Knokke Off

As Episode 1 of "High Tides" (2023 release from Belgium; 10 episodes raging from 31 to 38 min each; original title "Knokke Off") opens, we are introduced to Alex and Louise, a young couple spending the summer in the Belgian beach resort town called Knokke. Alex and Louise are the children of rich families, and enjoy living the high life with their friends. In a parallel story, Daan and his mom arrive at a camping site in Cadzand, just on the other side of the nearby border between Belgium and the Netherlands. Daan has a summer job at a beach resort in Knokke... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this mini-series is nothing short of a soap opera, Belgian style. There are LOTS of characters to take in during the initial episodes, but by episode 3 or 4, we get a clear idea as to what is going on: a girl (Louise) torn between 2 guys (Alex and Daan) is at the core of this, with tons of side stories along the way. This is in essence the Belgian equivalent of a soap set in, say, West Palm Beach, FL. Alex surely is one of the most unlikable TV characters in a long, long time. Louise is played by Belgian sensation Pommelien Thijs, now 22 yo. The best that I can compare this to is that she is the Belgian equivalent of Britney Spears (Thijs has a long track record as a child actress and is also a successful singer). The setting in Knokke as seen in this mini-series is not entirely on point, as much of the mini-series is set in the neighborhoods of "Zoute" and "Zwin" ( as opposed to, say, "Albertstrand" or "Duinbergen"). Bottom line: if you are familiar with Knokke, you will absolutely enjoy this mini-series. Please don't overthink it, just watch and enjoy what I found to be a guilty pleasure in the best possible way. (I grew up in Flanders, Belgium, and spent all my summers as a youth in and around Knokke-Duinbergen.) As for the title of this mini-series: there isn't a single mention of "High Tides" anywhere, this is simply called "Knokke Off", an obvious wordplay on "Knock Off".

"Knokke Off" premiered on Belgian TV earlier this year, to massive ratings. It also aired on Netflix in the Netherlands, to equal blockbuster ratings. It started streaming on Netflix here in the US recently as well, and Netflix recommended it to me based on my viewing habits. Thanks Netflix! If you are in the mood for a decadent European soap opera that is nothing short of a guilty pleasure, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

*UPDATE March 23, 2025* After the massive success of Season 1, it was not a question of weather a Season 2 would follow, but when. Season 2 originally aired in Belgium starting in December 2024, and once again had massive ratings. Season 2 was released on Netflix this weekend, and I binged all 8 episodes in 2 evenings (Friday night and Saturday night. While it is still quite enjoyable, it is simply not as good as Season 1. One giveaway is that there are only 8 episodes (as opposed to 10 in Season 1), and it seems at times the production team had trouble even filling just 8 episodes. Season 2 is foremost noticeably less Knokke-centric than Season 1. All the main characters from Season 1 are back, most importantly Flemish singer-actress Pommelien Thijs. In the 18+ months since appearing in Season 1, she scored several no. 1 hit singles and she is now certifiably one of THE biggest stars in Belgium, period (she is still only 24 as we speak). And lest anyone was wondering: yes, a Season 3 already has been greenlighted by VRT (the Flemish tv station where Knokke Off was originated). Look for that in, I'm guessing, mid-to-late 2026.