Netflix is set to launch a gripping new crime drama in January 2026 that turns a remarkable true story into must-watch television. The six-part Dutch series, titled Blind Sherlock, promises to be a binge-worthy start to the new year for fans of intelligent thrillers.
The Premise: A Blind Detective in Rotterdam's Underworld
The series is set against the gritty backdrop of Rotterdam, where escalating drug-related violence between rival gangs is causing havoc. In response, the police establish a dedicated unit that will heavily rely on wiretapping to identify and apprehend the dangerous criminals involved.
Enter Roman Mertens, a blind man who joins this specialised unit despite scepticism from his colleagues. Far from being a hindrance, Roman's blindness becomes his greatest asset. His heightened auditory perception allows him to detect details others miss, recognise subtle patterns in conversations, and connect clues that leave his sighted colleagues baffled, breaking cases that seemed hopelessly stalled. However, he soon discovers the work is far more perilous than he ever anticipated.
Inspired by a Remarkable Real-Life Figure
The inspiration for Blind Sherlock comes directly from an extraordinary real person. Showrunner Kristof Hoefkens explained that the idea originated from a newspaper article he encountered years ago while working as a journalist.
"A colleague wrote a story about Sacha Van Loo, a blind civilian working for the police wiretapping unit. It stuck with me," Hoefkens revealed. He and co-writer Maarten Goffin later met Van Loo, finding him "intriguing, intelligent, talented and funny." Hoefkens added, "Having a blind lead character in a police investigation was exactly the creative twist we were looking for in a cop show."
From Real-World Hero to Fictional Thriller
The real Sacha Van Loo worked for over a decade in an actual Dutch police wiretapping unit, contributing to solving hundreds of cases. His unique skills garnered international attention, with ABC News reporting in 2009 that authorities had hired six blind individuals for the department.
Van Loo, who was trained in echolocation, told reporters, "I can hear the way a sound bounces off a wall or another object. I use this ability in everyday life. I just kept on doing it for my work." While he could identify accents and dialects with uncanny accuracy, he humbly dismissed comparisons to Sherlock Holmes, stating, "All we do is an administrative job."
The series creators aim for Blind Sherlock to transcend standard police procedurals by offering a modern, fresh perspective—positioning its protagonist somewhere between the deductive genius of Sherlock Holmes and the heightened senses of Daredevil. A core hope is to present a positive portrayal of disability, where the hero's condition is transformed into a unique superpower.
Blind Sherlock begins streaming on Netflix worldwide from 23 January 2026.
