Royal Theatre Carré   1887

Originally meant as a permanent circus building, nowadays mainly used for musicals, cabaret performances and concerts.

Theater Carré was opened in 1887 by circus director and entrepreneur Oscar Carré. The Carré family* lived in the company house which now houses the grand Loge Foyer.

Theatre

It was built on 1,450 wooden piles. The beautiful square-shaped building has a warm interior with a colorfully decorated auditorium. The seatings were placed in the shape of a horse-shoe, so 2,000 people could visit a show in Carré.

* 150 years ago, members of the striking circus family Carré traveled through Europe with their horse play and in 1864 they also visited the Netherlands. The warm welcome that the circus received here was reason for Oscar Carré to settle in Amsterdam for good.

The authentic theatre was a big hit from the opening. Many big stars from everywhere in Europe came to perform in the theatre while the visitors came from all parts of the Netherlands.

Programming

The theatre still yearly hosts the spectacular shows of the famous World Christmas Circus. Throughout the year Carre is now mainly used for musicals, cabaret performances, opera and concerts.

Location

Royal Theatre Carré is located alongside the Amstel River - right opposite the Amstel locks (Amstelsluizen) - in the Centrum borough of Amsterdam, in the Plantage neighbourhood and on the edge of the old Jewish quarter.

Other nearby sights are the Magere Brug, Amstel Hotel, Hortus Botanicus, and Hermitage.