The Leiden Schouwburg
On February 23, 1705, Jacob van Rijndorp, actor and leader of the traveling theater company ‘de Groote Compagnie’, received permission from the Leiden magistrate to build a theater on the Oude Vest.
With a subsidy of 500 guilders and tax exemption, he began construction: on October 1, 1705, the theater opened its doors with a performance of Reynerius Bontius's ‘Belegering ende Ontset der Stadt Leyden’ (Siege and Relief of the City of Leiden). Leiden thus became the third Dutch city, after Amsterdam and The Hague, to have a permanent public theater. When Van Rijndorp died, his widow took over the management. The Leiden theater remained in the family until 1779.
Despite enlargements and extensions, the building eventually proved to be inadequate. In 1865, a major renovation was carried out according to a plan by city architect Jan Willem Schaap. A new facade was added and the auditorium was given its current horseshoe shape, inspired by Italian theaters. Only the stage tower from 1809 remained unchanged.
The future of t…
With a subsidy of 500 guilders and tax exemption, he began construction: on October 1, 1705, the theater opened its doors with a performance of Reynerius Bontius's ‘Belegering ende Ontset der Stadt Leyden’ (Siege and Relief of the City of Leiden). Leiden thus became the third Dutch city, after Amsterdam and The Hague, to have a permanent public theater. When Van Rijndorp died, his widow took over the management. The Leiden theater remained in the family until 1779.
Despite enlargements and extensions, the building eventually proved to be inadequate. In 1865, a major renovation was carried out according to a plan by city architect Jan Willem Schaap. A new facade was added and the auditorium was given its current horseshoe shape, inspired by Italian theaters. Only the stage tower from 1809 remained unchanged.
The future of the Leidse Schouwburg was very uncertain in the 1960s; there were advanced plans for its total demolition and replacement with a new building elsewhere in Leiden. Due to a lack of funds, the city council ultimately decided to restore and expand the ‘old lady’. This major renovation took place between 1974 and 1976 under the direction of architect Onno Greiner. Only the walls and balconies remained in place. During the last renovation in 1997, the Leidse Schouwburg returned to its traditional red plush, chandeliers, and golden ornaments from the 19th century.
Openingtimes
- Every monday open
- Every tuesday open
- Every wednesday open
- Every thursday open
- Every friday open
- Every saturday open
- Every sunday open
