Naman Shrestha
Created by Nico Moolenaar, Bart Uytdenhouwen, and Piet Matthys, Netflix’s ‘Amsterdam Empire’ is a Dutch crime drama series that follows a successful businessman named Jack van Doorn, who is the rich founder of the Jackal Coffeeshop empire. However, his path to success was far from easy, as it was filled with getting into fights with criminals and competitors to reach the top. As he sits on the throne of his empire, his balance dangles when his extramarital affair with a renowned journalist becomes public knowledge.
Consequently, his wife, Betty, a former pop singer, turns into his worst enemy. She devises an elaborate plan to take everything he owns and ruin his entire legacy by using his weak spots and secrets against him. Starring Famke Janssen, Jacob Derwig, Elise Schaap, Jade Olieberg, Yannick van de Velde, and Jesse Mensah, the drama unfolds against the backdrop of the glamorous city of Amsterdam while also highlighting its darker reality related to the cannabis scene.
Amsterdam Empire Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘Amsterdam Empire’ is conducted in its entirety in the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam and The Hague. According to reports, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the crime series got underway in June 2024 and continued for about six months or so before wrapping up in November of the same year. Robin Streppel, one of the cast members, shared his experience of being on set, stating (translated), “Very cool to be on such a big set and to play with good actors. “123 in action. “What a set and a super fun role!”
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The majority of the filming of ‘Amsterdam Empire’ was carried out on location in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Several locations in the capital city of the northwestern European country hosted the production of the Dutch crime show. Known worldwide for its vibrant nightlife and red-light district, De Wallen served as the shooting location for many scenes of the show. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the city center radiates timeless charm, with its cobbled-stoned streets lined with vintage cafes and bars, as well as glowing neon lights that reflect off the narrow alleys.
Just a short walk from De Wallen, the cast and crew visited Zeedijk, which is popularly known as the Chinatown of the city, to lens a few sequences. In addition, a portion of filming also transpired at Café de Oranjerie at Binnen Oranjestraat 15hs. The production team converted the local coffee shop into Jackal Coffeeshop for the purpose of filming. Due to its historic charm, contemporary vibrancy, unique architecture, rich culture, and picturesque locales, Amsterdam has doubled up as a filming location for a wide variety of movies and television shows, such as ‘Ocean’s Twelve,’ ‘The Counselor,’ ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard,’ ‘Bad Boys II,’ ‘EastEnders,’ ‘Coronation Street,’ and ‘Amsterdamned.’ Thus, it proved to be an ideal setting for the Netflix production.
The Hague, Netherlands
The capital city of the South Holland province — The Hague — also served as a filming site for additional portions of ‘Amsterdam Empire.’ The production team reportedly utilized several streets and neighborhoods of the city to tape numerous indoor as well as outdoor scenes. In the backdrop of a few exterior shots, it is likely that you might spot multiple landmarks, such as Binnenhof, the Peace Palace, Plein, and the Hague City Hall.
Read More: Where is Netflix’s The Asset Filmed?
