A special Valentine’s concert, performed with passion by the Amsterdam Chamber Academy. The programme is brought to life by a string orchestra of young, talented musicians from conservatoires and orchestra academies across the Randstad.
The evening features orchestral works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, including Eine kleine Nachtmusik, alongside the violin concerto Affairs of the Heart by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich.
Sunday 15 February 15.00-16.00 Paleiskerk, The Hague
For the past two decades, the Christmas period in The Hague has been closely linked to dance, with De Dutch Don’t Dance Division building a festive tradition that has returned year after year in different forms. What began as a series of winter and Christmas productions has grown into a recognisable part of the city’s cultural calendar, now firmly anchored at Amare.
Since the mid-2000s, De Dutch Don’t Dance Division has presented a wide range of Christmas and winter performances, including original productions and reinterpretations of well-known stories. Over the years, titles such as A Christmas Carol, Alice in Winter Wonderland and De Haagse Notenkraker have helped shape a festive programme that appeals to families, regular theatre-goers and new audiences alike. Together, these productions mark twenty years of Christmas dance in The Hague.
This anniversary year is accompanied by an exhibition at Amare reflecting on two decades of Christmas productions by De Dutch Don’t Dance Division. The exhibition was officially opened by Jan van Zanen, underlining the significance of the milestone not only for the company but also for the city’s cultural life. Through costumes, props, visual material and personal stories, the exhibition shows how these festive performances evolved over time and became a fixed element of The Hague’s end-of-year celebrations. The retrospective highlights artistic development alongside the many people and communities involved both on and off stage.
A defining feature of the Christmas productions has been their scale and inclusivity. Year after year, professional dancers, young talent and amateur performers have shared the stage, creating broad city productions that reflect the diversity of The Hague itself. This approach has enabled generations of dancers to take part, while audiences return annually as part of their own holiday traditions.
As part of this anniversary season, De Haagse Notenkraker returned to Amare for a final run in its current form. First premiered in 2006, this production grew into one of the company’s most recognisable Christmas performances. From 25 to 30 December, eight performances will be staged at Amare, performed by two casts with a combined total of 112 dancers. Ahead of the run, more than 90 percent of tickets had already been sold, highlighting the enduring popularity of the production and its place within the wider Christmas tradition.
While this chapter comes to a close, the anniversary also looks ahead. After twenty years of festive productions, De Dutch Don’t Dance Division continues to develop new ideas and formats. With a strong foundation built on creativity, community involvement and continuity, expectations are high for how Christmas dance at Amare will continue to evolve in the years to come.
A packed program with 17 artists offering their work, plenty of options for Christmas gifts! You can screen-print your own deco. Food stalls with delicious food, the bar will be open, there’s a bonfire in the garden and mulled wine, and there will be lively music in the bar area from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with DJs and two live performances!
See Lab Duinstraat 55-57, The Hague Sunday 14th dec 11:00 – 17:00
On 21 November 2025, the Haagse Stadmakers Festival brought together residents, entrepreneurs, cultural makers, social organisations and policymakers in The Hague for a day dedicated to shaping the future of the city. This annual event focused on how people from different backgrounds and sectors can work together to make neighbourhoods stronger, more inclusive and more sustainable.
The festival provided a platform for people who are actively involved in improving their surroundings, referred to as “stadmakers” – people who take initiative in their streets, districts and communities.
A Programme Focused on Practical City Making
Throughout the day, visitors could take part in a wide range of activities, including workshops, talks, interactive sessions and city-focused conversations. The programme explored topics such as community building, social innovation, housing, green public spaces, inclusion, mobility and citizen participation.
Rather than focusing only on theory, many sessions centred around practical examples and real-life projects already taking place across The Hague. This allowed participants to learn from each other’s experiences and explore ways to collaborate further.
Space for Dialogue and Experimentation
A central element of the festival was dialogue. Participants were encouraged to share challenges as well as successes from their work in neighbourhoods and organisations. Informal meeting points, open discussions and creative installations helped lower the threshold for conversation between professionals, volunteers and residents.
The atmosphere was open and accessible, with a strong focus on cooperation rather than hierarchy. Many attendees described the festival as a place to meet like-minded people and to feel supported in their initiatives.
Youth and New Ideas
Young city makers played a visible role in the festival programme. Several sessions were dedicated to the ideas and perspectives of young people who are actively engaged in improving social cohesion, culture and sustainability in the city.
This focus on younger generations underlined the importance of long-term thinking and the need to support new voices in urban development.
Strengthening Networks Across The Hague
Beyond individual sessions, the festival functioned as a networking platform. Many visitors used the opportunity to strengthen existing collaborations and to start new partnerships. Organisations, informal citizen groups and independent makers shared knowledge, tools and contact details.
The event demonstrated how complex urban challenges require cooperation between residents, grassroots initiatives, institutions and local government.
An Ongoing Movement
The Haagse Stadmakers Festival is not presented as a one-off event, but as part of an ongoing movement within the city. The ideas shared and the relationships built are intended to continue beyond a single day.
By bringing these different groups together, the festival highlighted the growing role of citizens in shaping the social and physical future of The Hague.
