Als De Dijken Breken is a Dutch-Flemish series which was broadcast in 2016.
When a super storm hits the Netherlands and Belgium, the dikes break and water floods into the western part of both countries. Since a lot of it is below sea level, big parts get washed over by the water
It is seen from the perspective from several people, from politicians, to a young girl finding shelter with an old man, a family, a prison-guard and a prisoner and his family.
This series provides examples of
- 0% Approval Rating: the Dutch Prime Minister, as he did not give the order to evacuate in time. Politicians families were not supposed to evacuate before the order is given, but he gives his wife the advice to leave the Randstad. Her taking out his father from a nursery home, caused people to realize things were serious and hit the road themselves to evacuate. This made them more exposed than if they had remained in cities and gone up a few floors.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Sonja for Ronnie. He loves his family, but he's clearly in prison for a reason.
- All Issues Are Political Issues: The effects on politics are shown as well.
- Anyone Can Die: Even young kids like Femke. Samir's family survived the flood, but then die later in a gas explosion caused by it.
- Back from the Dead: It seems that Kimmy's mother has died, but turns out she is alive after all.
- Big Dam Plot: Once the dams can no longer hold the water, big parts of Belgium and especially the Netherlands are flooded, as parts of it are below sea level.
- Bratty Teenage Daughter: Naomi.
- Cardboard Prison: Wasn't this under normal circumstances, but the necessity of moving prisoners a few floors up and the lack of guards make it quite easy for prisoners to take over. Somewhat averted as the water is holding back from easily escaping.
- City Mouse: A lot of the characters, but particularly Marion and Naomi Wienesse, who can't deal with being in the countryside at all.
- Cool Old Guy: David Stein is one of the nicest people in the show.
- Divorce Is Temporary: Robert tells Marion he wants to divorce in the first episode. By the last episode they are planning to try again.
- Even Evil Has Standards: The leader of the prisoners that break out is quite a piece of work, but he hates child molesters and tells the guard that putting him in the same cell as one of those will result in the molester's death.
- Fate Worse than Death: Arguably for the woman who saw both her son and then husband die in the water below her.
- Friend to All Living Things: Britt keeps her hamster safe even when she is in danger for quite some time. She also takes a goat with her to the refuge camp and decides to go back to the farm, partly because her goat likes it there better. Also, Kimmy, who risks her life to save a cat.
- Flyover Country: A Dutch version of this, so probably more accurately Drive Through Country. Willem and Madelief have a farm there and kindly take in many people who lost their homes to the water.
- The Hero: Samir risked his life to save Ronnie, even though he was aggressive and racist to him before. He also insists on saving Kimmy, David Stein and his neighbour.
- Hope Spot: Samir talks to his family by phone after he finally leaves the flooded areas and is happy to see his wife alive. They later die in a gas explosion.
- Land of Tulips and Windmills: The action mostly takes place in flooded cities, countryside without tulips and later places of refuges.
- Last-Name Basis: Several of the politicians refer to each other in this way.
- Nature Is Boring: Particularly strong with Naomi. Averted with Britt, who decides to go back to her aunt and uncle's farm to stay there.
- Never Going Back to Prison: Ronnie.
- No Animals Were Harmed: It's likely the cat in the tree wouldn't have survived, but that is not shown. Even the hamster Britt had with her while being stuck on an electricity pole for quite a while survives.
- Prison Riot: Happens when the inmates realize that there are only a few guards and they won't get backup because of the disaster.
- Ragtag Band of Misfits: A raft in Rotterdam with occupants: prison guards Samir, criminal Ronnie, primary school student Kimmy, old widower David and David's neighbour.
- Real-Place Background: West Flanders and Rotterdam are background to a large part of the action. Brussels and Apeldoorn are also seen. There's also mention of several places in Belgium and the Netherlands, particularly coastal towns.
- Rising Water, Rising Tension: In some locations, the water rises steadily, but not as one big wave. This is particularly visible in the prison.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: The cat in this case. Let's just hope it was saved.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Kimmy. Though younger than Naomi and Britt, she behaves more level-headed and is more polite than Naomi in particular.
