Ode to The Hague

Ode to The Hague

NDT

Proudly from The Hague for 65 years

Without The Hague, there would be no Nederlands Dans Theater. From our home base, we’ve been touring the world with our dance performances for decades — always carrying the heart and soul of The Hague with us.

This year, we’re paying tribute to the city that shaped us. The city that made room for innovation, trusted the rebels, and gave a home to dancers from all over the world. To celebrate, we’re:

  • Highlighted our rich The Hague history
  • Launching a photo campaign for all residents of The Hague – join in and celebrate with us!
  • Releasing a special edition merchandise line with a warm message for our city.

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.

Photo: Ed van der Elsken. NDT dancers in front of the American Embassy, 1959.

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.

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SPACE FOR DANCE

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.

Photo: Sanne Groeneboer

DANCE FOR THE YOUNGEST RESIDENTS

The Hague remains our beating heart. We bring dance to the city’s youngest residents: more than twenty schools in The Hague and over sixty in the surrounding region take part in our educational programs. In this way, every child, regardless of background or budget gets the chance to discover the power of dance. Because at NDT, everyone belongs.

THE HAGUE: A BREEDING GROUND FOR INNOVATIVE DANCE

To this day, we continue to bring dancers, choreographers, composers, and designers from all over the world to our city. In The Hague, they find the space to experiment, to innovate, and to push boundaries. More than one-fifth of our audience travels to The Hague especially to experience our premieres. Because anyone who wants to discover groundbreaking dance comes to The Hague.

Photo: Sacha Grootjans. “Dancer in the Classroom”

NDT 💛 The Hague merch

Photo: Ennya Larmit
Photo: Ennya Larmit

PROUDLY FROM THE HAGUE

Feeling the love yet? Nederlands Dans Theater is warmed by The Hague, and to share that warmth, we’ve launched a limited edition merch line featuring the coziest sweaters, scarves, and a heartfelt message for our city. Made especially for all residents of The Hague, and for dance fans everywhere.

Don’t wait too long, these are limited editions!

SHOP THE COLLECTION

To make things more festive we’ll raffle one free scarf among the first 50 orders.

JOIN IN: HAGUE CLUBS WANTED

Photo: Ennya Larmit

Would you like to see your crew’s faces all over The Hague? Join our photo campaign!

As a proud Hague-based company, Nederlands Dans Theater loves to shine a light on other local clubs too. That’s why we’re launching a photo campaign celebrating all “Hagenaars” and “Hagenezen”.

Do you have a local football team, knitting club, dinner club, book club, or any other The Hague group? And would you love to appear on a poster alongside NDT? Sign up now!

Because The Hague isn’t just our stage, it belongs to everyone who keeps this city moving.

REGISTRATION FORM FOR THE HAGUE FRIENDS & CLUBS

Haagse Clubs aanmeldformulier

VISIT NDT IN THE HAGUE

Discover the dance performances of NDT 1 and NDT 2 at Amare, The Hague.
View our full The Hague calendar here.

THE HAGUE PERFORMANCES

Photo: Joris Jan Bos | NDT 1 Mémoires d'Oubliettes, Jiří Kylián | Part of programme RESONANCE
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