Marc Warren is detective Simon van der Valk. Photo: PBS Masterpiece

Street-smart, cynical and unapologetic detective Simon Van der Valk is an everyman of sorts, investigating high profile cases and gritty murders that immerse him and his team in contemporary Amsterdam’s fast-paced worlds of art, politics, addiction, mysticism, and fashion. If you’re a fan of Luther, Van der Valk is definitely fasten your drama seat belt at its finest.

Marc Warren (Hustle, Mad Dogs, Beecham House) stars as Commissaris Simon Van der Valk with Maimie McCoy (The Musketeers) as Van der Walk’s trusted confidante, Inspector Lucienne Hassell. Other cast include Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Ready Player One), Darrell D’Silva, and Emma Fielding (Unforgotten Season 3, Les Misérables, Dark Angel, Cranford) who stars as the Chief Commissaris (i.e. Van der Valk’s boss). In addition, there are a few guest stars who Masterpiece viewers might recognize include Daniel Lapaine (The Durrells in Corfu) and Tom York (Poldark).

Marc Warren stars as detective Simon van der Valk, while Maimie McCoy will star as Lucienne Hassell, his partner. (Credit: ITV)

Written by Chris Murray (Midsomer Murders, Merseybeat, Doctors, The Bill, Casualty, Peak Practice), the three feature-length episodes were filmed entirely on location in Amsterdam. Van der Valk is a reboot of the original 1970s and ’90s Van Der Valk series, which starred the late Barry Foster and was loosely based on the novels by Nicolas Freeling. The present day re-imagining departs almost entirely from the novels showcasing contemporary Amsterdam while investigating mysterious crimes along the way.

Van Der Valk premieres this Sunday on ITV in the UK and this Summer on PBS’ Masterpiece in the United States.