Het Kleine Theater

What Het Kleine Theater does

Het Kleine Theater is a Dutch nonprofit youth theater company based in Amsterdam, founded in 2011 by Anke Engels. The organization produces original musical theater performances aimed primarily at young children and families, with a current repertoire of 14 productions performed in Dutch. Beyond stage productions, Het Kleine Theater has extended into related media including audio dramas (luisterdrama), music CDs ("De mooiste liedjes"), and branded merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies, and bags. The company co-produces with partners such as Garage TDI (Robin Hood) and operates a small permanent team supplemented by a large roster of guest performers, directors, and musicians engaged per production.

The business model combines ticket sales (priced roughly €10–€15 per seat), merchandise revenue, and public cultural subsidies from Dutch municipal and national arts funds. The organization draws approximately 15,000 visitors annually and maintains an active performance schedule at venues including its own Amsterdam location as well as touring dates such as Knokke-Heist in Belgium. The company has recently faced funding pressure after a subsidy application was rejected, prompting a community-organized benefit weekend to sustain operations.

Operationally, Het Kleine Theater is a low-capital, content-driven performing arts organization with no proprietary technology platform. Its value creation rests on creative output (scripts, music, choreography), brand recognition within the Dutch children's theater market, and relationships with venues, guest artists, and public funders. Revenue concentration on subsidy decisions and ticketed attendance creates a structurally lean operation with limited operating leverage.

Name

Het Kleine Theater

Legal name

Stichting Het Kleine Theater

Website

https://hetkleinetheater.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Het Kleine Theater is an Amsterdam-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that produces Dutch-language musical theater for young children and families, operating 14 productions and reaching roughly 15,000 visitors annually through ticketed shows, merchandise, and audio dramas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Theater / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), VIP Hospitality & Client Entertainment (Boxes, Suites, Hosted Experiences) (MPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Children's theater
• Youth theater productions
• Fairy tale performances
• Family live entertainment
• Performing arts foundation

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for theater performances at various venues across the Netherlands, including festivals, outdoor theaters, and indoor theaters. Tickets are sold through individual theater box offices and festival organizers.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including fabric backpack bags with fox prints (€10.00) and sets of cards with posters (€7.50), sold through the company's own online shop.
3. CD Sales: Sale of the CD 'De mooiste liedjes' (The most beautiful songs) containing songs from their productions, produced and recorded at Rusic Studio.
4. Subsidies and Donations: As an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling - Public Benefit Organization), the theater may receive subsidies and donations. The company has noted challenging times with subsidy applications being rejected, leading to fundraising efforts such as benefit weekends.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Het Kleine Theater is an Amsterdam-based children's theater company that creates and performs live theatrical productions based on fairy tales, classic Dutch folk songs, and recognizable stories for children aged 3 and older. The company maintains a permanent repertoire of approximately 14 productions (including Roodkapje, Robin Hood, Sneeuwwitje, Assepoester, and others) that tour to outdoor theaters, festivals, and indoor venues across the Netherlands, attracting around 15,000 visitors annually. Revenue is supplemented by branded merchandise, a music CD, and audio dramas.

Product overview

Het Kleine Theater is an Amsterdam-based children's theater company offering a unified portfolio of live theatrical productions centered on fairy tales, classic Dutch folk songs, and recognizable stories for young audiences (ages 3+). Their core offering consists of approximately 14 different productions that remain permanently in repertoire, including classics such as Roodkapje (Little Red Riding Hood), Sneeuwwitje (Snow White), Robin Hood, Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty), Repelsteeltje (Rumpelstiltskin), De Sneeuwkoningin (The Snow Queen), Rapunzel, Assepoester (Cinderella), Hans en Grietje (Hansel and Gretel), De Prinses op de Erwt (The Princess and the Pea), and original works such as Ietje en Fietje, Het Meisje met de Zwavelstokjes (The Little Match Girl), Lady en de Vage Hond, De Sint Revue (Sinterklaas Review), De Sprookjes Revue (Fairy Tale Review), Buurvrouw en Buurvrouw, Het Blauwe Billenmonster, and Het Verhaal van Sint Baba. The company operates a merchandise shop selling branded items including backpacks and poster cards. Supplementary offerings include a music CD 'De mooiste liedjes' and audio books/hoorspellen based on productions. Performances are held at outdoor venues, festivals, and theaters throughout the Netherlands, with approximately 15,000 annual visitors. The company was founded by artistic leaders Anke Engels and Vimala Nijenhuis in 2011 and is a co-production partner with Garage TDI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theater Productions Live theatrical performances based on fairy tales, Dutch folk songs, and recognizable stories for children ages 3 and older. All 14 productions remain in permanent repertoire and are performed at outdoor theaters (summer), festivals, and indoor venues (winter) throughout the Netherlands, averaging approximately 15,000 visitors per year.
• Merchandise Shop Online merchandise store selling branded items including a fabric backpack with the beloved fox character design (€10.00) and a set of five cards showcasing the theater's most beautiful show posters (€7.50). Prices include shipping costs.
• De mooiste liedjes (CD) Music album featuring the most beautiful songs from the theater's productions, produced and recorded at Rusic Studio.
• Luisterboeken/Hoorspellen (Audiobooks/Audio Dramas) Audio books and audio dramas based on existing productions, developed starting in 2020, featuring theatrical stories adapted for audio listening.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000 visitors annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Garage TDIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for the Robin Hood production. Garage TDI collaborated with Het Kleine Theater on creating a contemporary version of the classic Robin Hood story. This partnership represents a creative collaboration for joint product development in youth theater.
• Bureau Vanaf2coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImpresario/booking agency representing Het Kleine Theater for performance bookings. Handles corporate and private event bookings at [email protected] or 020-636 68 60. Acts as the primary booking channel for bringing productions to venues.
• Theaterfestival De ParademajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor summer theater festival where Het Kleine Theater performs annually with productions like Roodkapje. The festival provides a platform for reaching large audiences across multiple cities (Rotterdam, Den Haag, Amsterdam, Utrecht).
• Amsterdamse BostheatermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor theater venue in the Amsterdamse Bos where Het Kleine Theater performs annually during summer months with productions like Robin Hood. A signature venue for the company's summer programming.
• Art of Wonder FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth theater festival in Assen where Het Kleine Theater has performed with productions including Robin Hood. Part of the festival circuit for youth theater.
• De KrakelingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmsterdam theater venue that has shown strong support for Het Kleine Theater, including hosting benefit events. The Krakeling and its audience have supported the company during challenging times, hosting special events where all proceeds support Het Kleine Theater.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Stella Den Haag: Established Dutch theater company (Den Haag) with a wider programming mandate including work for younger audiences. Listed as a prior company of Het Kleine Theater co-founder Vimala Nijenhuis; comparable in geography and broader performing arts focus.

Direct peers

• De Toneelmakerij: Amsterdam-based youth theater company producing theater for children and young people, including adaptations of classic stories. Closely comparable to Het Kleine Theater in geography, audience, and story-driven repertoire approach.
• Het Houten Huis: Dutch family and youth theater company with a touring repertoire of productions for children. Comparable in mission, scale, and reliance on multi-venue festival distribution.
• Kwatta: Nijmegen-based Dutch youth theater company creating original performances for children, including very young audiences. Comparable in mission and in building a touring repertoire for the 3+ segment that Het Kleine Theater serves.
• Theater Artemis: Established Dutch youth theater company based in Alkmaar producing shows for children and families. Operates a similar touring, festival-driven GTM with comparable repertoire-style programming for young audiences.
• BonteHond: Alkmaar-based Dutch youth theater company producing original performances for young audiences on a similar touring, multi-venue model. Directly comparable in mission, scale, and target age group to Het Kleine Theater.
• Het Laagland: Limburg-based Dutch theater company producing performances for children and young people, including very young audiences. Comparable in target demographic and in building a touring, repertoire-based youth offering.
• Firma MES: Dutch family theater company producing performances for young children across the Netherlands. Directly comparable in age group (3+), repertoire approach, and touring model.
• NTjong: The youth division of Het Nationale Theater, producing performances for young audiences across the Netherlands. Directly competes for the same family theater audience and festival slots as Het Kleine Theater.

Emerging players

• Theatergroep De Warme Winkel: Amsterdam-based Dutch theater collective led by artistiek leider Vincent Rietveld, who also directs for Het Kleine Theater. Comparable as an Amsterdam-rooted independent theater maker operating in the same Dutch ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hetkleinetheater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/het-kleine-theater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Het Kleine Theater