Nederlands Dans Theater: Proudly from The Hague
From the local checkers club to the padel court. From boxing gyms to our dance studios. Across the city, people come together to share something they are proud of.
This summer, we’re shining a spotlight on clubs across The Hague. Clubs that bring colour to the city, connect people, and show what makes The Hague so special. Because whether you’re world-famous or just around the corner, in the end, we’re all proudly from The Hague.
From the local checkers club to our dance studios, this summer we’re meeting clubs across The Hague that, each in their own way, show what makes this city so special.
At Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), we believe movement can be found everywhere. On stage, but also in sports halls, community centres, clubhouses, and all the places where people come together week after week. That’s why, this summer, we’re visiting clubs across The Hague. We’re listening to their stories, discovering their traditions, and celebrating the city we proudly call home.
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.
© Rahi Rezvani
Want to know more about NDT?
Whether you're into checkers, boxing, padel or dance, the best thing about being part of a club is sharing experiences together.
That’s exactly what we do at NDT. We create performances that bring people together, inspire wonder, and sometimes offer a new perspective. No prior knowledge required. Just curiosity.
Curious to see for yourself? Join us for a performance at Amare. We’d love to welcome you.
The Hague is full of remarkable clubs.
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Haagse Directe
Proudly from The Hague, where strength and respect go hand in hand.
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Damclub Hofstad
More infoProudly from The Hague, where every match begins and ends with a handshake.
