The Best TV Shows on NPO 3

Every NPO 3 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Our curated list, current as of January 2026, showcases over 20 of NPO 3’s highest-rated series. Highlighting NPO 3’s quality programming, Pingu and Sinterklaasjournaal stand out, premiering in 1986 and 2001. Across the timeline from 1986 to 2025, NPO 3 has presented audiences with over 20 captivating shows.

  • NOS Studio Sportzomer
    NOS Studio Sportzomer (2021)9.0

  • Sinterklaasjournaal
    Sinterklaasjournaal (2001)8.6

  • Commandos
    Commandos (2020)8.6

    Former commando John de Koning, traumatized by a failed mission in Nigeria, is confronted with a murderer trying to eliminate his former comrades in battle. He starts the fight, but ends up in a war in which he threatens to lose his mates, his family and himself.

  • Rundfunk
    Rundfunk (2015)8.3

    Two friends attending a messed up high school.

  • Ranking the Stars
    Ranking the Stars (2006)7.7

    Ten Dutch celebrities participate in each broadcast. Two non-ordinary questions are asked of the Dutch celebrities per episode, such as "Who would have the easiest time going forty days without sex?", "Who used to be chosen last in gymnastics?" and "Who is your best friend?". The broadcasts claim that for each question a panel of 100 people compiled in advance a top 10 in which the famous candidates were "ranked."

  • Penoza
    Penoza (2010)7.7

    Carmen, the daughter of a notorious Amsterdam drug lord, reluctantly takes charge of the family's smuggling business in order to clear her husband's debts.

  • Het gouden uur
    Het gouden uur (2022)7.3

  • #BOOS
    #BOOS (2016)7.0

  • De Faker
    De Faker (2021)7.0

  • Pingu
    Pingu (1986)6.9

    Playful penguin Pingu lives with his family in Antarctica, where he often finds himself caught up in mischievous high jinks with his pal Robby.

  • ANNE+
    ANNE+ (2018)5.9

    The weekend Anne (24) moves into her own place she unexpectedly runs into her ex-girlfriend Lily, and a lot has happened since they broke up four years ago. Over the weekend, Anne reflects on the relationships she has had throughout her student years in Amsterdam.

  • Arcadia
    Arcadia (2023)5.9

    Following a major catastrophe, a new society, Arcadia, is born. Resources have become scarce and a point system, known as the Citizen Score, is introduced. It determines what you can and may do and what a citizen is entitled to.

  • The First Years
    The First Years (2014)5.2

    The First Years is a Dutch series for young people in which real-life situations are recreated. The series sheds light on subjects that pupils in the first year of secondary school may be confronted with.

  • Best Friends
    Best Friends (2007)3.0

    Best Friends follows the life of a group of friends at their high school ‘Spangalis College’. Inside and outside of school exciting and challenging experiences take place. Growing up is never easy; every character has its own, unique story of love, friendship, loneliness, sorrow, discovery. There is drama and joy in school, family, teachers, parents, divorce, bullying, and always dreams for the future.

  • Waku Waku
    Waku Waku (2022)1.0

    Waku waku is the Dutch version of a Japanese game-show format (hence the name, unintelligible in Dutch or other Western languages) in which a small panel of celebrities is shown a number of short film sequences in which (usually wild or zoo) animals are shown in unusual (often artificially created) situations. The presenter asks the panel members multiple choice-questions about what an animal (or group)'s next move or reaction will be, as a rule a matter of guessing, the scores don't actually affect the show.

  • De Leeuwenkuil
    De Leeuwenkuil (2013)N/A

  • Trollie
    Trollie (2015)N/A

  • Broodje Aap
    Broodje Aap (2022)N/A

  • Hein
    Hein (2024)N/A

  • Gezond of gelul?
    Gezond of gelul? (2025)N/A