Jonge Harten

What Jonge Harten does

Jonge Harten is an annual theater festival based in Groningen, Netherlands, operated by Stichting Jonge Harten, a Dutch foundation (ANBI-status, KvK 02077809) serving young people aged 12-29. The flagship event runs over eight days each November (the 2026 edition is scheduled for 14-21 November 2026) across multiple Groningen venues including Festivalhart, Grand Theatre, Stadsschouwburg, De Nieuwe Kerk, USVA and Minerva, presenting theater, performance, dance, music, installations, workshops and masterclasses. Approximately 50% of audience attendance is driven by school visits during school hours, with the remaining demand from individual youth visitors, supplemented by a €50 Festival Passe-Partout for under-29s, stack discounts and free reservation events.

The core product surface extends beyond the November festival into a year-round education layer (Kunstwerf Educatie — tours, storytelling workshops, masterclasses) and structured talent-development tracks (FIELD for emerging makers, De Route for first-year students, STAGE for youth-on-stage programming, DE ARENA for interactive theater, TALK for dialogue). Co-productions include KU/RK with Terug naar het Begin and the multi-year "It Takes a Village" mental-health and empathy project with Noorderzon. Ticketing is operated through the Podium Nederland platform, with additional physical box office at Festivalhart during festival hours.

The revenue model combines three streams: ticket sales (youth-priced at €13-15, standard €19, with select €5 and free events), public-sector subsidies (Fonds Podiumkunsten, Fonds21, Gemeente Groningen, Provincie Groningen), and fee-based education services delivered through the Kunstwerf partnership. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored on direct school partnerships, youth community networks, and a volunteer Crew Program for 15-29 year-olds. No proprietary technology systems are disclosed beyond the external ticketing integration.

Name

Jonge Harten

Legal name

Stichting Jonge Harten

Website

https://jongeharten.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jonge Harten is a Groningen-based Dutch foundation that produces an annual eight-day theater festival and year-round education programs for audiences aged 12-29, funded by public cultural subsidies, ticket sales, and school partnerships across Northern Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Festival

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Theater festival
• Performing arts
• Youth education
• Cultural programming
• Live performance

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The festival generates revenue through individual ticket sales and a festival passe-partout (€50 unlimited access pass for visitors under 29). They offer youth pricing (typically €13-15) and stack discounts for purchasing multiple tickets.
2. Public Funding and Subsidies: Jonge Harten is supported by municipal (Gemeente Groningen), provincial (Provincie Groningen), and national (Fonds Podiumkunsten, Fonds21) public funding, as well as various cultural foundations. They hold ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status.
3. Education Services: The festival provides year-round education services through Kunstwerfeducatie, including tours, workshops, and masterclasses, all customized to group needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Jonge Harten stages an annual eight-day theater festival in Groningen presenting theater, performance, dance, music, installations, workshops and masterclasses programmed by young makers for audiences aged 12–29. The organization supplements the main festival with year-round educational programming through Kunstwerf Educatie and targeted youth development initiatives such as the Let's Talk monologue program and the FIELD talent development track.

Product overview

Jonge Harten is an eight-day theater festival for young people (aged 12–29) held annually in November in Groningen, Netherlands. The core product is the festival itself — a multi-venue program of theater, performance, dance, music, installations, workshops, masterclasses, and talks programmed by young makers. Supporting the festival are several year-round programs: Kunstwerf Educatie provides ongoing educational workshops and masterclasses for all ages; the Let's Talk (TALKS) program enables teenagers to write and perform their own monologues at the festival; and It Takes a Village is a multi-year partnership with Noorderzon focused on youth mental health and community. The festival's sub-branded program lines — FIELD (talent development), STAGE (youth-on-stage), DE ARENA (interactive theater), TALK (dialogue), and AFTER (evening social events) — segment the audience experience. Additional offerings include the Festival Passe-Partout (unlimited access pass for under-29s), the Crew volunteer program, and co-productions such as De KU/RK and the Jong Begin collaboration with Terug naar het Begin. Ticketing is managed through Podium Nederland's platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jonge Harten Festival Eight-day annual theater festival held every November in Groningen, presenting theater, performance, dance, music, installations, workshops and masterclasses programmed by young makers for audiences aged 12–29 across multiple city theaters and special locations.
• Kunstwerf Educatie Year-round educational programs delivered by Jonge Harten as part of the Kunstwerf cultural hub, including guided tours (KOM MEEMAKEN), storytelling workshops (KOM VERTELLEN) and masterclasses (KOM SPELEN) for groups of all ages, focused on creative disciplines and personal narrative development.
• Let's Talk (TALKS) Youth monologue program in which teenagers aged 14–18 from the province of Groningen write and perform their own monologues at the Let's Gro and Jonge Harten festivals, supported by a series of rehearsals and mentorship.
• FIELD Program Talent development track focused on young theater makers, offering long-term support, inspiration, and connection to the festival through FIELD LAB, FIELD TRIP and co-production opportunities for students developing their artistic practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ young visitors per festival edition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KunstwerfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural gathering place in Groningen housing Club Guy & Roni, NITE, De Steeg, De Noorderlingen, Het Houten Huis, Noordpool Orkest, and Gebied-B. Jonge Harten is part of the Kunstwerf and hosts its Festival Heart there. Kunstwerfeducatie is provided year-round.
• NoorderzoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership 'It takes a Village' focused on mental health, empathy, and real encounters for youth. Festival serves as 'modern village square' connecting young people, makers, and audiences.
• Let's Gro FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Let's Talk project where youth create speeches for performances at both festivals. Co-organized with Noordstaat, Theater De Steeg, De Noorderlingen.
• SPOT GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain venue partner and co-programmer of performances including 'Between the River and the Sea'. One of the most important venue partners.
• Grand Theatre GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey venue partner for festival performances and co-programmer of certain shows.
• Academy MinervaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt academy providing student involvement and graduation show visits for curator development.
• De NoorderlingenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTalent development house in Groningen training youth 12-25 in theater and film. Participates in STAGE program and Let's Talk.
• NITEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company in the Kunstwerf collective. Collaborated on dialogue events and shares facilities.
• Terug naar het Begin FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Jong Begin' program line bringing young talent to unique rural locations in Groningen. Includes KU/RK production by Bowie Redman Barbiers.
• Groninger Kerken (Take Me To Church)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch heritage organization engaging youth in church preservation and renewal. Youth commission uses Holwierde church as creative space.
• Mijn Thuis Mijn VerhaalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative project by Eemsdelta municipality helping residents discover what they need for a good home feeling through storytelling.
• Club Guy & RoniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company part of Kunstwerf collective, collaborating on performances and facility sharing.
• NoordpoortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational education institution whose students participate in festival programs.
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity contributing to cultural ecosystem in Groningen.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• NITE: Dance company operating from the Kunstwerf in Groningen, co-creating dialogue events with Jonge Harten. Comparable as a subsidized performing-arts organization sharing the same local infrastructure and audiences.
• Club Guy & Roni: Groningen-based dance-theater company within the Kunstwerf collective. Comparable in operating model (subsidized performing arts in Groningen) and serves as both a co-producer and venue-sharing partner of Jonge Harten.
• Het Houten Huis: Dutch youth theater company producing physical theater for young audiences. Comparable in youth-targeted performing arts focus and previously employed Jonge Harten's director Karlijn Benthem, signaling an overlapping talent and audience ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Over het IJ Festival: Amsterdam-based summer performing arts festival featuring theater, dance, and performance. Comparable in scale, multi-venue format, and public funding model.
• Karavaan Festival: Performing arts festival in Northern Netherlands combining theater, music, and visual arts in rural and small-town venues. Comparable regional scope and multidisciplinary arts focus.
• De Parade: Traveling Dutch performing arts festival that moves across multiple cities with a focus on theater, dance, and music. Comparable in multi-venue touring format and youth-friendly programming.
• Oerol: Long-running Dutch site-specific performing arts festival on Terschelling. Comparable in its multidisciplinary programming across theater, dance, and performance, and in its reliance on multiple venues and public funding.
• Noorderzon: Performing arts festival held annually in Groningen with a multi-day, multi-venue format. It is the festival's closest geographic and operational peer and co-partner on the 'It Takes a Village' multi-year youth program.
• SPRING Performing Arts Festival Utrecht: Annual performing arts festival in Utrecht presenting theater, dance, and performance by emerging and established makers. Comparable in scale, multi-venue programming, and focus on new-generation talent.

Regional players

• Theater aan Zee: Belgian performing arts festival held in Ostend with a focus on new theater and dance makers. Comparable festival format and emerging-maker focus, but operates across the Belgian-Dutch border.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/JongeHarten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jonge-harten-festival
• Instagraminstagram.com/jongeharten
• Xx.com/jongeharten

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Jonge Harten