Cultural activities
Cultural activities
During your studies, you will visit several venues and festivals for dance, theatre and performance as part of your education. Here is an indicative list of festivals in Utrecht and other places in the Netherlands that can help you orientate yourself. NB. Due to Corona, some situations or regulations may change / have changed.
Utrecht
Theater Kikker, Utrecht (Ganzenmarkt 14, www.theaterkikker.nl ). Black box theatre at the city centre, for experimental theatre, dance and performance, also a stage for local and international dance and theatre companies.
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht (Lucas Bolwerk 24, www.ssbu.nl). City theatre, established companies perform here. Last minute tickets for students are very cheap (around €10). Make sure you get them thirty minutes before the show starts and remember to take your student card.
Het Huis, Utrecht (Boorstraat 107, www.hethuisutrecht.nl). A cultural space that supports, produces and presents contemporary artists in theatre and dance..
SPRING Performing Arts Festival, Utrecht (www.springutrecht.nl). A yearly festival that programs exciting and ground-breaking contemporary performances by (inter)national choreographers and theatre makers. As indicated by its name, it takes place in the spring (May). Don’t miss it! There is also a smaller edition in the Autumn.
Tweetakt Festival, Utrecht (www.tweetakt.nl). A yearly art festival for all ages in Utrecht with a programme of theatre, music and visual arts by (inter)national makers. It takes place in the spring (March/April).
Outside Utrecht (but often close)
City Theatres in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Breda offer international performances, see https://ita.nl/en/; www.theaterrotterdam.nl; chasse.nl
Veem House for Performance, Amsterdam (Van Diemenstraat 408-410, www.veem.house). An experimental artistic space for performance, dance and discourse. It produces and presents cross-disciplinary performances and organises lectures, talks and debates.
Frascati Theatre, Amsterdam (Nes 63, www.frascatitheater.nl). Theatre venue that presents a lot of (inter)national experimental work in theatre, dance and performance. Check their LNP programme.
Brakke Grond Theatre, Amsterdam (Nes 45, www.brakkegrond.nl). Flemish Arts Centre, which offers the most significant contemporary art productions from Flanders, including visual art, literature, dance, theatre, music, performance, film and new media.
Oerol Festival, Terschelling (https://oerol.nl/english/). Unique festival taking place on one of the Friesian islands, with theatre taking place on the beach, in sheds, in the woods (actually, practically everywhere); the venues are spread all over the islands, all visitors go by bike.
Over het IJ Festival, Amsterdam (www.overhetij.nl). Festival for site-specific performance (in July) in Amsterdam-Noord, including mini-performances in sea containers.
Holland Festival, Amsterdam (www.hollandfestival.nl). One of the leading international performing arts festival in the Netherlands, with a very broad scope of international performing arts. It takes place yearly in June.
Julidans Festival, Amsterdam (www.julidans.nl). International dance festival, that programs dance performances by (inter)national choreographers. As indicated by its name, it takes place yearly in July.
Cinemas, exhibitions, concert hall
Below are listed some of the film houses and exhibition spaces in Utrecht. For up-to-date programs of cultural events in Utrecht, see also https://www.uitagendautrecht.nl/en/ www.uitloper.nl) or the Urban Mag magazine (www.magutrecht.com).
Louis Hartlooper Complex, Utrecht (Tolsteegbrug 1, www.hartlooper.nl). This former police station screens art house, old movies and more popular quality films.
Springhaver, Utrecht (Springweg 50, www.springhaver.nl). Collaborates with Louis Hartlooper Complex and screens a great variety of art house films.
Casco, Utrecht (Lange Nieuwstraat 7, www.cascoprojects.org). Casco - Office for Art, Design and Theory is for artistic research and experiments, that are cross-disciplinary, open to collaboration, and process-driven.
BAK, Utrecht (Pauwstraat 13a, www.bakonline.org). BAK (Basis voor Actuele Kunst) is a breeding ground for people who want to connect art and theorising practices. See their website for their exhibition programme.
Centraal Museum (Agnietenstraat 1, www.centraalmuseum.nl). This is Utrecht biggest museum, full of (contemporary) art. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Dick Bruna House, an exhibition about the author of Nijntje / Miffy!
TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht (Vredenburgkade 11, www.tivolivredenburg.nl). The venue has five concert halls, each designed by a different architect. With one of the best sound systems in the Netherlands they serve you pop, classic, jazz, symphony orchestra’s and much more.
EKKO, Utrecht (Bemuurde Weerd WZ 3, www.ekko.nl). With a large variety of (inter)national bands playing alternative / underground / indie rock / metal / punk, but also DJ nights with electronic, techno and house, EKKO serves everyone.
Once per month ‘Cultural Sunday’ takes place in different cultural institutions in Utrecht. Check out the posters in town or www.culturelezondagen.nl. Also, throughout the year, a lot of interesting festivals and events take place in Utrecht. So, keep your eyes open to not miss out on those (e.g. Impact Festival, DIEP Festival, Midzomergrachtfestival, Nederlands Film Festival and many more).