The Swell

When a big storm arrives that can flood the lower parts of the Netherlands and Belgium, prime minister Hans Kreuger has to make a decision; can we evacuate four million people? Going for the evacuation of civilians, hospitals and prisons will take at least 4 days.

The Swell (2016) is a Dutch-language disaster drama miniseries created by Johan Nijenhuis for EO. Across six hour-long episodes, it follows prime minister Hans Kreuger (Gijs Scholten van Aschat) as he confronts a storm that threatens to flood the low-lying Netherlands and Belgium. His central problem is brutally practical: can authorities evacuate four million people, along with hospitals and prisons, in the few days before the water arrives? Episodes cut between government chambers and ordinary households, including the Wienesse family, with Frank Lammers as Willem Wienesse and Susan Visser as Marion Wienesse, and the Van Daele family, with Joppe Degrijse as Kevin Van Daele and Lene Lanckriet as Femke Van Daele. Each strand adds its own pressure, from logistics to personal fear, so the drama grows through many small decisions rather than one hero's action. The tone is tense and sober, with a steady sense of dread and civic anxiety, and the emotional weight rests on families separated by the countdown. Fans of Chernobyl and Contagion will find resonance in its procedural seriousness and ensemble structure. The show is a single self-contained season, making it a complete limited-run watch for viewers who enjoy disaster stories grounded in realistic government response.

• Chernobyldisaster threat driving a national crisis, serialized ensemble tension, government decision pressure
• BaantjerDutch-language prestige drama with ensemble families under a looming collective catastrophe
• Contagionensemble disaster drama, slow-building dread, multiple intertwined civilian and official storylines

Created by

Johan Nijenhuis

Release Date

2016-11-05

Episode runtime

55 min

Rating

6.6 / 10 (22)

What is The Swell about?

When a massive storm threatens to flood the low-lying Netherlands and Belgium, the prime minister must decide whether four million people can be evacuated in time.

What is The Swell like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Swell as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is The Swell violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Swell.

Which shows are like The Swell?

Shows with a similar feel include Chernobyl, Baantjer, and Contagion.

How long is The Swell?

The Swell: 1 season, 6 episodes.

Is The Swell still running?

No, The Swell has ended.

Where can I watch The Swell?

In United States, The Swell is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.