5 best Dutch films on Netflix (for learning Dutch!)

Looking to improve your Dutch with some films? You've come to the right place. Here's our lowdown on the five best Dutch films on Netflix.

Dutch movies on Netflix

You heard right - you can improve your Dutch by watching TV! Of course, you’re never going to get fluent by simply sitting on your butt and binging Netflix. For that, you’ll probably need to take a Dutch course. But, watching Dutch movies is a great way to learn more about the culture and history of the Netherlands.

Plus, it allows you to get used to the way the language is spoken in the “real world”. It’s a good way to get your ear in, improve your pronunciation and pick up some extra pieces of vocabulary. Best of all, as all of the following recommendations are available on Netflix in the Netherlands or other streaming services, you don’t even need to leave your sofa.

To save you the work, we’ve trawled through the catalogues to find the best Dutch films out there (and made sure they all have English subtitles!) So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Here’s our top five recommendations.

1. Almost Cops

A combination of action, comedy and mystery, Almost Cops is the perfect choice for lovers of Bad Boys. In fact, the original title of this movie was Bad Boa’s!

This action-packed film follows two agents who work for the community enforcement association (Handhaving) in Rotterdam. Ramon, who is an officer dedicated to the job, is paired up with an ex-detective who has a rough past. Together, they take on a drug cartel in the Dutch city and find other unlikely connections along the way. 

2. My best friend Anne Frank (Mijn beste vriendin Anne Frank)

The only Dutch movie about the life of Anne Frank, this 2021 film is set in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during the Second World War. My best friend Anne Frank tells the true story of Hannah Goslar and Anne’s friendship.

Viewers see their friendship from Hannah’s perspective, focusing more on the ordinary life the friends lead in a coming-of-age type drama, before the war broke out. The movie also follows their lives as they are arrested and taken to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. If you’re interested in world history and don’t mind a tear-jerker, this is a great option. 

3. Crypto Boy

If you want to learn the latest Dutch slang and hear everyday language used in the Netherlands, Crypto Boy is your movie! 

This family drama is set in Amsterdam Oost and follows Amir, a young delivery driver who is sucked into the world of cryptocurrency to try and save his family restaurant and their home while proving his worth to his father. At just 108 minutes long, this movie isn’t too long but is packed with casual household vocabulary and dialogue that you’ll be able to incorporate straight away.

4. Riphagen - The Untouchable (Riphagen)

It may be another film about World War Two in the Netherlands, but Riphagen - The Untouchable is more than deserving of your time for its focus on a troublesome - and often underacknowledged - aspect of history: Dutch collaboration with the Nazi regime.  

This chilling thriller (primarily shot in Utrecht) tells the true story of Dries Riphagen, a callous criminal who collaborated with Nazi occupiers by hunting down Jews who had gone into hiding. By befriending them and gaining their trust, he is able to convince them to hand over their treasured possessions before betraying them to the Nazis.

As he quietly amasses a small fortune, Riphagen’s activities arouse the suspicions of a young policeman, Jan van Liempd. His determined attempts to bring Riphagen to justice turn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game that will leave you on the edge of your seat.  

5. Misfit

If you're after something that's lighthearted and fun for the whole family, then Misfit is a great option for your next movie night with the kids. 

The film follows Julia, a Dutch teenager who leaves behind her life in America when she returns to the Netherlands with her parents. Suffice it to say, she isn't all that excited about the move, and when she starts at her new Dutch secondary school, Julia is quickly labelled as the misfit by the more popular students. How will she cope in her new environment, and will she ever be able to fit in? Well, you'll have to tune in to find out!

Video: YouTube / Nederlands Film Festival

Start watching and improving your Dutch!

While historical films are generally easier to follow as the actors tend to enunciate words more clearly, modern films allow you to pick up slang words and styles of pronunciation you may not have heard before. Watching a mixture of both, therefore, is the most beneficial to your language learning. Happy watching - keep practising and soon you’ll be able to turn those subtitles off!