Het Laagland
Het Laagland is a Dutch non-profit youth and family theater company founded in 2000 in Sittard, producing and touring original productions for children (1.5-18+) and families across 40+ cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, supplemented by school-based programs, a youth workshop (Jong Laagland), and community co-creation projects (ZuidZone).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSittard, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Het Laagland does
Het Laagland is a professional youth and family theater company founded around 2000 and headquartered in Sittard, Netherlands (Limburg), operating as a Dutch non-profit arts organization. It produces and tours original theatrical productions for audiences from toddlers (1.5+ years) through adults across more than 40 cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, with core programming segmented by age (1.5-3, 4-6, 8+, 10+, 12+, 14+) and covering themes of identity, resilience, friendship, and historical remembrance. Beyond mainstage productions, the company operates three sub-brands: Jong Laagland (weekly theater workshops for ages 8-20 with seasonal memberships), ZuidZone (place-based community co-creation project in the Geleen-Zuid neighborhood since 2020), and the Bis! Bis! Bis! alliance with SALLY Dansgezelschap and Philzuid for school-based dance, music, and theater programming.
The underlying 'technology' is live performance — physical theater, movement, music, and participatory co-creation methods — with no proprietary software platform. Productions are developed by an in-house artistic team led by artistic director Inez Derksen, with recurring collaborators including director Lennart Monaster and writer Benny Lindelauf. Extensions include film adaptations of successful stage productions distributed via NPO public broadcasting and regional cinema (Filmhuis ZICHT), and a 2021 television adaptation of 'Vreemde Eend' for EO/Zappelin. Educational offerings include 'Theater in de Klas' (in-classroom performances at €250 per class), backstage tours (€100 per class), and multi-season Artist in School residencies.
The business model is a hybrid of structural public subsidies and earned income. Recurring government subsidies come from OCW (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science), Provincie Limburg, and Gemeente Sittard-Geleen, supplemented by project-based funding from Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Fonds 21, and the Laagland Groeifonds. Earned revenue derives from ticket sales (priced at the venue level, with some 'pay what you can' or free access), school booking fees, Jong Laagland membership fees (€325-425 per season), and cross-subsidization from housing corporation ZOwonen for community projects. Distribution is multi-channel: touring theaters, direct school bookings, the Bis! Bis! Bis! school network, community events, festival appearances (PLUUSJ, TranScreen, Roze Filmdagen), and broadcast/streaming.
Het Laagland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Het Laagland
- Legal name
- Het Laagland
- Website
- https://hetlaagland.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Het Laagland is a Dutch non-profit youth and family theater company founded in 2000 in Sittard, producing and touring original productions for children (1.5-18+) and families across 40+ cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, supplemented by school-based programs, a youth workshop (Jong Laagland), and community co-creation projects (ZuidZone).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Het Laagland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth and Family Theater (Performing Arts)
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)
Keywords
Where Het Laagland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sittard
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Het Laagland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Subsidies: Het Laagland receives structural funding from OCW (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science), Provincie Limburg, and Gemeente Sittard-Geleen. Additional project-based funding comes from Fondsen such as Fonds 21 and the Laagland Groeifonds.
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for theater performances at venues across the Netherlands and Belgium. Some productions use a 'pay what you can' model or are freely accessible.
- School Booking Fees: Schools pay per class for 'Theater in de Klas' performances (e.g., €250 per class for Suikerglas), backstage tours (€100 per class), and Jong Laagland membership fees (€325-425 per season for participants aged 8-20).
- Project-Based Funding & Donations: The ZuidZone community project is supported by Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie. Productions like 'Aan Tafel!' involve cross-subsidization from housing corporation ZOwonen. Donations through 'pay what you can' models supplement revenue for certain productions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Theater in de Klas: €250 per class |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Backstage Tour: €100 per class |
| Subscription | Annual | Jong Laagland membership: €325-425 per season |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free / Pay what you can |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Het Laagland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Het Laagland is a professional youth and family theater company that produces and tours original theater performances for audiences from toddlers (1.5+ years) through teenagers and adults across the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition to touring mainstage productions, it runs educational school theater programs (Theater in de Klas, Artist in School residencies), a youth acting workshop program (Jong Laagland for ages 8-20), and community-based co-creation projects in the Geleen-Zuid neighborhood (ZuidZone).
Product overview
Het Laagland is a professional youth and family theater company based in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands, operating since 2000. The company offers a portfolio of theater productions for audiences from toddlers (1.5+ years) through adults, including touring productions across Netherlands and Belgium. Core offerings include: mainstage theater productions (OM en OM en OM, Stuntelman, Stiltestorm, Zwembadjaren), educational programs (Theater in de Klas, Artist in School residencies), youth development program Jong Laagland (ages 8-20), and community-based project ZuidZone in Geleen-Zuid neighborhood. Productions are developed in-house by the company's artistic team led by artistic director Inez Derksen, with notable collaborations including Toneelgroep Maastricht, SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht, and Philzuid.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Jong Laagland: Theater workshop for young people aged 8-20, where participants develop acting and creative talents with professional theater makers.
- ZuidZone
- Bis! Bis! Bis!
Products and services
- Family Theater Productions (Touring Mainstage)
- Jong Laagland Youth Theater Workshop
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 25 years of continuous operation as a professional youth theater company
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Het Laagland
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Het Laagland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Het Laagland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Zuyd Hogeschool (lectoraat What Art Knows)minorThe research lectorate What Art Knows of Zuyd Hogeschool participates in the Artist in School project as an academic research partner, studying the impact of structural artist presence in schools.
- EO / ZappelinminorThe successful production 'Vreemde Eend' (created with SALLY Dansgezelschap) was adapted into a 6-episode television series for the EO's Zappelin programming block. Produced by Elbe Stevens Films with TV direction by Meikeminne Clinckspoor.
- ZOwonen (woningcorporatie)coreHousing corporation ZOwonen partners with Het Laagland in the ZuidZone project in Geleen-Zuid. ZOwonen provides financial support enabling the co-creation of neighborhood theater projects. Joint productions include 'Aan Tafel!', 'Dag Flatje', and other community projects.
- Toneelgroep MaastrichtcoreOngoing coproduction partnership with Toneelgroep Maastricht. Joint productions include 'Suikerglas' (Theater in de Klas), 'De Kleine PEEP Show' (Theater in de Klas for secondary schools), and 'Stress Less'. Both companies collaborate on school-based theater programs in Limburg.
- SALLY Dansgezelschap MaastrichtcoreCollaboration with SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht within the 'Bis! Bis! Bis!' alliance (along with Philzuid) to jointly offer dance, music, and theater performances for youth at schools throughout Limburg. Joint productions include 'Stiltestorm' and 'Vreemde Eend' (adapted into a TV series for EO/Zappelin).
- PhilzuidcoreCollaboration with Philzuid within the 'Bis! Bis! Bis!' alliance (along with SALLY) to jointly offer dance, music, and theater performances for youth at schools throughout Limburg. Joint production 'Stiltestorm' represents the first joint production of all three Bis! Bis! Bis! companies.
- Via ZuidcoreVia Zuid (talent development organization for professional performing arts in and from Limburg) collaborates with Het Laagland on ZuidZone community projects and the Bis! Bis! Bis! alliance. Via Zuid also co-produced 'In het Zuiden ligt alles anders' and supports the Jong Laagland youth program.
- Toon Hermans Theater (PLT)coreHet Laagland is based in Sittard and regularly performs at the Toon Hermans Theater. PLT (Stichting Podiumkunsten Centraal) and Het Laagland co-organize the PLUUSJ family theater festival. PLT serves as a key venue for Het Laagland's home performances and premiere events.
- Graaf Huyn College (Geleen)minorThe Graaf Huyn College in Geleen hosted the Artist in School program for two consecutive seasons (22/23 and 23/24), with Het Laagland artists in residence at the school full-time, contributing to school atmosphere and student mental health.
- Ecsplore / Knooppunt Informele ZorgminorHet Laagland collaborated with Ecsplore and Knooppunt Informele Zorg to screen 'Zwembadjaren' for people with (beginning) dementia and their caregivers, as part of a cultural program aimed at evoking memories and promoting well-being.
- Filmhuis ZICHT (Sittard)minorFilmhuis ZICHT in Sittard hosts film screenings and outdoor cinema ('Buitenbios') of Het Laagland productions, including 'Zwembadjaren' and Keti Koti film programs.
- Vidar in de WijkminorSocial domain partner collaborating in the ZuidZone project in Geleen-Zuid, alongside ZOwonen, Via Zuid, and Partners in Welzijn. Contributes to community outreach and neighborhood engagement activities.
- Partners in WelzijnminorSocial welfare organization partner in the ZuidZone community project, contributing to neighborhood co-creation theatrical activities in Geleen-Zuid.
- NPO (Nederlandse Publieke Omroep)minor'Met Zonder Ballen - de Film' aired on NPO2 Extra (December 2024) and is available on NPO Start streaming platform, enabling broad national distribution of Het Laagland's film content.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Het Laagland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- De Toneelmakerij: Amsterdam-based professional youth theater company producing original family theater and touring nationally across the Netherlands. Comparable product category (professional youth theater) and target audience with substantially larger scale and Amsterdam brand visibility.
- BonteHond: Almere-based Dutch youth theater company producing original family theater and touring productions. Comparable in product category, target audience, subsidy-supported funding model, and mid-sized touring footprint.
- Theater Artemis: Dutch professional youth and family theater company producing original work for audiences aged 2-18. Closely comparable in mission, touring model, age-segment targeting, and reliance on Dutch structural subsidies.
- Philzuid: Limburg-based symphonic orchestra with active youth and family education programs. Partner in the Bis! Bis! Bis! alliance with Het Laagland, jointly offering cross-discipline programming for schools.
- Theater Sonnevanck: Enschede-based professional youth theater company producing original productions for children and families. Comparable in product category, regional anchoring with national touring, and subsidy-supported operating model.
- Toneelgroep Maastricht: Regional theater company based in Limburg with which Het Laagland has an ongoing coproduction partnership (Suikerglas, De Kleine PEEP Show, Stress Less). Both companies serve youth and families in the same geography with complementary programming.
- Maas Theater en Dans: Rotterdam-based youth theater and dance company producing touring productions for children and young people. Directly comparable in production category (youth theater and dance), structural funding model, and national touring reach.
- SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht: Maastricht-based dance company producing productions for young audiences and partner of Het Laagland in the Bis! Bis! Bis! alliance (Stiltestorm, Vreemde Eend). Comparable in youth-focused programming, Limburg base, and structural subsidy model.
- Arch8: Utrecht-based dance company producing contemporary dance for young audiences. Comparable in target audience, touring model, structural funding, and focus on interdisciplinary youth programming.
Others
- Via Zuid: Limburg-based talent development organization for professional performing arts that collaborates with Het Laagland on ZuidZone, Jong Laagland, and Bis! Bis! Bis!. Comparable as a Limburg arts ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Het Laagland social profiles
Digital presenceHet Laagland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Het Laagland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Het Laagland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Het Laagland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Het Laagland
What does Het Laagland do?
Het Laagland is a professional youth and family theater company that produces and tours original theater performances for audiences from toddlers (1.5+ years) through teenagers and adults across the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition to touring mainstage productions, it runs educational school theater programs (Theater in de Klas, Artist in School residencies), a youth acting workshop program (Jong Laagland for ages 8-20), and community-based co-creation projects in the Geleen-Zuid neighborhood (ZuidZone).
Is Het Laagland a public or private company?
Het Laagland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Het Laagland founded?
Het Laagland was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Het Laagland based?
Het Laagland is headquartered in Sittard, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Het Laagland make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Subsidies are the primary driver. The others are ticket Sales, school Booking Fees and project-Based Funding & Donations.
Who are Het Laagland's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are De Toneelmakerij, BonteHond, Theater Artemis, Philzuid, Theater Sonnevanck, Toneelgroep Maastricht, Maas Theater en Dans, SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht and Arch8. Via Zuid is listed as an others.
Does Het Laagland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Het Laagland.
What industry is Het Laagland in?
Het Laagland's product category is Youth and Family Theater (Performing Arts). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAE, Children’s & Youth Theatre, with a secondary code of MPAGABAG, Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe). Its NAICS code is 711110.