De Krakeling

What De Krakeling does

Theater De Krakeling is an Amsterdam-based cultural institution founded in 1978 that operates exclusively as a youth and family theater. The company programs and presents live theater performances targeted at children from age 3 through teenagers, alongside dedicated educational programs for primary and secondary schools, venue rental services for external productions, and a year-round festival calendar anchored by the Nationale Kindertheaterweek (autumn) and NTF Jong (Nederlands Theater Festival youth selection). Programming is curated around socially relevant themes for young audiences, including identity, family diversity, courage, resilience, and inclusion, with productions such as "Kids Pride: Ei," "Samar en de bange koning," "Duik," "Achilles," and the Keti Koti performance "Naar Ndakaaru zwemmen."

The company's product surface comprises five distinct lines: (1) ticketed public performances priced between €1.00 and €19.50 per ticket, (2) a school and education division offering bespoke on-stage programs for class groups, (3) venue rental (zaalverhuur) of its theater halls to third-party producers, (4) two annual festivals (Nationale Kindertheaterweek and NTF Jong), and (5) the Krakeling KinderRaad, a standing advisory council of nine children aged 8–12 that meets at least five times per year to inform programming decisions. The KinderRaad is structurally embedded in the organization and has presented at the Jeugdtheatergala, indicating it functions as a quasi-governance body rather than a marketing exercise.

Revenue is generated through three streams: per-ticket unit sales (one-time license pricing model), venue rental (professional services), and school program bookings (one-time license). Distribution is regional and direct, primarily through the krakeling.nl website, an on-site box office at Pazzanistraat 15 in Amsterdam open two hours before performances, and group bookings with schools. The company does not disclose revenue, operates as a private entity with no parent company identified, and runs a small staff of 11–50 employees. Its marketing relies on the website, an email newsletter, festival participation, and school partnerships. Co-productions and hosting partnerships with Dutch youth theater companies (Theatergroep TOBAL, De Toneelmakerij, Theatergroep Het Nut, Theatergroep Jansen & de Boer) and individual creators supplement the proprietary program.

Name

De Krakeling

Legal name

Theater De Krakeling

Website

https://krakeling.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Theater De Krakeling is an Amsterdam-based youth theater founded in 1978 that stages live performances for children aged 3+, runs educational programs for schools, rents its venue, and operates the KinderRaad youth advisory council.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Educational & Youth Community Events (School/Youth Festivals) (MPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Youth theater performances
• Children's cultural programs
• Educational theater programs
• Family theater events
• Theater venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from selling tickets to theater performances for children and youth. Prices range from €1.00 to €19.50 depending on the production.
2. Venue Rental: The theater offers venue rental services for external events and productions.
3. School Programs: Specialized theater performances and programs designed for school groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Theater De Krakeling is an Amsterdam-based theater dedicated exclusively to children and youth, producing and presenting live theater performances ranging from toddler productions to teenage shows. The venue also delivers tailored educational theater programs for schools, hosts festivals such as the Nationale Kindertheaterweek, and rents its theater space to external productions and events. Programming addresses themes such as identity, resilience, family diversity, and courage, and is developed in part through direct input from young audiences via the KinderRaad children's council.

Product overview

Theater De Krakeling is een Amsterdams theater gespecialiseerd in voorstellingen voor kinderen, jongeren en hun families. Het theater biedt een divers programma van theatervoorstellingen, van peutervoorstellingen tot voorstellingen voor tieners, naast educatieve programma's voor scholen en speciale festivals zoals de Nationale Kindertheaterweek. Het theater werkt samen met Nederlandse jeugdtheatergezelschappen voor coproducties en presenteert zowel eigen programma's als gastvoorstellingen. De Krakeling onderscheidt zich door betrokkenheid van het jonge publiek via initiatieven zoals de Krakeling KinderRaad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Theater Performances

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Suriname MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombiticket partnership offering combined access to Theater De Krakeling performances and the Suriname Museum for €35 (1 parent + up to 2 children), including Heri Heri meal and museum scavenger hunt during summer vacation.
• Theatergroep TOBALminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with Theatergroep TOBAL for the performance 'Samar en de bange koning'.
• De ToneelmakerijminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation with De Toneelmakerij and Likeminds for the Keti Koti performance 'Naar Ndakaaru zwemmen'.
• LikemindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation with De Toneelmakerij and Theater De Krakeling for the Keti Koti performance 'Naar Ndakaaru zwemmen'.
• Theatergroep Jansen & de BoerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting partnership with Theatergroep Jansen & de Boer for the performance 'Duik' as part of the Nederlands Theater Festival.
• Theatergroep Het NutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting partnership with Theatergroep Het Nut for the performance 'Achilles' as part of the Nederlands Theater Festival.
• Jesse StenzlerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with Jesse Stenzler for 'Kids Pride: Ei', based on the story of Roy and Silo penguins from Central Park Zoo.
• Collectief Friends of DorothyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal concept inspiration from Collectief Friends of Dorothy for the 'Kids Pride: Ei' performance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Theater Sonnevanck: Enschede-based Dutch youth theater producing original productions for children. Like De Krakeling, it focuses exclusively on youth audiences, schools, and family programming.
• BonteHond: Alkmaar-based youth theater company creating productions for children aged 4+. Direct Dutch peer producing theatrical work for young audiences with school-program distribution.
• Little Angel Theatre: London's premier puppet and children's theater combining original productions with school and family programming. Direct international peer in dedicated children's theater and educational outreach.
• Theater Artemis: Maastricht-based Dutch youth theater producing shows for children and young people. Competes for the same school-booking and family-ticket audiences as De Krakeling.
• Polka Theatre: London's dedicated children's theater producing shows and education programs for ages 0–13. Functionally equivalent to De Krakeling as a venue-and-producing-house focused exclusively on young audiences.
• Maas theater en dans: Rotterdam-based youth theater and dance company producing performances for children and young people. Comparable to De Krakeling in producing season programming aimed at young audiences and school groups.
• De Toneelmakerij: Major Dutch youth theater company producing plays and musicals for young audiences and co-producing with De Krakeling (e.g., Keti Koti). Closest direct comparable in mission, scale, and school-touring model.
• Stella Den Haag: The Hague-based youth theater company producing original plays for children. Comparable Dutch youth-focused producing company with school and family programming model similar to De Krakeling.

Broad incumbents

• International Theater Amsterdam: Amsterdam's flagship theater with a youth programming strand (Junior ITA). Overlaps geographically with De Krakeling for school and family audiences but is a much broader institution.
• Het Nationale Theater: Larger Dutch theater institution with a dedicated youth programming line. Overlaps with De Krakeling on family and school programming but operates across multiple genres (drama, dance, opera).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theaterkrak
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeKrakeling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-krakeling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 De Krakeling