Kidnapping Mr. Heineken 2015

In the midst of Amsterdam’s bustling streets in 1983, a quintet of Dutch friends - Willem Holleeder (Sam Worthington), Cor van Hout (Jim Sturgess), Jan Boellard (Ryan Kwanten), Martin Erkamps (Thomas Cocquerel), and Frans Meijer (Mark van Eeuwen) - navigated the tumultuous landscape of their construction company’s financial woes. Once a thriving business, their reckless spending on lavish toys had ultimately led to its downfall, with the added insult of their office building being taken over by squatters. As their desperation deepened, they found themselves at the mercy of the bank, which refused to grant them credit.

Seeking an easy way out, the friends hatched a plan to kidnap Freddy Heineken (Anthony Hopkins), the iconic owner of the Heineken brewery, in the hopes of securing a hefty ransom. Cor’s father-in-law, a constant presence in their lives, had often extolled the virtues of Heineken as a role model, making him an attractive target for the group. The friends would need to resort to more illicit means, however, as they attempted to fund their scheme by robbing an armored car.

With Heineken safely in custody, along with his driver Ab Doderer (David Dencik), the group invested heavily in preparing a soundproof lair and maintaining around-the-clock surveillance on their captive. Despite initial success, their inexperience in criminal activities soon began to unravel their carefully laid plans. A hapless taxi driver inadvertently stumbled upon the kidnapping and reported it to the authorities, while one of the friends’ subsequent attempt to photocopy the ransom note resulted in a crucial mistake - leaving behind a vital fingerprint clue.

As days turned into weeks, the group’s anxiety grew as they received no response from the police. The tension finally became too much to bear after three long weeks, and it seemed their plan had gone awry. But Heineken, ever the cunning entrepreneur, subtly manipulated the situation by pretending to cooperate with his captors, even going so far as to help craft a personalized note that eventually garnered a response from the police. With negotiations underway, the friends found themselves on the cusp of a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, one that would test their resolve, their loyalty, and ultimately, their very survival.

As Cor (character name omitted) shoulders the weight of responsibility for his expectant wife, Sonja (Jemima West), amidst the chaos, the five accomplices meticulously devise a scheme to dupe the authorities into delivering the ransom payment without revealing their identities. The ruse appears successful, and they successfully stash half the loot in the forest, only to be trailed by law enforcement a few days later. This sudden turn of events sends shockwaves through the group, leaving everyone on edge.

Their initial plan is to retrieve the remaining funds, divide the spoils, and lay low until the heat dies down. However, their decision to abandon Heineken in his hostage room proves a ticking time bomb, fostering deep-seated tension within the group. The powder keg of discord is further ignited when Jan’s ill-fated attempt to release Heineken results in his own arrest, followed by the rescue of their captive.

As Willem and Cor flee to Paris, they resolve to remain incognito. Yet, Cor’s emotional tug-of-war ultimately yields to his longing to connect with Sonja, a risky move that could compromise their location to the authorities hot on their heels. Inevitably, one by one, the remaining gang members are tracked down by the police, thanks to the numbered currency notes.

Cor’s initial reluctance and heated exchanges with Willem give way to his overwhelming desire to reach out to Sonja, culminating in their subsequent arrest by French law enforcement while departing their Parisian apartment. Jan serves a 12-year sentence, Martin an eight-year term, Frans escapes to Paraguay (only to be extradited back to the Netherlands a decade later), Cor and Willem each spend 11 years behind bars. Notably, Cor would later go on to reclaim his criminal mantle as one of Amsterdam’s Godfathers before meeting a violent demise in 2003. Meanwhile, a substantial portion of the ransom money remains forever out of reach.