect – but what isn’t obvious is that these wharf buildings have actually been converted into hot new bars, cool co-working spaces and boutique hotels. Having hopped off the 906 ferry from Centraal Station, start your exploration of Noord at NDSM Wharf, with its edgy murals and street art. Inside, IJ-Hallen, the biggest fleamarket in Europe, takes place once a month (ijhallen.nl); look carefully and you may find one of Van der Valk’s signature Mod-style bomber jackets for sale. Head away from the water, and you’ll come across vintage stores, homewares boutiques, and Amsterdam’s coolest gallery, NXT Museum (nxtmuseum.com). With so much space to build in Noord, it has also become the home of many breweries, so stop for a beer and look back across the Ij to enjoy the same iconic view that you’ll recognise from the show’s title credits.
Perhaps the most distinctive of sights from Van der Valk’s waterfront vantage is the Eye Film Museum, which looks like a giant white bird crossed with a spaceship. This is an extraordinary space, and a must-visit for film fans, but even if you’re not a movie nut, the glass-walled café is a magical place from where to watch the boats sail by. Exhibits include an old 35mm camera on which m
any classic movies – including Charlie Chaplin flicks – were filmed, and a green screen where you can interact with the film-making process (eyefilm.nl). Before we move on to Amsterdam’s beautiful canals, there is just one more waterbased experience, and that involves chartering an old sailing vessel. When Van der Valk takes to the water in the new series, it is on board Spartacus, a classic ship, and you can hire a similar 120-year-old vessel for the day, or even stay overnight. Captain Cooper will sail you to deserted islands and small harbours, as well as idyllic fishing and swimming spots (bookahouseboat.com/rentals/ amsterdam-netherlands-781).
Back on dry land, it’s time to explore the photogenic canals of Amsterdam. The best way is by bike, as the Dutch do, and it’s easy to hire a cycle (with a picnic, too) from Star Bikes. The favourite vehicle is a “Granny”, a traditional pedal-bike with step-through frame and bag carrier, though you can also rent a tandem or a Fun2Go, where riders sit side by side and rely on electric power when necessary (starbikesrental.com). It is possible to hire a guide, but it’s as much fun to get lost among the canals of Amsterdam as it is to navigate them. Seek out the pretty Brouwersgracht, voted the best-looking when citizens were polled by a local newspaper. Here, wonderfully preserved canal houses sit shoulder to shoulder, their window boxes frothing over with scarlet geraniums and white pansies. Or there’s unmissable Prinsengracht, which you’ll no doubt traverse repeatedly since it’s home to the magnificent 17th-century Westerkerk church and Anne Frank’s House. Then there’s Bloemgracht (“Flower Canal”), which has the most picturesque bridges, daubed in bright hues, and is made even prettier thanks to floral displays that are hugely photogenic. For your last pit-stop, you can thank Van der Valk’s lead writer Chris Murray. He’s divulged little about the second series but has shared this nugget: “Against the backdrop of Amsterdam, this season’s storylines include the dysfunction of a family at the heart of the city’s historic diamond industry.” That gives you the excuse to visit some world-famous jewellers. Find the likes of Gassan and Van Amstel around the the Nine Streets district, where diamond dealers have been trading for centuries. Apologies if your weekend just doubled in cost…
Van der Valk is back for a second series – and in the same feature-length format as before, giving viewers a couple of hours to immerse themselves in the spectacular city of Amsterdam as each investigation unfolds, with its avenues and alleyways so tightly, ingeniously and cinematically woven into the plotline. Those who want to go further, meanwhile, can easily follow in lead actor Marc Warren’s footsteps.
Begin your journey at the industrial waterfront in Noord. This is the northern part of the city, across the river Ij, where docklands once crammed with warehouses and factories were later abandoned, leaving behind a wasteland. For dramatic purposes, this gritty scenery is perfect – but what isn’t obvious is that these wharf buildings have actually been converted into hot new bars, cool co-working spaces and boutique hotels. Having hopped off the 906 ferry from Centraal Station, start your exploration of Noord at NDSM Wharf, with its edgy murals and street art. Inside, IJ-Hallen, the biggest fleamarket in Europe, takes place once a month (ijhallen.nl); look carefully and you may find one of Van der Valk’s signature Mod-style bomber jackets for sale. Head away from the water, and you’ll come across vintage stores, homewares boutiques, and Amsterdam’s coolest gallery, NXT Museum (nxtmuseum.com). With so much space to build in Noord, it has also become the home of many breweries, so stop for a beer and look back across the Ij to enjoy the same iconic view that you’ll recognise from the show’s title credits.
any classic movies – including Charlie Chaplin flicks – were filmed, and a green screen where you can interact with the film-making process (eyefilm.nl). Before we move on to Amsterdam’s beautiful canals, there is just one more waterbased experience, and that involves chartering an old sailing vessel. When Van der Valk takes to the water in the new series, it is on board Spartacus, a classic ship, and you can hire a similar 120-year-old vessel for the day, or even stay overnight. Captain Cooper will sail you to deserted islands and small harbours, as well as idyllic fishing and swimming spots (bookahouseboat.com/rentals/ amsterdam-netherlands-781).
Back on dry land, it’s time to explore the photogenic canals of Amsterdam. The best way is by bike, as the Dutch do, and it’s easy to hire a cycle (with a picnic, too) from Star Bikes. The favourite vehicle is a “Granny”, a traditional pedal-bike with step-through frame and bag carrier, though you can also rent a tandem or a Fun2Go, where riders sit side by side and rely on electric power when necessary (starbikesrental.com). It is possible to hire a guide, but it’s as much fun to get lost among the canals of Amsterdam as it is to navigate them. Seek out the pretty Brouwersgracht, voted the best-looking when citizens were polled by a local newspaper. Here, wonderfully preserved canal houses sit shoulder to shoulder, their window boxes frothing over with scarlet geraniums and white pansies. Or there’s unmissable Prinsengracht, which you’ll no doubt traverse repeatedly since it’s home to the magnificent 17th-century Westerkerk church and Anne Frank’s House. Then there’s Bloemgracht (“Flower Canal”), which has the most picturesque bridges, daubed in bright hues, and is made even prettier thanks to floral displays that are hugely photogenic. For your last pit-stop, you can thank Van der Valk’s lead writer Chris Murray. He’s divulged little about the second series but has shared this nugget: “Against the backdrop of Amsterdam, this season’s storylines include the dysfunction of a family at the heart of the city’s historic diamond industry.” That gives you the excuse to visit some world-famous jewellers. Find the likes of Gassan and Van Amstel around the the Nine Streets district, where diamond dealers have been trading for centuries. Apologies if your weekend just doubled in cost…
KATIE BOWMAN