Nederlands Dans Theater. Unmistakably The Hague
Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) has been part of The Hague for more than 65 years. This is where our story began and where we continue to create contemporary dance that moves audiences around the world. We are proud of our roots. Because however international we may be, The Hague will always be our home.
Curious about NDT? This season is the perfect time to discover us.
The Hague is our home
Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) was founded here in 1959. Today, we continue to create contemporary dance in The Hague that moves audiences around the world. Our dancers perform in theatres across the globe, but our connection with the city will always be special.
Perhaps you already know us. Perhaps this is your first introduction to NDT. Either way, you are welcome. Discover our new season and experience the power of dance.
© Rahi Rezvani
Want to know more about NDT?
An NDT performance is more than an evening at the theatre. It is an experience that moves you, surprises you and invites you to see things differently.
From remarkable classics to new creations by choreographers from around the world, every programme reveals the many possibilities of contemporary dance.
Whether you are visiting us for the first time or have been returning for years, there is always something new to discover in our season.
© Ennya Larmit
The Hague’s clubs bring people together
The Hague is alive with clubs and communities. They are places where people meet, grow together and share what they love. NDT is proud to be one of them.
For this campaign, we are joining forces with other clubs from The Hague to get the city moving. Whether you enjoy dancing, boxing, padel or a game of draughts, every club shows how meaningful it is to belong somewhere.
Meet the clubs below. They bring colour to the city, connect people and show what makes The Hague so special. Whether known around the world or based just around the corner, we are all unmistakably from The Hague.
© Ennya Larmit
65 years of NDT in The Hague
The city as a stage
Our story began in 1959 in a small fisherman’s house in Scheveningen. Aart Verstegen, Carel Birnie and Benjamin Harkarvy broke away from the classical dance world of their time. Together with 16 dancers, this young and rebellious group founded a new company built on courage, ambition, and openness. No corps de ballet, but a spirit of equality at its core. That spirit soon attracted dancers from all over the world.
In those early years, there was no money and no permanent home. Rehearsals took place all over The Hague, in dance schools after closing hours, in basements, in the old church on Bazarstraat, even in a former primary school at Koningstraat 118a. Performances weren’t limited to traditional theaters either. They happened all across the city, from trade halls to ballroom venues.
In the 1960s, both the Municipality of The Hague and the Dutch government recognized what the young company brought to the city: energy, boldness, and an international spirit. Thanks to their support, we were given the chance to grow. The Hague offered us not only a home, but also the trust and confidence to keep reinventing ourselves. For thirty years, founder Carel Birnie fought for a theater dedicated entirely to dance. Eventually, it became reality: the Lucent Danstheater — a place where dance artists from all over the world feel at home. Today, we’ve found that home in Amare.
