AI-Powered Series Transports Viewers Through Netherlands' Historic Streets

In November 2025, Particle6, a UK-based production company, announced that it has been commissioned by Hearst Networks to create a new AI-powered history series called "Streets of the Past" (Straten van Toen). The 10-episode short-form series will air on The History Channel in the Netherlands and feature Dutch historical investigator, author, and reality star Corjan Mol as he travels back in time to explore the compelling stories associated with some of the country's most iconic streets and squares.

Using AI technology, Mol will be transported to the past, where he will join the action in a cameo role. The historical scenes will be recreated by AI using archival materials such as paintings, engravings, and photos to ensure accuracy. The series will cover a range of significant moments in Dutch history, including the world's first stock exchange on Amsterdam's Rokin and the Dutch Resistance's activities in Janskerhof, Utrecht during World War II.

Eline van der Velden, the founder of Particle6, expressed her excitement about the project, stating that this is the company's first series where AI is "majorly deployed on screen" to seamlessly blend live-action footage of the Netherlands today with AI-generated scenes from the past. Hearst Networks' Head of Short Form Commissioning, Sam Pearson, also shared his enthusiasm for the series, highlighting the incredible backdrops and characters brought to life using AI.