Endemol Shine Netherlands commissioned by BNNVARA to produce ten-part series for NPO3
Global content creator, producer and distributor, Endemol Shine Group, today announces that Endemol Shine Netherlands will adapt The Councilman, a hit Norwegian series created by Rubicon, part of Endemol Shine Nordics.
BNNVARA has commissioned Dutch producer to produce a ten-part run of the series for NPO3 which will be known locally as Harkum, after the small fictional town in the Netherlands where it is set.
The deal marks the first format adaptation of the popular drama from Rubicon, which was known in Norway as Roeng, The Councilman launched in March 2018 on Norway's TV2 with a 26.7% market share.
The original version was co-created and written by Anne Bj rnstad and Eilif Skodvin with Tomas Solli who are all behind international success Lilyhammer. Bj rnstad and Skodvin have also written and created the highly anticipated new drama for HBO Europe, The Beforeigners.
Harkum revolves around a small Dutch town where the officials invest civic money in the stock exchange only to receive a shock 700 million euro windfall. The comedy follows what happens to the community when it finds its sudden wealth and the Mayor must ensure that the municipal employees keep both feet on the ground.
Directed by Jelle de Jonge (Tower C, The Lice Mother, Love over Distance), Harkum stars Leny Breederveld (The Louse Mother), Bas Hoeflaak (Snipers), Ren van t Hof (Flodder), Annet Malherbe (Jiskefet ) and Jelka van Houten (Itch ). Elzelien Peters (Itch) and Daan Windhorst (Christmas with the Kuijpers) are responsible for the Dutch editing.
Lars Blomgren, Head of Scripted EMEA at Endemol Shine Group says;
European drama is truly going from strength to strength and we are in a fantastic position to move scripted formats around our Group of talented drama producers. This unique series from Rubicon is a tremendously funny social satire and without a doubt the Dutch adaptation will deliver guaranteed wit and humour to suit NPO3's audience.
Gerd-Jan van Dalen, Producer Endemol Shine Scripted adds;
The original series had me gripped with its ironic reflection of Norwegian society, which has many similarities with our values here in the Netherlands. There is much hilarity to be found in small community life and with Jelle de Jonge directing and a brilliant cast on board, this show has all the right ingredients to be a success.
Anne Bj rnstad, Head of Scripted at Rubicon added;
On the surface this is a comedy with wide appeal, but on a deeper level we created a scripted format that can tackle the effect of wealth on a community. The Councilman was popular here in Norway and I'm thrilled my colleagues in the Netherlands have been commissioned to produce their own version.
Scripted hits from Endemol Shine Netherlands include The Oldenheim Twelve which has now sold in Russia, Japan and to Acorn TV in the US and is in production for a second season for RTL 4 and on demand platform Videoland. The company is also behind a range of popular non-scripted programmes including All Together Now (RTL 4), The Talent Project (RTL 4) Heist (NPO3) and Hunted (NPO3).
Last year Endemol Shine Group were behind 50 non-English language drama productions. Forthcoming series include Ce soir-l from France (France 2), Norway's Beforeigners (HBO Europe), Sweden's Beartown (HBO Europe), Spain's The Idhun Memories (Netflix), Israel's Just For Today (Yes), Germany's second season of Dark (Netflix), The Ibis Trilogy from India and the UK, as well as recent Spanish hits Cathedral of the Sea (Antena 3/ TV3/Netflix) and Matadero (Antena 3), France's Insoupconnable (TF1) and Guyanne (Canal+), Italy's While I Was Away (Rai 1) and Poland's Our Century (TVP1).
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
Endemol Shine Netherlands commissioned by BNNVARA to produce ten-part series for NPO3
