The Swell

This series tells the contemporary story of what would happen in the Netherlands and Belgium if our dikes and dams were to collapse. With increasing rains, melting polar ice caps and overflowing rivers, the risk of a major flood is a real threat. Five million people live on land that is way below sea level. What will remain of these areas if a flood were to occur? It would lead to disastrous consequences. How do you build your life in the aftermath? And how can we rebuild our countries? We follow six people in a compelling and emotional mosaic narrative: A heavy storm passes along Western Europe. When the Belgian prime minister decides to evacuate the coast of Belgium, the Dutch prime minister is faced with a major dilemma: evacuate The Randstad or wait for the storm to pass. A Dutch family decides to flee, but is separated in the chaos following the flood. The Belgian Sonja, her mother and children decide to stay in their cottage by the sea. A little girl finds shelter at the home of a lonely violin player. ‘The Swell’ is about what life-threatening conditions do to relationships, about a national government under pressure and the resilience of a nation.