Scripted

ZDF Studios has secured worldwide distribution rights for Grand Hotel by the Sea, the first romantic period drama produced in the Netherlands.

The eight-part series is created by producer and showrunner Fleur Winters (The Crash, This Is Gonna Be Great, the Emmy-nominated Heirs of the Night, Rose d’Or winner Dome 16), written by Astrid van Keulen (Knokke Off, The Club) and directed by Aniëlle Webster (Swanenburg, Nemesis, What Is Love?). The project is currently in production by Amsterdam-based Big Blue in co-production with Dutch public broadcaster KRO-NCRV and Belgian broadcaster VRT, with a premiere planned for late 2026.

Set between 1912 and 1919, the drama unfolds against the backdrop of a prestigious seaside hotel on the North Sea coast in Noordwijk. The story follows Sandra, played by multi-award-winning actress Thekla Reuten (Narcosis, Warrior Nun, In Bruges, The American), who inherits the luxury hotel after her husband’s death. Determined to turn it into a leading destination for Europe’s elite, she must navigate social constraints and personal struggles as a woman in the early 20th century. As the hotel evolves, so do the lives of the women connected to it, who begin to discover new opportunities to shape their own futures.

The ensemble cast also includes Golden Calf nominee Joes Brauers (Do Not Hesitate, Hardcore Never Dies) as Sandra’s eldest son and heir, Florence Vos Weeda (De slet van 6vwo) as the ambitious maid Kathelijne, and Mustafa Duygulu (Arcadia, Nemesis) as the hotel’s trusted physician, Dr. Kessels.

Blending lavish costumes and detailed production design with romance, intrigue and themes of ambition, independence and love, the series offers a portrait of a society in transition through the intertwined stories of guests, staff and local residents during a turbulent historical period.

Tim Gerhartz, Chief Commercial Officer at ZDF Studios, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Big Blue on this ambitious project. Grand Hotel by the Sea combines a richly detailed setting, strong characters and an emotional narrative set in a fascinating chapter of European history. With its cinematic quality and universal storytelling, the series has strong international appeal.”

Fleur Winters, CEO and producer at Big Blue, added: “From the outset, we envisioned Grand Hotel by the Sea as a story with international resonance. We are proud to collaborate with ZDF Studios to bring this visually striking and emotionally engaging series to global audiences, and to work with a partner that understands the scale and ambition of the project.”