Natuurtheater De Kersouwe

What Natuurtheater De Kersouwe does

Natuurtheater De Kersouwe is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (Stichting Natuurtheater de Kersouwe) operating an open-air theater situated in the forest of Heeswijk-Dinther, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Founded in 1945, the organization was originally established to enable mixed-gender theater performances under Catholic ecclesiastical restrictions, leveraging open-air venues as a legal workaround. The theater operates seasonally from May through September and produces two in-house productions per year—one by the adult Theatergroep and one by the Jeugdtheatergroep—alongside a program of external performances, concerts, opera, and youth/family shows. Approximately 3-4 Klassentheater workshops per year serve local elementary schools.

The organization is entirely volunteer-operated, with no paid staff; volunteers handle box office, bar service, technical production, building maintenance, costumes, decoration, and marketing year-round. Its technology stack is minimal: a Dutch-language website (kersouwe.nl) integrated with the Stager e-commerce platform for online ticket sales, plus organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram) and YouTube for content marketing. The legal entity holds Culturele ANBI status (granted January 1, 2014), which provides Dutch donors with enhanced gift deduction benefits.

The revenue model is diversified across three modest streams: one-time ticket sales (€5.50 for youth productions to €29 for concerts, with a €2 service charge on tickets ≥€15), a recurring "Vrienden van De Kersouwe" membership/subscription program for loyal supporters, and transaction-based bar/horeca (beverage) sales during performances. Distribution is regional, primarily serving the Bernheze region of North Brabant, with ticket sales conducted online via Stager and at a physical box office. The theater does not publicly disclose financial statements.

Name

Natuurtheater De Kersouwe

Legal name

Stichting Natuurtheater de Kersouwe

Website

https://kersouwe.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Natuurtheater De Kersouwe is a volunteer-run Dutch nonprofit foundation operating an 80-year-old open-air forest theater in Heeswijk-Dinther, producing amateur and professional performances, youth theater, and school workshops on a seasonal May–September calendar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGALAG

Outdoor Amphitheater & Open-Air Venue Operations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Event Venues & Venue Operations (Arenas, Theaters, Halls)

SECONDARYMPAIAFAA

Concert & Tour Promoters

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Live Music & Touring (Promoters, Venues, Ticketing)

SECONDARYMPAGALAK

Venue Guest Services & Front-of-House Operations (Ushers, Box Office, Accessibility)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Event Venues & Venue Operations (Arenas, Theaters, Halls)

Keywords

• Open-air theater
• Amateur theater productions
• Youth theater
• Performing arts venue
• Live cultural events

Headquarters

HQ city

Heeswijk-Dinther

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of tickets to theater performances, concerts, and events. Ticket prices range from €5.50 for youth theater to €29 for concerts.
2. Vrienden van De Kersouwe (Friends Membership): Friends program providing membership/subscription benefits for loyal supporters of the theater
3. Horeca/Beverage Sales: Bar and refreshment sales during performances at the theater venue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Natuurtheater De Kersouwe operates a volunteer-run open-air theater in the forest of Heeswijk-Dinther, Netherlands, presenting a seasonal program (May–September) of amateur and professional theater performances, youth theater productions, school workshops (Klassentheater), and external concerts or opera. The foundation sells tickets online through Stager and at the venue box office, runs a "Vrienden van De Kersouwe" (Friends) supporter membership, and serves on-site bar and refreshments during performances.

Product overview

Natuurtheater De Kersouwe is een vrijwilligersorganisatie die een breed scala aan amateur- en professionele theatervoorstellingen brengt en ontwikkelt. Het kernaanbod bestaat uit eigen theaterproducties (Theatergroep en Jeugdtheatergroep), Klassentheater workshops voor scholen, en Evenementen met externe artiesten. Daarnaast biedt de organisatie kaartverkoopdiensten en een Vriendenprogramma. De voorstellingen vinden plaats in een openluchttheater in het bos van Heeswijk-Dinther, met een seizoen van mei tot september.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatervoorstellingen (Theater Productions) Annual amateur and professional theater productions staged at the open-air nature theater for the regional public, artists, and volunteers.
• Jeugdtheatergroep (Youth Theater Productions) In-house youth theater productions for families and young audiences, including the family production 'Pam en de Wonderjam', performed by the Jeugdtheatergroep Kersouwe.
• Klassentheater (School Theater Workshops) Educational theater workshops and performances for local elementary schools (basisscholen), organized 3–4 times per year.
• Evenementen (Events) External performances booked by the Events committee, including opera (e.g., 'La Sonnambula' by Vereniging Bossche Opera and Osse Opera Vereniging with Symfonieorkest Eindhoven), concerts (e.g., The Dutch Eagles), and music theater.
• Kaartverkoop (Ticket Sales) Online and box office ticket sales for all performances and events, delivered via the Stager online ticketing platform.
• Vrienden van De Kersouwe (Friends Membership) Recurring membership ("Vrienden") program for supporters, providing subscription benefits to the theater and qualifying for tax-deductible donations under Culturele ANBI status.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vereniging Bossche OperacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Opera production collaboration. The Vereniging Bossche Opera took the lead in producing the opera 'La Sonnambula' by Vincenzo Bellini at Natuurtheater De Kersouwe, performed outdoors under the stars.
• Osse Opera VerenigingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Collaborated with Osse Opera Vereniging on the production of opera 'La Sonnambula' at De Kersouwe outdoor theater.
• Symfonieorkest EindhovencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Symphony orchestra providing musical accompaniment for the opera performance 'La Sonnambula', under musical direction of Wim Reijnders.
• Openluchttheaters.nlminorOthersBranch association for open-air theaters in the Netherlands. De Kersouwe is a member of this industry body.
• Aa-landminorOthersMember of the Aa-land cooperative, a regional development/cooperative organization.
• Theatergroep MariahoutminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal amateur theater group that books and performs at De Kersouwe venue, such as their production of 'De Gelaarsde Kat'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Openluchttheater De Lievekamp: Open-air theater component of cultural complex in Oss, North Brabant, presenting summer theater and music programming — directly comparable as a fellow Brabant open-air venue serving similar family and theater-enthusiast segments.
• Openluchttheater Valkenburg: Open-air theater in Valkenburg, Limburg, running summer theater and concert programming with a similar volunteer/community ethos — directly comparable as a fellow Dutch open-air venue.
• Openluchttheater Caprera: Open-air theater in Bloemendaal, Netherlands, operating a similar seasonal May–September schedule with mixed amateur/professional theater, concerts, and family programming — the closest direct comparable venue to De Kersouwe in operating model and target audience.
• Openluchttheater De Bussel: Open-air theater located in Best, North Brabant — same province as De Kersouwe. Operates comparable volunteer-driven summer programming including theater, concerts, and youth productions, directly competing for the same regional audience.

Regional players

• Theater aan de Parade: Indoor theater in 's-Hertogenbosch, North Brabant, presenting professional theater, opera, and concerts. Comparable as a regional competitor for live performing arts audiences in the same Brabant catchment area, though operating year-round and at a different price point.
• Theater De NWE Vorst: Cultural venue in Tilburg, North Brabant, presenting theater, music, and family programming. Competes for the same Brabant audiences as De Kersouwe, though with an indoor, year-round model and more contemporary programming orientation.
• Theater 't Speelhuis: Theater in Helmond, North Brabant, presenting a mixed program of professional and amateur productions including youth/family shows — a regional competitor for theater and family audiences in the eastern Brabant catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Het Nationale Theater: Largest publicly-funded theater organization in the Netherlands, operating multiple venues in The Hague with broad theater, opera, and youth programming. Relevant broad incumbent whose pricing, programming, and touring choices shape the same national audience pool.
• Parktheater Eindhoven: Larger, professionally-staffed theater in Eindhoven presenting a wide program of theater, music, dance, and family shows. Overlaps with De Kersouwe on family/youth and music programming but operates year-round indoors with broader programming.

Others

• Openluchttheaters.nl: Dutch industry association for open-air theaters, of which De Kersouwe is a member. Relevant as the sector body that grants the Epidaurus Prize and coordinates collective advocacy for the open-air theater category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kersouwe
• Instagraminstagram.com/kersouwe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kersouwe

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Natuurtheater De Kersouwe