Van Der Valk's iconic theme tune by Jan Stoeckart missed in ITV reboot
Many people still favour the original series
Van Der Valk returned to ITV this week with series 4, and there are still many fans who are missing the original – specifically the classic original theme tune.
The rebooted crime drama now stars Marc Warren as the Amsterdam-based detective instead of iconic actor Barry Foster who made the role his own between
And while many lament the loss of The OG actor, it’s the change of theme tune that has vexed viewers since the show’s return. So what was the original and who composed it?
What was the original ITV show Van Der Valk and its theme tune?
The series, which began in 1972, featured the adventures of Simon ‘Piet’ Van der Valk as he solved crimes around the canals of Amsterdam.
Not only did the series go down as one of the most iconic of the 1970s, but its theme tune achieved legendary status.
That original instrumental theme was called Eye Level, and it was performed by the Simon Park Orchestra.
Based on a German/Dutch nursery rhyme, and inspired by Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, it was adapted by Dutch composer Jan Stoeckart (under the pseudonym Jack Trombey).
For a crime drama, it was quite the jaunty, ear-wig ditty. So much so that it was released as a single in 1972, and went all the way to number one in the charts the following year. Selling over a million copies, it stayed at the top for four weeks.
Who composed the new theme to Van Der Valk?
The original Van Der Valk ran over the course of 20 years. It started in 1972 and then finished in 1977, only to return for two more series in 1991 and 1992.
With a brand new cast, headed up by Marc Warren, ITV’s reboot arrived in 2020. However, it also came with a new theme tune.
And it’s quite different to the original, jaunty theme, with Dutch composer Matthijs Kieboom opting for a moodier version. Only elements of the original theme can be detected.
Makers of the modern version felt the classic instrumental track did not fit the tone of the contemporary crime drama.
The award-winning composer Matthijs Kieboom has worked on TV shows and films in his native Holland, and has also collaborated with DJ Armin van Buuren.
At the time of the first series, many fans turned to X to complain.
#VanDerValk That modern theme tune was awful.The original was brilliant.
— Billy Whizz (@BillyWh03269114) April 26, 2020
What the hell have they done with the theme tune?? Absolute sacrilege 😭#VanDerValk
— Bernadette O 🍀🦋 (@benji70) April 26, 2020
How did viewers react to the new theme tune?
It’s safe to say when the rebooted Van Der Valk first appeared on ITV, it didn’t go down well with viewers. And that hasn’t changed six years later.
Some disgruntled fans who remembered the original series took to X to complain.
One said: “That modern theme tune was awful. The original was brilliant.”
Another harrumphed: “What the hell have they done with the theme tune?? Absolute sacrilege.”
A third wrote: “Liking the new #VanDerValk. Wished they’d kept a bit more of the original theme tune though #EyeLevel.”
