Our theatres
Het Nationale Theater in The Hague is the largest touring theatre company in the Netherlands and creates performances for the entire country. It is the only national theatre organisation making performances for all ages. Het Nationale Theater has three theatres in The Hague: the Koninklijke Schouwburg, Theater aan het Spui and Zaal 3. Below you'll find more about the different venues where you can visit Het Nationale Theater.
Zaal 3
De Constant Rebecqueplein 20A, The Hague
Zaal 3 is the most surprising venue of Het Nationale Theater, located in the cultural hub of the Energiekwartier in The Hague, surrounded by art space Nest and creative hotspot the DCR. In Zaal 3, new makers can experiment and, together with audiences, arrive at surprising new insights and compelling results. The focus is on drama and performance, with crossovers into visual art, music, poetry and philosophy. Particular emphasis is placed on projects from the LGBTQIA+ community and makers of colour.
In Zaal 3, we work on talent development; you'll find work by theatre school students from Arnhem, Utrecht, Amsterdam and Maastricht. Students get the chance to gain experience and, perhaps even more importantly, to find an audience for their performances. In turn, as an audience member, you get to discover these talents in a surprising way, contribute to the growth of new careers, and follow their journey towards bigger stages up close.
Theater aan het Spui
Spui 187, The Hague
Theater aan het Spui is the flat-floor theatre located on Spuiplein in The Hague. On Spuiplein, the cultural heart of the city, you'll also find performing arts venue Amare, the Central Library, and Filmhuis Den Haag alongside Theater aan het Spui.
The theatre, designed by architect Herman Hertzberger, has two auditoriums: the main hall with 360 seats and the smaller hall with 170 seats. Theater aan het Spui continuously presents new drama productions from across the country, alongside special performances combining music, dance and/or theatre. Since it opened in 1993, the theatre has grown into the living room of The Hague. In the foyer, there's often plenty of time both before and after the performance for a drink and a chat, and afterwards, often with the actors themselves.
Theater aan het Spui also produces its own performances and hosts various festivals, such as Movies that Matter, Rewire, Crossing Border, Holland Dance Festival, and children's theatre festivals De Betovering and Lentekriebels.
Koninklijke Schouwburg
Korte Voorhout 3, The Hague
Of the three venues, the Koninklijke Schouwburg is the largest and oldest theatre. Originally built as a wing of a city palace, it has been the place to gather for a performance for more than two hundred years. The Koninklijke Schouwburg is also a central venue for festivals, celebrations and commemorations, such as May 4th and 5th, Keti Koti, Dag van de Marrons, the Gnawa festival, and the National Commemoration of 15 August 1945. During the large-scale renovation of the Binnenhof, the King delivers his annual Speech from the Throne at the Koninklijke Schouwburg.
Since it was originally built as an 18th-century city palace, the Koninklijke Schouwburg has been extensively modernised and renovated, making it a true city palace for everyone. Inside, you'll find the Grote Zaal (main hall, 650 seats), the more intimate Het Paradijs (74 seats), and the classic foyers. The Koninklijke Schouwburg offers varied programming, with a focus on drama, opera, cabaret, family performances, and (classical) concerts, among others. At restaurant Sol, you can make a reservation to enjoy a lovely meal before a performance and then head into the auditorium at your leisure.
The whole country
Touring productions and programming
Het Nationale Theater is the touring theatre company of the Netherlands. Our performances play throughout the country in more than 40 cities, from Meppel to Maastricht. That's why, every season, we create productions that are "built" to travel. The set, for example, fits into a single truck and can be built up and taken down again in a single day.
The backbone of our tours is formed by a close alliance with our partner theatres in Groningen, Leeuwarden, Drachten, Zwolle, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Utrecht, Heerlen, Maastricht, Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Amstelveen, The Hague, Rotterdam, Breda, Tilburg and Eindhoven. Together, they form a network of theatres across the Netherlands, with whom we work to grow and broaden the audience for our performances, and deepen their experience.
In turn, in our theatres in The Hague, we showcase talented makers and companies from all over the country.
All performances, at home and on tour