Silver Spring, MD — The cult classic British cop show set in Amsterdam Van der Valk Mysteries, Set 1 debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on October 6, 2009. Starring popular English actor Barry Foster (Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy, Smiley’s People), the series offers a unique treat for mystery fans: a classic British series set amid the cobblestones and canals of old Amsterdam. Inspired by the novels of Edgar Award–winning author Nicolas Freeling, Van der Valk debuted in the U.K. in 1972, aired for five seasons, and broadcast in the U.S. on public television in the 1990s. Set 1 includes all six episodes from Series 1 (DVD 2-Vol., www.AcornOnline.com, $39.99).

Suave but cynical detective Piet van der Valk (Barry Foster) has the air of a man who has seen it all—and he probably has. As a detective with the Amsterdam police, his daily caseload brings him into regular contact with the seamy underside of the Dutch capital. From brothels to transvestite clubs to drug dens, Van der Valk moves in the dark corners of the capital that tourists rarely see.

The cultured Van der Valk has a taste for the finer things in life—symphony music, good wine, and the cooking of his beautiful French-born wife. But even long-suffering Arlette (Susan Travers) can tell that Piet is most at home when he’s at work. There, alongside easygoing Inspecteur Johnny Kroon (Michael Latimer), every new case is a personal challenge to this unorthodox cop on the streets of old Amsterdam.

Shot largely on location, this gritty drama revels in the vices and charms of its Dutch setting, providing a distinctive backdrop for its hard-boiled mysteries and hard-drinking detective.

The series’ memorable theme song, “Eye Level,” became a top 40 hit in the 1970s.

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.