Netflix’s iHostage: The Real Story Behind the Dutch Thriller

Netflix’s gripping Dutch thriller iHostage isn’t just a high-stakes fictional drama — it’s based on a chilling real-life event that shocked the Netherlands in 2022. The film dramatizes the harrowing hostage crisis that unfolded in an Apple Store located in Amsterdam’s bustling Leidseplein, where an armed man held innocent people at gunpoint in a bold attempt to extort millions in cryptocurrency.

Directed by Bobby Boermans and written by Simon de Waal, iHostage follows the story of Ammar Ajar, portrayed by Soufiane Moussouli, who bursts into the Apple Store, fires shots, and demands over $200 million in crypto. He takes a Bulgarian visitor named Ilian Petrov (played by Admir Šehović) as his main hostage, while terrified employees and customers hide within the store. As negotiator Lynn (Loes Haverkort) steps in to defuse the situation, elite police units prepare to launch a rescue mission. General Commander Kees van Zanten (Marcel Hensema) coordinates the effort while Apple Store employee Mingus (Emmanuel Ohene Boafo) helps protect others from the inside.

iHostage is inspired by a real hostage situation that occurred in February 2022. During the actual event, a 27-year-old gunman held a man hostage at an Amsterdam Apple Store, demanding a hefty ransom in cryptocurrency. While most customers managed to escape, four people remained trapped inside the store for hours, hiding in a supply closet as the police worked to resolve the crisis.

According to Boermans, the rarity of such hostage situations in the Netherlands added to the surreal nature of the event. The public and media were shocked by the hostage-taker’s demand and his willingness to carry out the crime in broad daylight in one of Amsterdam’s busiest public areas.

What makes the film especially compelling is the level of accuracy and insight brought in by writer Simon de Waal, who also works as a detective in Amsterdam. His direct access to the officers involved allowed the filmmakers to explore lesser-known aspects of the event, such as how police maintained communication with those hiding, how Apple was contacted to stop the lights from switching off automatically, and how the ordeal emotionally impacted first responders.

De Waal noted that he aimed to stay as close to the truth as possible. He spoke to officers who were directly involved in the case to ensure that the story captured not just the facts but also the human experience behind the headlines.

The film stars a talented ensemble cast including Soufiane Moussouli, Admir Šehović, Loes Haverkort, Marcel Hensema, Emmanuel Ohene Boafo, Matteo van der Grijn, Eric Corton, Roosmarijn van der Hoek, Fockeline Ouwerkerk, Robin Boissevain, Louis Talpe, Jolanda van den Berg, Ahlaam Teghadouini, and Thijs Boermans.

iHostage is a powerful reminder of how technology, desperation, and public safety can intersect in today’s world — and how real-life heroes work behind the scenes to protect the innocent. Now streaming on Netflix, the film delivers both a suspenseful viewing experience and a sobering look at one of Amsterdam’s most shocking criminal incidents in recent years.