Nicolas Freeling was a British crime novelist born in London in 1927. He is best known for creating the Van der Valk detective series, which became one of his most significant literary contributions. The Van der Valk character proved popular enough to be adapted for television. A series based on the detective was produced for the British ITV network by Thames Television during the 1970s. The character's appeal extended beyond that initial run, and the television adaptation was revived in 1991–92. The character has continued to find audiences in more recent years, with a remake featuring new cast, characters, and storylines launched in 2020. Freeling died in 2003 at the age of 76.