Official trailer released for Sky Original documentary series, Amsterdam Narcos, airing 13 August on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW

Screeners available here

Please note that features and reviews are strictly embargoed until 5 August 2025.

Stills available for download here

From the 1970s to the early 2000s, the city of Amsterdam transformed from a liberal countercultural haven into the drugs capital of Europe, earning itself and the Netherlands the label of a ‘narco-state’ along the way. What began with the Dutch government’s tolerance of hash dealing inadvertently opened the floodgates to organised crime, as traffickers exploited ports and permissive attitudes to build one of the most lucrative drug markets in the world. 

As ecstasy and cocaine smuggling followed, the Dutch underworld exploded. The rave scene thrived on ecstasy, fuelling both a youth revolution and a drug pipeline to British ports, while cocaine drew international criminals and a surge in bloodshed to the city.  As Amsterdam’s gangsters became increasingly reckless and ruthless, police resorted to desperate measures – with devastating consequences - in a bid to regain control. 

Told through the powerful personal testimony of drug users, manufacturers, traffickers, and the detectives who tried to outsmart them, the series exposes the violence propagated by early hash smuggling, the illegal parties that fuelled the ecstasy boom, and the sophisticated trafficking techniques that allowed cocaine to flood the city. Amsterdam Narcos charts the trajectories of the criminal kingpins and bosses, the lengths they went to and the price that some ultimately paid as they transformed their city into the European epicentre of a lethal, multi-billion-pound business.

Amsterdam Narcos airs 13 August on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW.

For press enquiries, please contact ellis.ritchie@sky.uk or emma.thomas@sky.uk

Sky connects and entertains millions of people across Europe. At the heart of everything we do, is a belief that people deserve better. For decades, we’ve shaken up every category we entered to give people what they love, to make life a little easier and to provide great value. That’s how we bring millions of customers the joy of a better experience in TV, broadband and mobile.

In TV, we offer the best sports coverage, unmissable TV and the smartest ways to stream and aggregate the TV you love. In broadband, we power homes and businesses, with a fast, reliable connection. In mobile, we bring people closer, with plans at unbeatable value. And now, you can even keep your home connected and protected, through our smart insurance. We design our products to fit seamlessly into your life, with service whenever and however you need it.

That’s how we do better for customers. And we believe in better for society too. We power the cultural economy in the UK and beyond, making award-winning news, original sport, and entertainment. We contribute billions to UK GDP, creating and sustaining thousands of jobs and sharing both our journalism and our coverage of the arts, free of charge. We are cutting emissions and making recyclable, energy-efficient products, and we give back, through free internet access and digital skills for under-served communities and young people.

Sky is owned by Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company.

About NOW

NOW is the home of brilliant entertainment. We’re one of the UK’s leading streaming platforms with critically acclaimed shows, new and exclusive movies, unmissable sport and epic kids TV - all with our fully flexible Cancel Anytime memberships. Join in with an Entertainment, Cinema, Sports or Hayu Membership to stream instantly across TV, mobile, gaming consoles or desktop on over 60 devices. Watch on the go and offline with our app by downloading shows and movies.

Entertainment Members can enjoy critically acclaimed dramas, documentaries and comedies, Emmy award-winning shows, the best of HBO and exclusive Sky Originals. Cinema Members can discover over 1000 brilliant movies, from the latest blockbusters to classic favourites. Sports Members cheer on unmissable Premier League, international cricket, F1, golf and more - all live, across 12

Sky Sports channels.

Plus, members can enhance their experience with NOW Boost - that’s ad-free streaming on up to 3 devices at once, Dolby Digital

5.1 Surround Sound and full 1080p HD for an extra £6 a month.

(Video)