If you’re on the hunt for your next crime drama obsession, look no further than Van der Valk, which has been described as the best TV reboot in years - and we don't disagree. Having first launched on ITV in the 70s, the series returned in 2020 with Marc Warren taking on the titular role as the street smart but unapologetic Dutch detective tracking down Amsterdam’s murderers.

And now, Van der Valk is returning once again for series 4, which is sure to be unmissable viewing. Maime McCoy who plays Van der Valk’s sidekick Lucienne Hassell has promised the already excellent series has been “elevated”, while Marc has said it's “gone up a level”. With cases ranging from the murder of a scientist on the verge of a major cancer treatment breakthrough to doubts cast over the disappearance of a famous singer, Van der Valk series 4 has all the necessary ingredients to be an absolute corker.

So, ahead of Van der Valk’s much-anticipated comeback, here's everything you need to know about series 4, from who’s in the cast to how to watch it.

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What is Van der Valk about?

masterpiecevan der valk, season 4episode one “safe in amsterdam – part 1” sunday, september 15, 2024 at 10/9c on pbsafter a whistleblower is murdered under police protection, the team are called in to make sure the second whistleblower makes it to court to testify and take down a criminal empire. van der valk is conflicted when he finds out the protection officer in charge of the murdered whistleblower is a former flame of his.shown l r: piet van der valk (marc warren), anton de haas (mandela wee wee)photographer: mark de blokfor editorial use only.courtesy of all3media international and masterpiece.
Mark de Blok +3163222337

Based on the eponymous series of crime thriller novels by Nicolas Freeling, Van der Valk was first adapted for TV in 1972 and ran for three series until 1992 on ITV, with the late Barry Foster in the titular role. Van der Valk was rebooted by ITV nearly three decades later with a new cast of characters and different storylines.

However, like the original series, the show is set in present-day Amsterdam and sees Commissioner Pet van der Valk (Marc Warren) investigate challenging cases with his colleagues in the National Police Force’s major crimes division.

What will happen in Van der Valk series 4?

masterpiecevan der valk, season 4episode one “safe in amsterdam – part 1” sunday, september 15, 2024 at 10/9c on pbsafter a whistleblower is murdered under police protection, the team are called in to make sure the second whistleblower makes it to court to testify and take down a criminal empire. van der valk is conflicted when he finds out the protection officer in charge of the murdered whistleblower is a former flame of his.shown: kalie (kim riedle)photographer: mark de blokfor editorial use only.courtesy of all3media international and masterpiece.
Courtesy of PBS

In the first episode, Van der Valk is tasked with protecting a whistleblower to ensure they make it to court to bring down a criminal empire after the first was murdered. However, he’s rattled when he discovers their police protection officer is an ex.

Next, he's puzzled when the identity of a murderer could be a famous singer, who went missing and was presumed dead. But will they be the real culprit behind the killing of an environmental campaigner?

In the third and final episode, Van der Valk is reluctantly reunited with his former flame once again to tack down the killer of a scientist who had been researching a potential breakthrough in cancer treatment.

masterpiecevan der valk, season 4episode one “safe in amsterdam – part 1” sunday, september 15, 2024 at 10/9c on pbsafter a whistleblower is murdered under police protection, the team are called in to make sure the second whistleblower makes it to court to testify and take down a criminal empire. van der valk is conflicted when he finds out the protection officer in charge of the murdered whistleblower is a former flame of his.shown: daan franklin (ben batt)photographer: mark de blokfor editorial use only.courtesy of all3media international and masterpiece.
Mark de Blok +3163222337

Marc has shared a teaser of what to expect from Van der Valk series 4, saying: “It felt like a bigger show. It seemed like we had more crew and there was more going on. In episode 1 in particular it was quite an intricate show, lots of cars and explosions and stunts, and it felt like the whole show had gone up a level…. There’s a lot of reference to family in the scripts. That’s repeated quite a few times - I’d go as far as to say it’s integral to the storyline this year…It’s not a team, it’s a family - and Piet as a character prioritises that family above everything else.”

Maimie, who returns as Van der Valk’s sidekick Lucienne Hassell, also shared her insight into the new series: “The whole [series] has a totally different feel to it. It feels like it’s been elevated. As all the characters are developing, the scope, scale, and ambition has gone up another notch… The strength of the show has always been Chris and Maria creating these stories, and the elements, the characters that are woven in, the red herrings, the paths you go down, all of these twists and turns. They were always very strong, but I think they’ve taken it to another level.”

Who’s in the cast of Van der Valk series 4?

masterpiecevan der valk, season 4episode one “safe in amsterdam – part 1” sunday, september 15, 2024 at 10/9c on pbsafter a whistleblower is murdered under police protection, the team are called in to make sure the second whistleblower makes it to court to testify and take down a criminal empire. van der valk is conflicted when he finds out the protection officer in charge of the murdered whistleblower is a former flame of his.shown l r: lucienne hassell (maimie mccoy), piet van der valk (marc warren)photographer: mark de blokfor editorial use only.courtesy of all3media international and masterpiece.
Courtesy of PBS

Marc leads the show as Van der Valk, but he’s joined by plenty of other recognisable faces in the cast list below:

  • Maimie McCoy as Lucienne Hassell
  • Emma Fielding as Julia Dahlman
  • Darrell D’Silva as Hendrik Davie
  • Azan Ahmed as Eddie Suleman
  • Kim Riedle as Kalie Tenkers

Is Van der Valk any good?

masterpiecevan der valk, season 4episode four “hope in amsterdam – part 2”october 6, 204 at 10/9c on pbspiet and the team continue to investigate after an environmental campaigner is murdered. after another shocking murder, could cobie stegenga now be the prime suspect?shown: piet van der valk (marc warren)photographer: mark de blokfor editorial use only.courtesy of all3media international and masterpiece.
Courtesy of PBS

Yes, Van der Valk ticks all the crime drama boxes, including an enigmatic detective, twisty crimes and plenty of tension. Plus, it’s also set against the stunning backdrop of Amsterdam. It also has a solid 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has a firm fan following.

How can I watch Van der Valk series 4?

While we don’t have an exact release date for Van der Valk sreies 4, we do know that it will air at some point on ITV and ITVX in 2026. If you can’t wait until then, you can binge series 2 and series 3 right now on ITVX.

What other crime dramas can I watch right now?

Thankfully, there are plenty of brilliant crime dramas out there that will certainly occupy you for an evening or two! Hailed as “the best police drama of 2022”, Karen Pirie is a fabulous option. It follows titular detective Karen (Lauren Lyle), who battles against the institutional sexism in the force while cracking cold cases. Catch up on the first two series on ITVX. We’d also recommend slow-burn mystery Loch Ness, which is available to stream on Netflix. A classic whodunnit set around the eerie body of water, the show sees officers, played by Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran and Laura Fraser, team up to solve the murder of a local music teacher. But they soon discover he’s not the only victim – and that a serial killer is at large.