Drama series about fireworks disaster gets green light again

EndemolShine Scripted and NL Film, in co-production with the EO, are producing a four-part drama series about the fireworks disaster in Enschede. The series tells a fragile, intimate, and necessary story about one of the biggest disasters the Netherlands has ever known.

After Viaplay was forced to cancel the series about the fireworks disaster due to financial issues in July 2023, the grand project has now found a home with the EO, with production set to begin in May 2024, commissioned by the NPO.

About the drama series
The drama series about the fireworks disaster tells the story of the largest explosion in the Netherlands since World War II. On May 13, 2000, a fireworks storage facility exploded in a residential area, resulting in the complete destruction of the neighborhood. This event claimed 24 lives, left 800 people injured, and rendered more than a thousand people homeless. The stories behind these statistics reveal the profound impact of the disaster. To this day, investigations continue into how this tragedy could have occurred and who is responsible. What these stories have in common is the deep-rooted trauma experienced by those involved.

The script for the series is written by Philip Delmaar and Edward Stelder. Lourens Blok is directing the series. The series is commissioned by the NPO and produced by EndemolShine Scripted and NL Film in co-production with the EO on behalf of the NPO. The series is made possible with support from, among others, the Dutch Film Fund.