Page 424 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

422  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

ENTERTAINMENT IN
THE NETHERLANDS

Cultural life in the Netherlands is not confined local VVV (tourist) offices; another option is
to the Randstad. Outside the big cities there the AUB Ticketshop (see p153) in Amsterdam.
is also plenty to do. There is a theatre or a Here you can usually book tickets, or obtain
cultural centre in just about every town, where more information about performances. You
theatre groups, cabaret artists, orchestras and can also get tickets and information via the
rock bands perform. There is also a growing Uitlijn (0900-0191). The major national
number of entertainment complexes, such dailies publish a list of events each week.
as the Miracle Planet Boulevard centre in Most cities publish a weekly uitkrant, or
Enschede. You can find out what’s on either by entertainment guide, while the internet
contacting the relevant venue or through the is another source of information.
Theatre De Brakke Grond (see p151) Toneelschuur in Haarlem have
The Netherlands boasts a and Frascati. The Soeterijn, on won critical acclaim. The
large number of theatres, the other hand, specializes in De Appel group stages both
concentrated mostly around theatre from developing experimental and repertory
Amsterdam. That city’s top countries. The theatre theatre at the Appeltheater
theatre is the Stadsschouwburg company frequently wins in The Hague. Throughout
(see p116), where many touring prizes: the Theatergroup the Netherlands there are
theatre companies put on Hollandia has won great numerous excellent theatre
performances. The Netherlands’ acclaim with its performances groups. Het Zuidelijk Toneel
largest theatre company, in large halls and aircraft of Eindhoven in the south
Toneelgroep Amsterdam, is hangars. The musical dramas always packs theatre halls, as
based here and is now directed of Orkater can be seen in do the Theater van het Oosten
by Ivo van Hove. various parts of the country from Arnhem in the east of the
The annual highlight for at different times of the country and the Noord
opera, theatre and dance is the year, but mainly at the Nederlands Toneel from
Holland Festival. The best in Stadsschouwburg and Groningen in the north.
international cultural offerings Bellevue. De la Mar stages big Every year in May, the
is to be had during the box-office hits, comedy and Festival aan de Werf in
Amsterdam Festival. During concerts by Dutch solo artists Utrecht presents an
the International Theatre and groups. Youth-focused appealing smorgasbord
School Festival in June, theatre is put on in De of theatre and cabaret
experimental drama is Krakeling. For years now performances.
performed at venues such as the perfor mances by the
Musicals and Cabaret
The Netherlands’ most
outstanding musical theatres
are the AFAS Circustheater of
The Hague, the Beatrix Theater
in Utrecht and the Koninklijk
Theater Carré (see p139) in
Amste rdam. These stage
Dutch versions of big box-
office hits such as Les Misérables
and Miss Saigon.
De Kleine Komedie (see p153),
a magnificent 17th-century
building on the Amstel river
opposite the Muziektheater, is
a favourite venue for cabaret
groups. Stand-up comedy has
also gained popularity mainly
through this venue. Other
comedy venues in Amsterdam
are Comedy Café, Toomler and
Scene from the musical Oliver! at the Theater Carré Boom Chicago.

422-425_EW_Netherlands.indd 422 16/01/17 12:08 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm