Upcoming: series 6 of Metropolis TV

Starting march 13, Metropolis will be back, airing on Saturdays on Dutch television channel Nederland 3.

In the meantime, you can check out our earlier episodes here, most of them are in Dutch subtitles, but you can also subscribe to our english-language vodcast.

The upcoming special episode about Michael Jackson is also the last episode of this year.

Michael Jackson might not be alive anymore, but his legacy certainly is. In this Metropolis episode we will witness the many places and ways in which Michael Jackson is still a worldwide phenomenon, even after death.

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While the leaders of the world discuss the state of the environment in long sessions in the global summit at Copenhagen, the correspondents of Metropolis set out to look for the world’s real environmental heroes: those brave individuals who’ve committed themselves fully to a greener, cleaner and sustainable planet. Whatever the cost.
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In the Netherlands, we like to think of ourselves as very emancipated. Yet in average wages and the number of leading positions, women are still not at all equal to men. What’s this like in other countries? And when is a women considered to be ’strong’? In this episode of Metropolis: women who take things into their own hands. Continue reading »

In this episode of Metropolis our correspondents explore tourism in their countries. In five touristic hotspots all over the world we’ll see how people try to make some money off of today’s growing number of globetrotters.

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This week, the correspondents of Metropolis are looking for nationalists all over the world. We all know the world is getting smaller and smaller, but not everyone feels like becoming a global citizen. All over the world we found local nationalists who resist the global village and who have their own interpretation of ‘putting own people first’. Who are these people? And what exactly makes them nationalist?

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This week, the correspondents of Metropolis will explore the media in their country. We’ll follow local news hunters all over the world as they set out to find leads and stories. What is considered newsworthy and the way to bring this seems to be different everywhere.

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This week Metropolis explores a universal relationship: that between fathers and sons.

Are sons left to do what they want or strictly controlled? And what are paternal conflicts about in different cultures?

In this episode, Metropolis sets out to compare regular and alternative systems of justice all over the world. Because in many countries, there are other ways of getting justice than trough the official courts. And what are the differences in what people consider to be just?

Petty thieves, blackmailers and swindlers: in episode 2, Metropolis takes a plunge into the underworld of small-time criminals.

From underaged streetcriminals in Manila to Robin Hood in Israel, the correspondents of Metropolis interviewed local thugs all over the world about the reason they break the law and their favorite methods.

Theme of the first episode: Bad Neighborhoods. What do citizens and city authorities all over the world do to combat trouble in their worst neighborhoods? And what is the best way to improve the ‘hood?

From building a large wall around the poorest neighborhoods like they did in Rio de Janeiro, to rounding up the drunkards and homeless in Nicaragua or Los Angeles. Or perhaps the Chinese way works best? In Shanghai a combination of strict social supervision and the death penalty assure that one of the world’s largest cities hardly has any bad neighborhoods at all.

Want to know how the newcomers are doing now? We’ve got updates on: Maria, Nick and Dong Bing. Haven’t seen the episode yet? Click on each of the portraits to see that individual’s story:

We’ve kicked off with an extra long episode: worldwide we follow four young people on four continents who have decided to move to the big city.

The episode ‘Coming to the City’ is part of a week dedicated to the ‘century of the city’, and in it we follow Dong Bing, Maria, Andala and Nick. They took the plunge to build up a new life in the big city, all with different ambitions. These newcomers were followed during six months and in this documentary we get to see who succeeds and who doesn’t.

These TV broadcasts were aired on sundays on Dutch public TV channel Nederland 3.

All these episodes, as aired on Dutch television, are also available in an English-language version. They can be downloaded or viewed from this page. You can also subscribe to our english-language vodcast.

- In this episode: Surinam - Philippines - Bolivia - India - Gaza - Israel -

What gives someone status? A load of money? A good job? Or something entirely different?

From gold teeth in Bolivia to no teeth in Kenya, and from being related to a suicide bomber in Palestine to having a grave the size of a mansion in the Phillipines: all over the world, our correspondents show some of the most remarkable status symbols in their countries.

In this episode: Nicaragua - Japan - Zambia - China - Pakistan

The correspondents of Metropolis TV looked all over the world for people who fight for a cause they believe in with all their heart and soul.

Protesters and activists all over the world, in this episode of Metropolis TV.

In this episode: Pakistan - China - Spanje - Zambia - Yemen - Nicaragua

Metropolis TV has a look at the various remarkable ways that people think they can be healed all over the world. From stroking as a recognized way of healthcare to healing AIDS by sleeping with a virgin in Zambia, and from operations done with bare hands in the Phillipines to acupuncture with bees in Madrid.

In this episode: China - South Africa - South Korea - Nicaragua - United States - Japan

People all over the world love animals.

The worldwide network of correspondents of Metropolis TV searched for extraordinary examples of love for animals. From Nicaragua, where people visit church on the day of Saint Lazarus to have their dogs blessed by the priest, to China, where being vegetarian by choice is a relatively new phenomenon which is still being frowned upon.

In this episode: United States - Cuba - China - Kenia - Latvia

Getting older doesn’t have to mean calming down.

For Metropolis TV our correspondents set out to find people who are still active in some way even at their old age. Sometimes because they need to work to make ends meet, sometimes because they just don’t feel like taking it easy.

In this episode: Nicaragua - Brazil - Indonesia - Zambia - Turkey - Morocco

Everyone wants to be beautiful. But do we all consider the same things beautiful? And how far do we go to be beautiful?

All over the world having things done on your body seems to be getting more and more acceptable, if only because the cost of such procedures is becoming increaslingly low. From east to west and from poor to rich, all over the world people are going further than ever in their desire to obtain a perfect body.

In this episode: Nicaragua - Burkina Faso - Brazil - Israel - Bolivia - Morocco

How do young people worldwide think about sex?

Do they speak frankly about it, giggle about it, or do they simply just don’t talk about it? And what do young people know about sex? The correspondents of Metropolis TV compare young people’s attitudes towards sex all over the world. Continue reading »

In this episode: China - Peru - Kenya - Israel - Nicaragua

Metropolis TV tries to find the footsteps of Jesus

For this easter, Metropolis TV went on a search for people who feel like they are treading in the footsteps of Jesus in one way or another: from actors and look-a-likes to people who think they are the new Jesus, to people who tied a statue of Jesus to their tank.

(Direct link to download this episode)

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In this episode: South Africa - United States - Kenya - Mexico - Brazil - Indonesia

Our correspondents set out to explore the world’s drugs culture and infrastructure, and found out that Holland may have a reputation regarding its liberal attitude to drugs, but in other countries it isn’t that hard to obtain drugs as well. In South Africa, drugs can be bought from prostitutes, in Los Angeles you just visit a doctor. Where ever you are, there is always a way to obtain drugs.

(Direct link to download this episode)

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In this episode: United States - Nicaragua - China - Zambia - Bolivia

Metropolis TV takes a surprising look at the financial crisis. All over the world we found unexpected winners and losers of the wordwide recession.

(Direct link to download this episode)

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In this episode: Spain - Suriname - Burkina Faso - Pakistan - China - Serbia

Metropolis TV explores the world of dating, flirting and seduction. How do people find potential partners, and where and how do they arrange to meet eachother? Are there large differences between cultures, or are there universal pick up tricks?

(Direct link to download this episode)

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Here are all the episodes of the third series of Metropolis. Unlike the directors cuts of the videos on this website (which will be subtitled in English) the TV shows are only available in Dutch.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

In the Netherlands, prostitution has been legalized and, in many ways, even somewhat normalized. But the Netherlands are said to be a liberal exemption in a world where prostitution is considered a taboo and is often outlawed and actively prosecuted. Is this true, or are such differences exaggerated? Metropolis TV takes a look into the world of prostitution.

In Masaya, Nicaragua for instance, no one would ever admit publicly to have visited Chico’s brothel, but much to the surprise of our reporter, everyone knows exactly how to get there. And in Berlin, Germany we’re introduced to Molly Luft, nationally known price-fighting prostitute who is picking up her old profession at age 65.

But most women who sell themselves do so out of necessity. How did they wind up being a prostitute, and how do they cope with the job? In Kenya we’ll witness the sad story of Margaret in Nairobi, who works in the sex industry. And our correspondent in Morocco talks to prostitutes working in the red light district of Casablanca. In a country as Islamic as Morocco prostitution is strictly forbidden, and prostitutes live a risky life, bribing cops and sometimes even getting robbed by customers.

This week on Metropolis TV: the oldest and most controversial profession in the world.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

What is considered a good joke in Kabul, Tokyo or Tel Aviv?

Metropolis TV’s correspondents set out to find good jokes, and extraordinary jokers all over the world. We’ll see what is considered funny in their town and what role humor has in their society.

Watch this episode online (Dutch)

What is it like to get married for just a few hours? Or to marry at the age of twelve? Or to get married with fourty other couples at once, just to keep down the cost?

People get married all over the world. But the reasons why people get married can be quite different in various cultures. For many people the day of their wedding is also the most expensive day in their life. In Afghanistan for instance, where correspondent Emal meets a couple that borrows loads of money just to be able to get married. And in Brazil we’ll see people marrying in groups of 80 just to keep the expenses low.

Expensive or not, those are the weddings people choose to have. Our correspondents stumbled upon many stories of forced marriages. Like the story from Senegal, where we see Assan who is getting married to his much younger cousin Janeba, crying before the wedding. Afterwards the men of the village wildly celebrate the blood on the sheets, seen as proof of her loss of virginity.

Marrying to survive, forced marriage, and the marriage as a swamp of financial troubles. A very different view on the best day of your life.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

Can two people be happy together when they can’t understand what the other is saying?
Metropolis TV explores love and relationships in this week’s Valentine’s special. Our correspondent all over the world tried to find the most remarkable couples in their country or city.

Like the American Jeffrey in Shanghai who can’t speak a word Chinese yet still has a relationship with Lamu, a Chinese girl that doesn’t speak English. In New York we have the story of Genesis P. Orridge, who tried to look as much as his lover as much as he could before she passed away. And in Spain we’ll see a couple that proves that you don’t have to be happy together to live together for forty years.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

In the fifth episode this season, Metropolis joins the army worldwide.

Many countries have a form of compulsory military service, but many young people don’t seem to mind this, or are even standing in line to join elite units. Even with all the risks and the tough training, being a soldier still is quite popular - even pretending to be one is.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

With an estimated 3.3 billion fans football is the most popular sport in the world.

The correspondents of Metropolis TV take a look in their local football scene. From young supertalents to supporters and professional football players: the world of football at a glance.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

In the nineties China slowly opened up to the world. The Chinese had a chance to spread their wings into the world, which they did in great numbers. Metropolis TV tries to find out more of this new flow of Chinese migrants all over the world.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

With all this talk of crisis, it is a good idea to look at young people who have great business ideas, even in these times of economic hardship.

All over the world we found young entrepreneurs, working with great enthusiasm even in these times of crisis.

Watch this episode online (Dutch subtitles)

More than 250 reports were made for Metropolis TV in 2008, giving a unique image of the way the world is developing behind the big captions of world news.

In this first episode of the new year we showed some of the best reports from all over the world made in 2008 once again.

Episode 9 – The world on sex is now online (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 8 – America and the world is now online (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 7 – Cops is now online (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 6 – Beauty ideals is now online (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 5 – In prison is now online (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 4 – A dog’s life is now online (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 3 – Boys future dreams is now online (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 2 – God is hot is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 1 – Worst Jobs is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 9 – Superstition is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 8 – Outcasts is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 7 – Gambling is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 6 – Elvis lives! is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 5 – Taxi! is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 4 – Death as business is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 3 – Heavy traffic is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 2 - Sweet fifteen is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)

Episode 1 - Globesity is now online. (Dutch subtitles, Windows Media Player)