The six-part VPRO drama series Koning van de Wallen (international title: Red Light Empire) is inspired by the life of Maurits de Vries, better known as "Zwarte Joop" (Black Joop). Between the 1940s and 1980s, Zwarte Joop built a world-famous yet controversial sex and gambling empire in Amsterdam's Red Light District, until enemies, betrayal, and paranoia threatened his life's work from within. The cast features lead actors including Gijs Naber, Thekla Reuten, and Holly Mae Brood. The series is directed by Tim Oliehoek and written by Michael Leendertse and Sarah Offringa.

In the series, Zwarte Joop (Gijs Naber) fights his way to the top of Amsterdam's notorious Red Light District. Determined to answer to no one, he expands his empire of sex, gambling, and unbridled freedom. But as his power grows, he becomes increasingly entangled in his own web of lies and control.

Zwarte Joop was a well-known figure in Amsterdam's Red Light District. As a Jewish Holocaust survivor, he fought his way into the entertainment world and gathered a raw, colorful group of misfits around him who gradually became like family. In the shadows of the post-war years, he dominated the nightlife with the city's largest live sex shows and underground gambling dens. This made him famous, feared, and controversial. The series depicts the spectacular rise and dramatic downfall of Zwarte Joop and shows how the Wallen evolved into the Red Light District it is today. Filming for Koning van de Wallen (Red Light Empire) has begun, and the series will premiere on NPO Start in 2028.

The series is a dramatized interpretation of Zwarte Joop's life. Fact and fiction have been freely blended for the story. Events and characters are partly inspired by real events, supplemented with fictional dramatic elements. The series is not intended as a historical reconstruction.

About the cast
Gijs Naber (two-time Golden Calf winner for Aanmodderfakker and Judas) takes on the lead role of Zwarte Joop, undergoing a physical transformation for the character. Starring alongside him is Thekla Reuten, also a multi-Golden Calf winner (Voor de meisjes, Narcosis). She plays Sonja: Joop's childhood sweetheart, life partner, and the mother of his daughter. Later, she develops into a ruthless businesswoman and a key figure in his empire. Holly Mae Brood (Amsterdamned II, Patty) plays Dewi, a sex worker who steps up as a protector of the women in the Red Light District and eventually becomes the artistic director of Casa Rosso. Lisa Zweerman plays Lex, the daughter of Joop and Sonja. Chris Peters plays Chris Dolman, Joop's right-hand man and best friend. Jard Struik, Vincent van der Valk, and Daniël Kolf play other key roles within Joop's empire. Mo Braun and Livia Schoemacher play Joop and Sonja in their younger years.

About the creators
Director Tim Oliehoek has achieved success both nationally and internationally with works such as The Menten Case (De zaak Menten – Golden Calf for Best Drama Series 2017), Stanley H., The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen (Het geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen – Golden Calf for Best Drama Series 2018), and Joy and Sorrow (Rust en Vreugd). Screenwriter Michael Leendertse is known for The Crash (Rampvlucht – Golden Calf for Best Drama Series 2022), The Resistance Banker (Bankier van het verzet), and Van God Los. Screenwriter Sarah Offringa wrote Dertigers and Bonnie & Clyde. Producers Leontine Petit and Tom van Blommestein from Lemming Film are known for series such as Bennie (Golden Televizier-Ring Actor), Day & Night (Dag & nacht) seasons 1, 2, and 3, and Joy and Sorrow. Max Moszkowicz (Wij Moszkowicz) initiated the project and is attached to the series as creative producer.

Screenplay: Michael Leendertse and Sarah Offringa
Director: Tim Oliehoek
Cast: Gijs Naber, Thekla Reuten, Holly Mae Brood, Chris Peters, Lisa Zweerman, Jard Struik, Vincent van der Valk, Daniël Kolf, Mo Braun, Livia Schoemacher, among others.

Koning van de Wallen (Red Light Empire) is a co-production of Lemming Film (NL), APV Lemming (BE), Nukleus Film (HR), and VPRO, created with support from NPO, the NPO Fund, the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, New8, Screen Flanders, The Belgian Tax Shelter, Croatia Tax Rebate, and the Council of Europe.

New8 is a unique collaboration among eight European public broadcasters to jointly produce and exchange high-quality drama series. The eight partner broadcasters within New8 are SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), RÚV (Iceland), NRK (Norway), VRT (Flanders/Belgium), NPO (Netherlands), and ZDF (Germany).

Photo credit: Mark de Blok