20/07/2022 - The four-episode series will portray one of the biggest disasters in recent Dutch history, the Enschede fireworks warehouse explosion in May 2000

Filippa Wallestam, Viaplay Group Chief Content Officer

Today, Viaplay has announced the commission of a new Viaplay Original, a four-part series titled Roombeek. The delicate subject of this project is the Enschede fireworks warehouse explosion, one of the biggest disasters in recent Dutch history.

The tragic event unfolded on Saturday 13 May 2000. A warehouse filled with fireworks caught fire and exploded in the Roombeek suburb of the city of Enschede – killing 23 people, including four firefighters, and injuring nearly 950. Roombeek itself was largely destroyed, with 200 homes ruined and 1,500 heavily damaged. In detail, the drama will relate the devastating human impact of the tragedy and its aftermath.

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Casting for the series is underway, and production will begin in early 2023. Speaking about the show, Filippa Wallestam, Viaplay Group Chief Content Officer, said: “We have very high ambitions for our Dutch Originals, and are committed to working with both established and upcoming local talents to tell unique stories that can attract a broad audience. Roombeek will be a sensitive and high-quality production that looks beyond the headlines to show us some of the human lives affected by a tragic event.”

Roombeek is being produced by Gerd-Jan van Dalen, of EndemolShine Scripted and Kennard Bos, of Viaplay Group. Roombeek is the latest addition to Viaplay’s fast-growing slate in the Netherlands, which features projects previously announced such as the crime drama The Hunt for Jasper S., produced by Willem Bosch and Pieter Kuijpers, the dark comedy Something Stupid, created by bestselling novelist Saskia Noort, and Liesbeth Strik’s drama The Guilty.

The show’s release date and attached directors are yet to be disclosed.