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.
More information
https://www.ddddd.nu
https://www.ddddd.nu/archief
https://www.amare.nl
https://thehagueonline.com/de-dutch-dont-dance-division-the-nutcracker-amare-25-30-december-2025/