Podium Hoge Woerd

What Podium Hoge Woerd does

Podium Hoge Woerd is a Dutch performing arts theater venue located within the Castellum Hoge Woerd complex, a reconstructed Roman fort in the Leidsche Rijn district of Utrecht (De Meern), Netherlands. Founded in 2015, the venue presents a diverse program of theater, dance, circus, cabaret, music, and talks, and sells tickets for both its own curated productions and guest performances. It operates a single theater hall and studio, with ticket sales conducted online via the Ticketmatic platform and at the physical box office, and supplements ticket revenue with venue rental to professional companies, schools, and corporate clients, tax-deductible donations under its cultural ANBI status, and subscriptions through the Podiumpas and WeArePublic passes.

The venue's programming is structured around a set of branded sub-series including DansDonderdag (themed dance nights with introductory talks), Nieuwe Namen (emerging artist showcases), Wat speelt er? (monthly thematic performances with discussion), PodiumBuiten (summer outdoor programming), Jong Podium (youth and family programming), Podium Parels (curated highlights), and No Dutch? No Problem! (language-independent performances for international audiences). Its core technology stack is a third-party ticketing integration with Ticketmatic, including Secure Smart Tickets for popular shows that activate one hour before the performance and refresh access codes every 30 seconds to prevent unauthorized resale.

Commercially, Podium Hoge Woerd addresses a hybrid audience: consumers buying individual tickets (€3-35 depending on performance, with student, U-pas, and group discounts available), as well as venue renters and partner organizations (notably Theater Kikker, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, and the co-located Castellum Café, Museum Hoge Woerd, and Steede Hoge Woerd city farm). Marketing is executed through its website, a monthly newsletter, a magazine with editorial content, social media, partner-venue distribution, and annual preview evenings. The venue received a top-5 nomination for the 2025 Theater van het Jaarprijs and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025.

Name

Podium Hoge Woerd

Legal name

Podium Hoge Woerd

Website

https://podiumhogewoerd.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Podium Hoge Woerd is a single-venue theater in Utrecht (De Meern), Netherlands, presenting theater, dance, circus, cabaret, music, and talks, and selling tickets via Ticketmatic to local and regional audiences since 2015.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Venue Guest Services & Front-of-House Operations (Ushers, Box Office, Accessibility) (MPAGALAK), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Special Effects (Pyro, Lasers, Confetti, Fog) (MPAGAKAF)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live theater programming
• Dance performances
• Theater ticket sales
• Venue rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

De Meern

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: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to theater, dance, circus, and music performances. Tickets are sold online via Ticketmatic system and at the box office. Prices vary by performance type.
2. Venue Rental: The theater hall and studio are available for rental for professional companies, semi-professional and amateur groups, school performances, corporate presentations, lectures, workshops, and inspiration sessions.
3. Donations: The organization has cultural ANBI status, making donations tax-deductible for both businesses and individuals. Donation options are offered during ticket checkout.
4. Subscriptions and Passes: Sale of Podiumpas allowing unlimited visits to performances and concerts. Also accepts WeArePublic-pas for discounted tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Podium Hoge Woerd operates a single-location theater venue in Utrecht (De Meern), Netherlands, presenting live performing arts — including theater, dance, circus, cabaret, music, and talks — and selling tickets for its program through the Ticketmatic online platform and physical box office. The venue also rents its theater hall and studio space to professional companies, amateur groups, schools, and organizations for performances, presentations, lectures, and workshops. Programming is organized around themed series such as Dance Thursday, New Names (emerging artists), What's Happening? (monthly themed talks), Young Podium, and language-independent shows, supported by accessibility services and tax-deductible donations under cultural ANBI status.

Product overview

Podium Hoge Woerd is a theater venue in Utrecht that operates as a single-location performing arts center rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. The core offering centers on live theater performances (dance, cabaret, music, circus, and drama) in the main theater hall. This is supported by specialized programming sub-brands including DansDonderdag (themed dance programming), Nieuwe Namen (emerging artist showcases), Wat Speelt Er? (themed monthly series with talks), PodiumBuiten (outdoor summer programming), Jong Podium (youth initiatives), Podium Parels (curated featured shows), and No Dutch? No Problem! (international-accessible performances). Additional services include ticket sales via Ticketmatic, venue rental, and accessibility accommodations. The venue also partners with Castellum Hoge Woerd, a multi-use complex housing an archaeology museum, city farm, and Italian restaurant/cafe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PodiumBuiten: Summer outdoor performance program on the outdoor stage with music, cabaret, and circus performances.
• Jong Podium
• DansDonderdag
• Nieuwe Namen
• Podium Parels
• Wat speelt er?
• No Dutch? No Problem!

Products and services

• Live Theater Performances and Shows Live performing arts program featuring theater, dance, cabaret, music, circus, and talks presented in the main theater hall for individual consumers and families in the Utrecht region. Tickets are sold online via Ticketmatic and at the physical box office, with thematic sub-brand programming including DansDonderdag, Nieuwe Namen, Wat speelt er?, Jong Podium, Podium Parels, PodiumBuiten, and No Dutch? No Problem!
• Zaalhuur (Venue Rental) Rental of the theater hall and studio space to professional theater companies, semi-professional and amateur groups, schools, and organizations for performances, presentations, lectures, workshops, and corporate or inspiration events. Located within the Castellum Hoge Woerd complex with access to on-site café, museum, and city farm.

Quantifiable outcome

• Theater van het Jaarprijs 2025 nomination (top 5)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• TicketmaticcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary ticketing platform partner providing online ticket sales, Secure Smart Tickets for popular shows, and mobile app integration. Secure Smart Tickets are extra-secure e-tickets designed to prevent resale.
• Castellum CafécoreOthersItalian restaurant located within the Castellum Hoge Woerd complex, serving as the theater's foyer. Offers pre-show drinks, dinners, and post-show socializing. Partner for dining experience connected to theater visits.
• Museum Hoge WoerdcoreOthersArchaeological museum within Castellum Hoge Woerd, part of UNESCO World Heritage Limes. Houses the Roman ship De Meern 1 and 3000 years of Leidsche Rijn history. Co-located cultural attraction.
• Steede Hoge Woerd (Utrecht Natuurlijk)supportingOthersCity farm within the Castellum complex operated by Utrecht Natuurlijk. Offers nature experiences, animal interactions, and garden activities. Part of the broader Castellum cultural destination.
• Theater KikkercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated theater venue in Utrecht. Theaters share programming (e.g., The Drama also shown at Theater Kikker). Theater Kikker celebrated its 50th anniversary. Both support cultural boycott of Israel.
• Stadsschouwburg UtrechtsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Utrecht theater presenting certain shows in partnership. Example: Circus Ronaldo Da Capo ticket sales handled through Stadsschouwburg Utrecht.
• PodiumpassupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubscription pass program allowing unlimited theater visits at participating venues. Podium Hoge Woerd accepts Podiumpas for discounted tickets.
• WeArePublicsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural subscription pass accepted at Podium Hoge Woerd for discounted ticket purchases.
• GaudeamussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents young music pioneers and new music. Mini festival events hosted at Podium Hoge Woerd. Partnership aimed at reaching Leidsche Rijn audience.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• DeLaMar Theater: Large established Dutch theater in Amsterdam presenting broad theater, cabaret, dance, and music programming. A larger incumbent in the same national theater space, with overlapping curatorial categories but significantly bigger scale and marketing reach.

Direct peers

• Stadsschouwburg Utrecht: Major Utrecht performing arts venue presenting theater, dance, and music. Actively co-produces and distributes shows with Podium Hoge Woerd (e.g., Circus Ronaldo tickets), directly competing for the same regional audiences and touring artists.
• Theater Kikker: Sister theater venue in Utrecht that shares programming and co-presents productions with Podium Hoge Woerd (e.g., The Drama). Directly comparable as a mid-sized Dutch theater with a mixed performing arts program and similar audience-development approach.
• TivoliVredenburg: Large Utrecht music and performing arts complex hosting concerts, dance, cabaret, and theater. Operates as a direct peer in the Utrecht cultural market, competing for touring productions and overlapping with Podium Hoge Woerd's cabaret and music programming.

Regional players

• Schouwburg Amstelveen: Mid-sized Dutch regional theater presenting mixed performing arts programming including dance, cabaret, and music. Comparable in scope and venue type, but located in the Amsterdam metropolitan region rather than Utrecht.
• Parktheater Eindhoven: Regional theater in Eindhoven with comparable mixed programming of theater, cabaret, dance, and family shows. Closely comparable in scale and operating model as a regional Dutch cultural venue, but serving a different city.
• Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie: Regional theater venue in Leeuwarden hosting theater, dance, music, and cabaret. Comparable programming mix and regional theater operating model, but operating in a different Dutch geography.
• Theater De Veste: Regional theater in Delft presenting theater, dance, music, and youth programming. Comparable in scale, programming breadth, and audience-development approach to Podium Hoge Woerd, serving a different Dutch region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/podium-hoge-woerd

Compliance1 record

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 Podium Hoge Woerd