De Nieuwe Vorst

What De Nieuwe Vorst does

De Nieuwe Vorst (legal entity: Stichting De Nieuwe Vorst) is a Dutch non-profit theater foundation operating an intimate, multidisciplinary performing arts venue at Willem II-straat 49 in Tilburg. Established as a theater in 1996 inside a monumental villa originally built in 1870, the organization presents contemporary theater, modern dance, experimental performance, circus, literature, and music programming across two auditoriums (Grote Zaal and Kleine Zaal), a café, and a hidden garden. The foundation is governed under a board-director model led by director Bart van de Laak and artistic leader Joanne Mensert, and is part of the VSCD network while adhering to the Governance Code Cultuur. It is a member of VSCD and follows Dutch cultural governance standards.

The venue operates a hybrid offering that pairs cultural programming with revenue-generating side streams: ticket sales (€10–€19 standard, €9.50 for students/youth under 25), café and bar operations during performances, venue and meeting-room hire, office space rental to cultural enterprises (€505–€515 per month), and an ANBI-registered donation program that makes contributions 125% tax-deductible. Co-tenants include Festival Circolo, House of Nouws, Tilt, IVA Onderwijs, How About Design, Spoor, and Het Activeringshuis, creating an embedded creative cluster. Marketing runs through Facebook, Instagram, newsletters, and earned media, with partnerships including Rotterdam Festivals for audience analytics and Factorium Cultuurmakers for overflow programming during renovation.

The underlying infrastructure is standard theater technology — performance spaces, café facilities, and technical production equipment — without proprietary platform or technology components. Revenue mechanics rely on event-driven demand (ticket sales, café), subscription-style recurring income (office rentals, ANBI donations), and one-off capital campaigns (a recent crowdfunding initiative raised €50,252 from 442 donors for a new tribune). The building is owned by the Municipality of Tilburg, and the venue is currently undergoing a major renovation (October 2025 – May 2026) designed by Buro013 Architecten to add a new street-level entrance, transparent foyer, and accessibility improvements.

Name

De Nieuwe Vorst

Legal name

Stichting De Nieuwe Vorst

Website

https://denieuwevorst.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

De Nieuwe Vorst is a non-profit Dutch theater foundation operating a multidisciplinary performing arts venue in a 1870 monumental villa in Tilburg, offering contemporary theater, dance, performance, café services, office rentals, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Contemporary theater programming
• Venue rental services
• Cultural event hosting
• Performing arts productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Tilburg

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Revenue generated from selling tickets to performances, events, and shows at the theater
2. Office space rental: Rental income from office spaces within the theater building, including a Buurtkamer (32.1 m2) and shared office space in the side wing
3. Donations and crowdfunding: Financial support from donors and community, including ANBI-status donations which are 125% tax-deductible. Raised €50,252 through crowdfunding campaign for new tribune.
4. Café and bar: Revenue from café services open before, during, and after performances
5. Venue rental and hire: The venue is available for rental and hire, including meeting rooms and performance spaces

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

De Nieuwe Vorst operates as a multidisciplinary performing arts venue in a historic 1870 monumental villa in Tilburg, presenting contemporary theater, modern dance, performance art, circus, literary events, and music across two auditoriums. Complementary services include café and hospitality offerings, office space rental to cultural entrepreneurs, and venue hire for external events and rehearsals. The venue supports an artist-development platform through its Under Construction program for emerging and experimental makers.

Product overview

De Nieuwe Vorst operates as a multidisciplinary arts venue offering theater and performance programming, hospitality services, and venue rentals. The core offering centers on contemporary theater and dance programming across multiple spaces within a historic 1870 villa, featuring two auditoriums, a café, and a garden. Supporting services include office space rental to cultural entrepreneurs, venue hire for external events, an online ticketing system, and loyalty programs. The venue is undergoing a major renovation from October 2025 to May 2026, with a new entrance, foyer, and café expansion designed by Buro013 Architecten.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theater and Performance Programming Contemporary theater, dance, and multidisciplinary performance programming featuring established and emerging makers across two auditoriums and additional spaces within the historic 1870 villa. Includes multilingual programming for international audiences.
• Café and Foyer Services Hospitality services including café operations, beverages, and event catering open before, during, and after performances, with a new foyer planned to open in 2026.
• Office Space Rental Monthly rental of two office spaces within the theater building to cultural and societal entrepreneurs: a Buurtkamer (32.1 m2) at €515/month and a shared office (28.6 m2) at €505/month, both excluding VAT and including energy and service costs.
• Venue and Room Hire Rental of various spaces within the building for events, rehearsals, and external productions, including the small auditorium (Kleine Zaal), Red Salon, meeting rooms, and the hidden garden.
• Under Construction Program An ongoing program series showcasing experimental and emerging work, continuing during the venue renovation period with performances held at alternative locations including Factorium Cultuurmakers.
• Situation Room Experimental and improvisational music night series featuring collectives Het Concreet, HUTCAFE_ORG, and Vatican Analog performing unpredictable live music.
• Shut Up and Write Monthly writing session program bringing writers together for shared concentration and productivity in the theater's spaces.
• Donation and Support Program Financial support program allowing one-time donations to the theater, with ANBI status making donations 125% tax-deductible. Includes a 2025-2026 crowdfunding campaign for a new tribune that raised €50,252 from 442 donors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised €50,252 through 442 donations for new tribune

Named customers8 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Factorium CultuurmakerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership during renovation period. Factorium's theater at Koningsplein hosts performances when De Nieuwe Vorst's large auditorium is unavailable. This collaboration has created a deeper cultural partnership in Tilburg, with joint programming and mutual learning between the organizations.
• Rotterdam FestivalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for audience research and statistical data collection. Processes postal codes for statistical analysis using the Culturele Doelgroepenmodel, providing insights for programming and marketing policy.
• Buro013 ArchitectencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm designed the renovation of De Nieuwe Vorst, creating a new contemporary entrance at Girostraat level, transparent foyer, and accessibility improvements while respecting the historic monument.
• Het ActiveringshuisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCurrent co-tenant sharing office space in the side wing of De Nieuwe Vorst, primarily using the space on Mondays and Thursdays.
• Festival CircolominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMost versatile international circus theater festival in the Netherlands, co-located in De Nieuwe Vorst building.
• House of NouwsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheater collective of seven creators making theater from three artistic principles, co-located in De Nieuwe Vorst building.
• TiltminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiterary organization that brings letters to life for audiences and writers, co-located in De Nieuwe Vorst building.
• IVA OnderwijsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPractice-oriented research and advisory organization at the intersection of science and practice, co-located in De Nieuwe Vorst building.
• How About DesignminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesign agency for mission-driven organizations, co-located in De Nieuwe Vorst building.
• SpoorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganization bringing people together to create artworks and stories, making art visible, co-located in De Nieuwe Vorst building.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam: Large Amsterdam municipal theater presenting established and contemporary programming. Larger, broader portfolio player in the Dutch theater landscape; overlaps on venue presentation but with significantly greater scale and resources.
• Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA): Amsterdam's leading repertory theater producing and presenting both classic and contemporary work. Much larger national incumbent with overlapping general mission of presenting high-quality Dutch theatrical performance.
• Het Nationale Theater: The Hague-based national theater combining multiple venues (including Koninklijke Schouwburg and Zaal Theaters). Large established player presenting both contemporary and classical work across many spaces.

Regional players

• Toneelhuis / Toneelgroep Antwerp: Antwerp-based Flemish theater producing contemporary and experimental Dutch-language programming. Comparable in mission and Belgian-Dutch regional context but operates across the border in Flanders.

Direct peers

• Parktheater Eindhoven: Regional theater in Eindhoven serving the South Netherlands region with multi-space programming, café, and venue hire. Directly comparable in mission, catchment area, and mixed program model including contemporary and classical work.
• Theater aan de Parade: Regional theater in 's-Hertogenbosch offering diverse programming across multiple spaces including experimental and contemporary work. Comparable scale, regional positioning, and mixed contemporary/established programming in the same South Netherlands catchment.
• Chassé Theater Breda: Mid-sized regional theater in Breda, near Tilburg, presenting contemporary and multidisciplinary programming with multiple auditoriums and venue rental/hospitality functions. Highly comparable in scale, regional positioning, and Dutch regional theater model.
• Theater Rotterdam: Major Rotterdam-based theater producing and presenting contemporary work, including dance and experimental programming. Comparable as a Dutch producer/presenter of contemporary and experimental theatrical work.
• Factorium Cultuurmakers: Tilburg-based cultural development organization and venue. Direct local peer offering performance and maker development programming; currently partners with De Nieuwe Vorst as overflow venue during its renovation.
• Korzo Theater: The Hague-based venue focused on new makers, contemporary dance, and experimental performance. Closely aligned with De Nieuwe Vorst's role as a development platform for emerging Dutch makers and dance programmers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DeNieuweVorst
• Instagraminstagram.com/denieuwevorst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-nieuwe-vorst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 De Nieuwe Vorst