For the first time in Dutch film history five local productions took up top 20 positions in the Netherlands box office chart at the weekend (Nov 14-17).

The local success follows on from the rise in fortunes of local films in general in 2001. While the Netherlands saw a rise in market share for Dutch films from 5.5% in 2000 to 9.4% in 2001, other countries including France, South Korea and Japan all saw approximately 40% market shares for local product. Meanwhile the Czech Republic enjoyed a local market share of 30%, while Italy, Spain and Germany all claimed 18%-19% of their countries' market shares.

The Dutch films took $478,517 (Euros 475,646) between them over the weekend, accounting for 24% of the overall takings. In total, the weekend was up 5.6% on the same weekend in 2001, when Legally Blonde led the chart.

Buena Vista International's local family title Peter Bell (Pietje Bell) looks headed for major success in the territory. Taking third place in the weekend chart while playing just one of the four weekend days (Sunday Nov 17), Peter Bell claimed $208,752 from 125 screens on its opening day. The film is directed by Maria Peters.

In sixth place, having grossed $2.2m after seven weeks on release, was Pieter Kramer's musical Ja Zuster Nee Zuster for Warner Bros. This was followed in ninth by Independent Film's Volle Maan - a coming-of-age drama directed by Johan Nijenhuis (director of 2001 Dutch hit Costa! Volle Maan), which has a total gross of $2.95m after six weeks on release.

Three Lines Pictures' comedy Loenatik: De Moevie, directed by Bobby Eerhart, claimed 14th position with $33,473 and has taken $700,516 after six weeks. In 19th documentary Ramses, distributed by A-Film Distribution and directed by Pieter Fleury, dropped off just 12% from its previous week, taking $14,790 from 12 screens.