What Meervaart does

Meervaart (legally "Theater de Meervaart") is a privately operated theater and event venue located at Meer en Vaart 300 in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, Netherlands, founded in 1977 and employing 51-100 staff. The venue operates a multi-venue complex anchored by the Rode Zaal (800 capacity, 380m²) and Blauwe Zaal (270 capacity, 308m²) plus 10 meeting rooms (25-120m²) and three foyers, hosting approximately 280 theater performances and 150 corporate events annually across genres including cabaret, dance, music, opera, theater, family shows, musicals, and youth productions.

The business operates on a platform-plus-modules architecture spanning four revenue streams: (1) consumer theater ticket sales distributed through the Ticketmatic platform and on-site box office, (2) B2B event and conference venue rental with quote-based pricing, (3) subscription-based youth talent-development programs (Meervaart Jong for ages 2-16 and Meervaart Studio for ages 15-26) covering dance, theater, DJ, film, photography, and visual arts with structured progression, and (4) add-on modules including catering, AV technical support, 4-hour and 8-hour event arrangementen, and a recently launched Livestream Hybride broadcasting service. Customer segments include general theater audiences, corporate event organizers, schools, and young creators aged 2-30.

Go-to-market is hybrid: D2C ticketing and youth enrollment through meervaart.nl run alongside B2B direct sales for venue rentals and event-driven demand generation through festival partnerships (IDFA, WorldPride Amsterdam 2026, Kunstbende Noord-Holland, 24 Hours Nieuw-West, Blauwe Zone Festival). Strategic partnerships with cultural institutions — Foam Museum, ISH Dance Collective, Oorzaken, NTR DOCS, De Nationale Opera, and Talentenhuis — support programming depth and talent pipelines. The venue is supported in part by the Municipality of Amsterdam, Fonds21, and the ELJA Foundation, holds ANBI (Dutch charitable) status, and operates 300 rooftop solar panels supporting sustainability claims used as a corporate-event differentiator.

Name

Meervaart

Legal name

Theater de Meervaart

Website

https://meervaart.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Meervaart is a privately operated Amsterdam Nieuw-West theater and event venue, founded 1977, hosting ~280 performances and ~150 corporate events annually. It serves consumer audiences, corporate event clients, schools, and youth aged 2-26 through sub-brands Meervaart Jong and Meervaart Studio for talent development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue & Event Facilities

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Rehearsal & Pre-Production Studios (Rehearsal Rooms, Backline) (MPAIAHAK)

Keywords

• Theater venue rental
• Corporate event hosting
• Performing arts performances
• Youth arts education
• Congress and meeting facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Theater Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales to theatergoers for performances across genres including dance, cabaret, music, theater, opera, and family shows. Tickets sold through Ticketmatic platform.
2. Event and Conference Venue Rental: Rental of meeting rooms, conference halls (Rode Zaal 800 capacity, Blauwe Zaal 270 capacity), and event spaces to corporate clients, organizations, and event planners for congresses, presentations, workshops, and celebrations.
3. Youth Education Programs: Tuition fees for Meervaart Jong (ages 2-16) and Meervaart Studio (ages 15-26) creative lessons including dance, theater, DJ, ballet, breakdance, and artistic workshops. Includes reduced rates for Stadspas holders.
4. Catering and Event Services: Food and beverage catering services, audio-visual technical support, and event arrangement packages for corporate events and conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Meervaart is a theater and event venue in Amsterdam Nieuw-West that hosts approximately 280 theater performances annually across dance, cabaret, music, theater, opera, family shows, and musicals, and rents 12 halls (Rode Zaal 800-cap, Blauwe Zaal 270-cap, and 10 meeting rooms) to corporate clients for conferences and events. Alongside performances and venue rental, it runs two youth talent development programs: Meervaart Jong (ages 2-16) and Meervaart Studio (ages 15-26), offering structured lessons and workshops in dance, theater, DJ/production, film, photography, and visual arts.

Product overview

Meervaart is a multi-venue theater and event complex in Amsterdam Nieuw-West operating under a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include: (1) Meervaart Theater - the main theater venue hosting approximately 280 annual performances across genres including cabaret, dance, music, opera, theater, family shows, and musicals; (2) Meetings & Events - corporate event and congress venue rental with 12 halls (12-800 persons), supported by add-on modules for audiovisual techniek, catering, arrangementen (4-hour/8-hour packages), and Livestream Hybride streaming; and (3) Youth talent development through Meervaart Jong (ages 2-16) and Meervaart Studio (ages 15-26), which offer structured lessons and workshops in dance, theater, music, DJ/production, film, photography, and visual arts, along with specialized labs (DJ Lab, Film Lab, Dance Lab, Foto Lab) and programs like the IDFA Young Adults Selection Committee. Additional programs include Meervaart Expo (rotating exhibitions), M-Talk, Comedy Café open mic evenings, and the annual Meervaart Jong Festival showcasing student performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Meervaart Jong: Youth talent development program for children and young people aged 2-16 years, offering lessons in dance, theater, music, DJ, and visual arts
• Meervaart Studio
• Meervaart Meetings & Events

Products and services

• Meervaart Theater Main theater venue hosting approximately 280 performances annually across genres including cabaret, dance, theater, music, opera, family shows, musicals, and youth productions. Located in Amsterdam Nieuw-West; tickets sold directly to the public.
• Meetings & Events Venue Rental Corporate event and congress venue rental service offering 12 halls with capacities from 12 to 800 seats, including Rode Zaal (380m², 800 persons) and Blauwe Zaal (308m², 270 persons), plus 10 meeting rooms (25-120m²). Serves companies and organizations hosting conferences, workshops, meetings, and corporate events.
• Livestream Hybride Hybrid event streaming service that broadcasts events from Meervaart's halls to online audiences, enabling hybrid congresses and events with both in-person and remote participation for corporate clients.
• AV Techniek Professional audiovisual and technical support services for events including sound systems, lighting, and projection equipment, staffed by technical personnel; available for corporate events in Rode Zaal and Blauwe Zaal.
• Event Catering Event catering services including lunch buffets, coffee/tea arrangements, and custom catering options for corporate events, meetings, and conferences hosted at the venue.
• Event Arrangementen (4-hour and 8-hour packages) Bundled event packages combining room rental, catering, duty manager assistance, and technical support for lighting and sound; offered as 4-hour and 8-hour arrangements to corporate event organizers.
• Meervaart Jong Youth talent development program for children ages 2-16, offering lessons and workshops in dance, music, theater, poetry, film, photography, and visual arts taught by experienced instructors; subscription-based with Stadspas discounts available.
• Meervaart Studio Talent development program for young adults ages 15-26, offering workshops, labs, masterclasses, and showcase opportunities in creative disciplines including DJ/production, dance, film, photography, and music.
• DJ Lab DJ training program for young creators under guidance of experienced coaches including DJ Rockefellababe, focusing on technique, performance, and artist identity development.
• Film Lab Film production workshop in collaboration with Dutch Film Academy for young filmmakers to develop and produce their own short films as part of Meervaart Studio.
• Dance Lab Dance workshop in collaboration with ISH Academy for young dancers to develop skills and work toward performances on professional stages as part of Meervaart Studio.
• Foto Lab Photography workshop developed in collaboration with Foam Museum and photographer Hanane El Ouardani for young photographers in Meervaart Studio.
• Workshop Beats Advanced beatmaking workshop for young producers aged 16-26 with prior beatmaking experience, coached by guest instructors including Joshua J; priced at €65 per trajectory and includes Studio season membership and rehearsal/recording space access.
• IDFA Young Adults Selection Committee Collaboration program with International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) where young people aged 15-27 watch, discuss, and select documentaries receiving the official IDFA Young Adults Label, with programming budget for special screening evenings.
• Voor Scholen (School Performances and Workshops) School performances and educational theater programs for primary and secondary education, with workshops and introductions available upon request; bookings coordinated via Amsterdamse Theaters / plannedculture.nl.
• Meervaart Comedy Café (Open Mic) Open mic evenings curated by comedian Kor Hoebe, featuring four emerging comedians per evening performing new material and experimental comedy in front of a live audience.
• Meervaart Jong Festival Annual festival showcasing performances by Meervaart Jong students, with approximately 300 children performing and 1000 visitors attending each year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached over 20,000 children through school performances since 2008
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• WorldPride Amsterdam 2026flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Meervaart serves as venue for WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 celebrations with photography exhibition 'Unity' showcasing LGBTQIA+ themes. Also hosts Frieda Belinfante performance presented by De Nationale Opera in collaboration with Stichting Boon en Ster.
• ISH Dance CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between ISH Dance Collective and Meervaart Jong offering youth production groups for performers aged 12+. Classes taught by Meervaart Jong instructors and ISH Academy guest teachers. Joint performances at Meervaart Jong Festival and ISH's final festival. Registration through Meervaart Jong.
• International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on IDFA Young Adults Selection Committee 2026. Young people aged 15-27 watch documentaries, discuss, and select films for IDFA Young Adults Label. Special screening evenings with programming budget. Joint initiative for youth film education.
• Foam MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography exhibition collaboration 'Public Intimacy' developed with Foam and photographer Hanane El Ouardani. Featured work by young photographers from Meervaart Studio Foto Lab. Previously exhibited at No Man's Art Gallery.
• OorzakenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio storytelling platform collaborating on OmaMa podcast live sessions and Oorzaken Podcast Academy Nieuw-West. Twelve young makers learned to transform personal stories into podcasts, resulting in series 'Pleinen vol verhalen'.
• ISH AcademycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides guest teachers and creative direction for youth dance programs. Professional dance teachers and performers bring experience and energy to Meervaart youth programs.
• NTR DOCSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of OmaMa podcast, a MIMA-nominated documentary podcast series about family, loss, racism, and reconciliation.
• Kunstbende Noord-HollandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMeervaart hosts preliminary rounds and develops youth participants for Kunstbende (national young creators competition). Multiple winners in DJ and Theater categories. Supports young talent aged 12-19 in showcasing creative work.
• TalentenhuisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation partner for youth programs. Meervaart Jong operates from Talentenhuis facility for dance, theater, and creative classes.
• De Nationale OperaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents Frieda Belinfante production, a one-woman musical/opera about queer resistance hero and cellist Frieda Belinfante (1904-1995).
• 24 Hours Nieuw-West FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual neighborhood festival in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. Meervaart participates with backstage tours, pop-up performances, and open mic events showcasing young local talent.
• Blauwe Zone FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural festival partnering with 24 Hours Nieuw-West. Meervaart Studio provides venue and programming for music and spoken word performances.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DeLaMar Theater: Mid-to-large Amsterdam theater venue hosting popular theater, cabaret, and music programming plus corporate events. Closely comparable to Meervaart in scale, hall capacity, and the dual consumer/B2B revenue model.
• Podium Mozaïek: Amsterdam-West venue combining theater programming with cultural diversity programming and community engagement. Direct peer to Meervaart in scale, multicultural audience, and the dual theater-plus-events model.
• Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam: Amsterdam's flagship municipal theater offering year-round programming across dance, theater, and music. Direct competitor for both consumer ticket revenue and cultural mindshare in the same metropolitan market as Meervaart, with a comparable mid-to-large hall capacity profile.
• Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA): Major producing theater company in Amsterdam with multiple halls and a comparable blend of in-house productions and touring programming. Direct competitor for theater audiences and partner of Meervaart in the TDEA school booking brochure, indicating operational overlap in the same catchment.
• Theater De Krakeling: Amsterdam's dedicated youth theater offering programming for children and schools. Direct peer in Meervaart Jong's segment, partner in the TDEA school brochure, and competitor for school bookings and youth education programs.
• Bijlmer Parktheater: Amsterdam-based community theater with strong neighborhood focus and youth programming. Direct peer in the TDEA school brochure partnership and serves a similar community-anchored cultural mission in a different Amsterdam district.

Broad incumbents

• Koninklijk Theater Carré: Iconic large-scale Amsterdam theater and event venue hosting premium musicals, cabaret, and corporate events. Overlaps with Meervaart's programming categories and corporate rental market but operates at substantially larger scale and brand prestige.
• Beurs van Berlage: Major Amsterdam event venue specializing in congresses, corporate events, and large-scale conferences. Directly competes with Meervaart Meetings & Events for B2B clients seeking central Amsterdam venues, though Beurs van Berlage is centrally located and event-only.

Regional players

• Patronaat Haarlem: Large music and cultural venue in Haarlem (Randstad) combining live performances, youth programming, and venue rentals. Comparable operational model to Meervaart but serves a different Dutch metropolitan catchment, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.
• Nieuwe Luxor Theater Rotterdam: Major Rotterdam theater and event venue offering musicals, performances, and corporate events with comparable hall capacity and dual-purpose model. Operates in a different Dutch city, providing a useful regional comparison for venue utilization and revenue mix.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/meervaart
• Facebookfacebook.com/meervaart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meervaart-amsterdam
• Instagraminstagram.com/meervaart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meervaart