Format

Particle6 announces that Hearst Networks has commissioned “Straten van Toen” (“Streets of the Past”), a 10-episode short-form history series for The HISTORY Channel in the Netherlands, featuring Dutch historical investigator, author and reality star Corjan Mol (“The Curse of Oak Island”), who is transported back in time with the help of AI to uncover the stories behind some of the country’s most iconic streets, squares and canals.

Episodes will explore places such as Amsterdam’s Rokin — once home to the world’s first stock exchange — and Utrecht’s Janskerkhof, today a flower market but a key site of Dutch Resistance in World War 2.

Each episode begins with Mol on location before AI helps him step into the past, appearing in a cameo role within immersive scenes created from archival materials to ensure accuracy. Real and imagined characters bring each historical moment to life, and Mol closes every episode reflecting on its impact and legacy.

Particle6  Founder, Eline van der Velden says: “While we have been using AI behind the scenes… this is our first series where AI is majorly deployed on screen… enabling us to seamlessly blend live-action footage… with AI scenes… to deliver incredible, cinematic images that could provide a blueprint for the history formats of the future.” She adds that working again with Hearst Networks is significant, noting their support and forward-thinking approach: “being Dutch, it proved especially significant that our first exploration of using AI to bring the past to life… was with a subject so close to my heart.”

Sam Pearson, Head of Short Form Commissioning at Hearst Networks, highlights: “Eline and the team at Particle6 have once again created a smart and entertaining factual series… with the addition of incredible backdrops and characters brought to life using AI.” He emphasises Hearst’s commitment to exploring AI “with ethical partners… with clear guardrails and principles… and being transparent with our audiences.”

“Straten van Toen” will launch in January on The HISTORY Channel in the Netherlands, as well as its SVOD/BVOD services and social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.