Royal Theatre Carré

The Carré Theatre, in Dutch known as Koninklijk Theater Carré, is a neo-Renaissance theatre in Amsterdam, located near the banks of the Amstel River. When the theatre was founded back in 1887, it was originally intended as a building that was to permanently house the circus. Today, however, it is mainly used for musicals, cabaret shows and pop concerts.

Tickets for events at the Carré Theatre

In addition to attending the staged shows, it is possible to visit the Carré Theatre on a guided tour. The visit includes a tour of the foyer, backstage and dressing rooms. An experienced guide accompanies tourists on the tour, tracing the theatre’s more than 100-year history.

Tours take place on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m . and last approximately one hour. The theatre opens one hour before the start of the performance and the auditorium is opened half an hour earlier.

To find out about all the concerts and events held at the Carré Theatre and to purchase tickets, see the site below:

History of the Carré Theatre

German circus director Oscar Carré was looking for a place to host circus shows in winter, so he decided to open the Circus Carré in December 1887.

In the beginning, the building was constructed of wood with a stone façade, and for the first few years it was only open during the winter season. From 1893, the Dutch theatre producer Frits van Haarlem staged vaudeville shows (satirical comedies) in the summer months.

These shows were so successful that it was inevitably decided that the building would start hosting all forms of popular entertainment. Thus, in 1920, it changed its name to the Carré Theatre, which quickly became the most famous theatre in the country.

The Recent Years

In the 20th century, the building was mainly used for vaudeville and revue performances, and occasionally, Italian operas and operettas. At the end of 1960, it was in danger of being demolished. After protests from the artists, the municipality of Amsterdam opposed the demolition and even bought the property in 1977.

In 1987, on the occasion of its centenary, the name was added Koninklijk, an adjective meaning royal in Dutch. In 2004, the theatre was completely renovated, while retaining the historical façade and interior design.

How to get to the Carré Theatre

The theatre is easily accessible by public transport. From Amsterdam Central Station it takes about ten minutes by tram or metro; with both solutions, the station you have to get off at is Weesperplein.