# A Guide to Amsterdam’s Theatres

URL: https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/the-best-theaters-in-amsterdam/
Updated: 2026-10-06
By: Essentially Amsterdam Staff
Publisher: Essentially Amsterdam (https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/)

Amsterdam has a theatre for almost every taste within a few tram stops: grand stages for opera and musicals, the country’s home of cabaret, English-language comedy, open-air summer theatres and a surprising number of stages built for children.

This guide sorts them by what you want to see, and links every theatre in our directory.

## The big stages

### [Koninklijk Theater Carré](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/koninklijk-theater-carre/)

Carré on the Amstel was built for the circus and still hosts the Christmas circus, alongside musicals, cabaret and concerts.

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It is the most-reviewed theatre in the city, at 4.7 from more than 10,000 Google reviews.

### [Nationale Opera & Ballet](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/nationale-opera-ballet/)

The home of Dutch National Opera and Dutch National Ballet stands on the Amstel at Waterlooplein, a short walk upriver from Carré.

### [Internationaal Theater Amsterdam](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/internationaal-theater-amsterdam-stadsschouwburg/)

The grand Stadsschouwburg on Leidseplein is home to the ITA ensemble, one of the best-known theatre companies in Europe.

Around the corner on the Marnixstraat, [DeLaMar Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/delamar-theater/) runs musicals, comedy, drama and concerts, and on the Leidsekade [Theater Bellevue](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theater-bellevue/) puts on around 650 performances a year.

Further from the centre, [Theater Amsterdam](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theater-amsterdam/) on the Danzigerkade is built for long-running productions, and [Meervaart](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/meervaart/) in Nieuw-West has a broad programme of cabaret, music, dance, drama and family shows.

[Podium Mozaïek](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-cafes-brunch/podium-mozaiek/) in Bos en Lommer and [ZID Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/zid-theater/) in Nieuw-West bring the neighbourhoods their own stages.

## Cabaret and kleinkunst

Cabaret, the Dutch mix of stand-up, song and satire, has its own home in [De Kleine Komedie](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/de-kleine-komedie/) on the Amstel, the oldest theatre in the city.

Smaller stages carry the tradition too: [Theater De Richel](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theater-de-richel/) on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, [Theater Mascini](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theater-mascini/) on the Zeedijk and [De Roode Bioscoop](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theater-de-roode-bioscoop/) on the Haarlemmerplein, where the audience sits close to the artists.

Next door, [Theatercafé De Roode Remise](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theatercafe-de-roode-remise/) is the place for a drink before or after.

[Ceintuur Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-american-restaurants-burgers/ceintuur-theater/) in De Pijp is another neighbourhood favourite.

## Comedy and theatre in English

For comedy you can follow without Dutch, [Boom Chicago](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/boom-chicago/) on the Rozengracht has been the city’s English-language comedy club for decades.

[Comedy Café Amsterdam](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/comedy-cafe-amsterdam/) at the IJdok, near Centraal Station, has stand-up in English and Dutch.

[Mike’s Badhuistheater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/mikes-badhuistheater/), in a former bathhouse on the Boerhaaveplein in Oost, is an English-language theatre.

## New work and small stages

On the Nes, one of the oldest streets in the city, [Frascati Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/frascati-theater/) shows new work by young makers and [Tobacco Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/tobacco-theater/) stages performances and events.

Nearby are [Torpedo Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/torpedo-theater/) in the St. Pieterspoortsteeg, [Compagnietheater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/compagnietheater/) on the Kloveniersburgwal and [AstaroTheatro](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/astarotheatro/) in the Sint Jansstraat.

In Oost, [Plein Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/plein-theater/) on the Sajetplein pairs its stage with an eatery.

In West, [Munganga Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/munganga-theater/) is a house for music and performing arts, [Polanen Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/polanen-theater/) serves the Spaarndammerbuurt, [Theater De Cameleon](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theater-de-cameleon/) sits on the Derde Kostverlorenkade and [Het Amsterdams Theaterhuis](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/het-amsterdams-theaterhuis/) runs a stage for theatre and dance alongside drama courses.

Just outside the city, [Theater De Omval](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-cinemas/theater-de-omval/) is the theatre for Diemen, and [Bijlmer Parktheater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-cafes-brunch/bijlmer-parktheater-pop-up-podium/) serves Zuidoost.

## Theatre for children

Few cities have as many stages for children.

[Theater De Krakeling](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/theater-de-krakeling/) at Cultuurpark Westergas is the city’s youth theatre.

[Black Cat Theatre](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/black-cat-theatre/) in West makes shows for ages 1 to 6 and is rated 4.9 from nearly 300 Google reviews.

The [Amsterdams Marionetten Theater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/amsterdams-marionetten-theater/) near the Nieuwmarkt uses large wooden puppets for opera and music theatre, [Kindertheater De Toverknol](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/kindertheater-de-toverknol/) is on the Kerkstraat, and [Koos Kneus Poppentheater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/koos-kneus-poppentheater/) on the Iepenplein plays on Sundays.

## Open-air summer theatre

From late spring the city moves outdoors.

The [Vondelpark Openluchttheater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/vondelpark-openluchttheater/) runs music, comedy, dance, classical and children’s shows through the summer, and the [Amsterdamse Bostheater](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/amsterdamse-bostheater/) in the Amsterdamse Bos stages theatre, concerts and film nights from May to September.

## Before you go

Much of the programme is in Dutch, so check the language on each show’s page, linked from the venue’s listing.

Our [full list of theatres](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/) shows them all on a map.

For concerts, see our guide to [music venues and concert halls](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-music-venues-concert-halls/), and for talks and debates, the city’s [cultural centres](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-cultural-centres-debate/).

## Related Guides

- [A Guide to Amsterdam’s Cultural Centres](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/the-best-cultural-centres-in-amsterdam/)
- [A Guide to Amsterdam’s Music Venues and Concert Halls](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/the-best-music-venues-and-concert-halls-in-amsterdam/)
- [Amsterdam Cultural Events Guide for 2026](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/amsterdam-cultural-events-guide/)
- [Amsterdam Cultural Life Guide For First-Time Visitors](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/amsterdam-cultural-life-guide/)
- [Amsterdam Theaters & Podia](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/directory/amsterdam-theaters-podia/)

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## In the news

- [New Cats at Carré moves the musical into the Rijksmuseum](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/news/new-cats-at-carr-moves-the-musical-into-the-rijksmuseum-20261014/) 13 October 2026
- [National Ballet public rehearsal sells out immediately](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/news/national-ballet-public-class-sells-out-immediately-20260922/) 21 September 2026
- [New youth theatre show takes shape in the Teekenschool](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/news/actor-mohamed-akalay-rehearses-youth-theatre-show-20260913/) 12 September 2026
- [Boom Chicago, the Amsterdam improv theatre, gets the 60 Minutes treatment](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/news/boom-chicago-marks-three-decades-on-amsterdam-stage-20260908/) 7 September 2026
- [Amsterdam Fringe Festival returns across 23 city venues](https://essentiallyamsterdam.com/news/amsterdam-fringe-festival-returns-across-23-city-venues-20260826/) 25 August 2026

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