The Best TV Shows on NPO 3

Every NPO 3 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Pingu and Sinterklaasjournaal represent the pinnacle of NPO 3’s programming, launching in 1986 and 2001. As of October 2025, our compilation of NPO 3’s top-rated series boasts over 20 unique shows. From 1986 through to 2023, NPO 3 has accumulated a diverse collection of over 20 television shows.

  • Sinterklaasjournaal
    Sinterklaasjournaal (2001)8.6

  • Tropenjaren
    Tropenjaren (2022)8.0

    Tropenjaren is a comedy about the whirlwind of new parenthood and a former life that’s gone for good. When Jelle and his wife Rosa welcome their first child, a new chapter unfolds. The young parents strive to do their best for their daughter Stella while also trying to keep their work lives and relationship as lively and ambitious as ever. Nights out and parties, however, quickly give way to diapers and babysitters. In short, the couple is gearing up for the tropenjaren—the intense early years of parenting.

  • 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.

  • Zondag met Lubach
    Zondag met Lubach (2014)7.7

    Sunday with Lubach is a satirical television program of the VPRO network that is presented by Arjen Lubach.

  • SKAM NL
    SKAM NL (2018)7.6

    The story of a group of teenagers in high school in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in their search for friendship, love, their own identity, and overcoming fears.

  • Dunya & Desie
    Dunya & Desie (2002)7.3

  • Het gouden uur
    Het gouden uur (2022)7.2

  • #BOOS
    #BOOS (2016)7.0

  • De Slet van 6VWO
    De Slet van 6VWO (2017)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.

  • Arcadia
    Arcadia (2023)6.0

    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)2.7

    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.

  • Metropolis
    Metropolis (2008)N/A

  • MoleTalk
    MoleTalk (2016)N/A

    Immediately after The Mole you can watch MolTalk, live from VondelCS in Amsterdam. In these commentary's, Marlijn Weerdenburg and Splinter Chabot discuss hints, tasks and theory's with former candidates and other guests.

  • Nieuw Zeer
    Nieuw Zeer (2020)N/A

  • De Faker
    De Faker (2021)N/A

  • Kiespijn
    Kiespijn (2021)N/A