PLEIN THEATER

What PLEIN THEATER does

Plein Theater is a non-profit community theater and production house operating as Stichting PodiumPartners from a single venue at Sajetplein 39 in Amsterdam East, Netherlands. Founded in 1983 by activist residents during the squatting movement in the former Amstel Brewery canteen, the venue houses an intimate 8x8m stage with 79 seats expandable to 93, professional lighting and sound, a Schimmel Model 130T piano, dressing rooms, a café/bar operated by Peggy's Kitchen, and the Instigator Studio music recording workspace. The organization programs contemporary theater, dance, puppetry (including the co-organized Queering Puppets Festival Amsterdam, now in its 5th edition in 2026), contemporary music (Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam monthly series since 2019), youth and family performances, visual exhibitions, and community co-creation events under the #GetInvolved banner.

The business operates as both a programming venue and a production house, offering artist residencies (notably via Performing Arts Fund NL's Nieuwe Makersregeling 2024-2025), co-productions that have toured internationally including to Suriname, and venue rental for external events of 30-100 people. The team is described as small and diverse, led by business and artistic director Berith Danse (since 2019) with a board chaired by Bert Barten, supported by curators, technicians, bar coordinators, and a community producer.

Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket sales (online and box office), venue rental, café and bar operations, and — most structurally important — multi-source Dutch public arts subsidies from Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Fonds Podiumkunsten, VSB Fonds, and Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsdeel Oost. The customer base is distributed across general theatergoers, families, emerging and established artists, and event organizers, with accessibility supported through Dutch cultural discount passes (We Are Public, Uitpas, Podiumpas, CJP, Stadspas). Distribution is regional, anchored in Amsterdam East, with selective international reach via touring productions and festival partnerships such as Holland Festival.

Name

PLEIN THEATER

Legal name

Stichting PodiumPartners

Website

https://plein-theater.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plein Theater is a non-profit community theater and production house in Amsterdam East, founded in 1983, operating an 8x8m stage venue with 79-93 seats, café, and music studio. It serves general audiences, families, and emerging artists with contemporary theater, dance, puppetry, and music programming, funded by Dutch public arts subsidies and earned revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Concert Venue Operators (Arenas, Amphitheaters, Clubs) (MPAGAAAC), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Theater venue rental
• Contemporary performing arts
• Artist residency programs
• Community theater programming
• Youth and family performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from sale of tickets for performances and events
2. Venue Rental: The theater is available for rental for rehearsals, performances, workshops, presentations, and events for groups of 30-100 people
3. Café and Bar: Spacious café with staffed bar and terrace serving coffee, drinks, and food through Peggy's Kitchen catering
4. Government Subsidies and Grants: Supported by Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Fonds Podiumkunsten, VSB Fonds, and Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsdeel Oost

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Plein Theater operates a community theater and concert venue in Amsterdam East featuring an intimate 8x8 meter stage with 79-93 seats. Its core offerings include contemporary theater, dance, puppetry, and contemporary music performances (Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam series), an artist residency Production House, youth and family programming, visual art exhibitions in the café, on-site café and bar (Peggy's Kitchen), an affordable music recording studio (Instigator Studio), and venue rental for external events. The venue combines a presentation stage with a co-creation and community engagement program (#GetInvolved) under the non-profit foundation Stichting PodiumPartners.

Product overview

Plein Theater is an intimate theater and concert venue in Amsterdam East that operates as a multi-faceted cultural institution combining a physical performance space with various programming and community services. The core offerings include: a 8x8 meter stage venue available for rental, a café/bar operated by Peggy's Kitchen, the Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam concert series for contemporary music, an artist residency Production House program, youth and family performances, visual art exhibitions, volunteer and internship opportunities, and the Instigator Studio music workspace. The theater serves as both a stage for co-creation and a production house, featuring the #GetInvolved community co-creation program. All these services support the venue's mission as a frontrunner in contemporary theater, dance, music, puppetry, and socially engaged performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theater Venue Rental 79-93 seat theater available for rental to artists and organizers for performances, rehearsals, workshops, and events. Features an 8x8 meter stage, professional lighting and sound systems, fully equipped dressing room, and piano. Caters to groups of 30-100 people.
• Café and Bar (Peggy's Kitchen) Spacious café with staffed bar and terrace serving sustainable local products and international fusion dishes through Peggy's Kitchen catering. Available for private catering and group reservations.
• Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam Concert Series Monthly concert series at Plein Theater since 2019 dedicated to contemporary music, presenting brand-new compositions by leading and emerging musicians on Sunday afternoons. Curated by composer Aspasia Nasopoulou and bass clarinetist Fie Schouten.
• Production House Artist Residencies Artist residency program and production support for emerging artists, offering space for experimentation with puppet and object theater, contemporary dance, music, and interdisciplinary forms. Curated by artistic director Berith Danse.
• Youth and Family Program Bold and boundless youth and family performances for all ages, including puppet theater, music, dance, and theater productions, plus workshops and activities connected to performance themes.
• Visual Art Exhibitions Visual art exhibitions displayed on the café walls, curated in context of the theater program. Features works by artists from Amsterdam East with festive opening and closing events.
• Instigator Studio Affordable music recording and creative space within Plein Theater for emerging musicians to learn, create, and develop their craft at accessible pricing.
• Community Programs / #GetInvolved Co-creation program with shared ownership and participation at its core, including neighborhood initiatives, community events, and collaborative projects connecting makers, residents, and audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 years of continuous operation as community theater
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EAST& (Pop-up Culture House)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative pop-up culture platform in Amsterdam East initiated by Plein Theater along with Framer Framed, De Rode Loper op School, and Production House Nowhere. Organizes cultural activities with and for the neighborhood.
• Queering Puppets Festival AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual international festival for visual theatre, puppetry, and queer perspectives co-organized with Cat Smits Company since 2022. Celebrated 5th anniversary in 2026.
• Framer FramedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization and founding partner of EAST& pop-up culture platform, collaborating on neighborhood cultural programming
• De Rode Loper op SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation program and founding partner of EAST&, collaborating on workshops and neighborhood cultural activities
• Production House NowherecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction house and founding partner of EAST&, contributing to interdisciplinary artistic development
• Theater Na de DamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on annual May 4-5 commemoration and celebration programming in partnership
• Tafel van OostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on community freedom meal events in Oosterpark during May 4-5 commemorations
• Cat Smits CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Queering Puppets Festival Amsterdam with artistic leadership from Berith Danse and Cat Smits
• Amsterdam OBA (Public Library)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Amsterdam Winter Stable project and spring holiday programming
• Hotel ArenaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Queering Puppets Festival events and EAST& PARTY programming in chapel venue
• Trans AmsterdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on LGBTQIA+ programming and EAST& PARTY events
• Holland FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of QAQNAS Kurdish opera by Huba de Graaff, premiering at Holland Festival 2026 with Plein Theater residency development
• ICK (International Dance and Performance Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Robin Nimanong's development as New Maker alongside Plein Theater
• DOXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Robin Nimanong's development as New Maker alongside Plein Theater
• Kula SkorominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective of performing artists collaborating on Sporen van Haar production with Plein Theater and director Berith Danse

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• De Balie: Amsterdam cultural institution presenting theater, debate, film, exhibitions, and music programming focused on social and political themes. Comparable in cultural-mission positioning and contemporary/socially-engaged content focus, but operating larger-scale multi-space programming and events.
• Internationaal Theater Amsterdam: Amsterdam's flagship producing theater presenting contemporary drama and performance at a much larger scale and longer seasons. Draws on the same Dutch performing-arts funding framework (Fonds Podiumkunsten, etc.) and targets overlapping metropolitan arts audiences, though at far greater capacity and production budget.
• Paradiso Amsterdam: Amsterdam's premier independent concert venue, presenting live music across contemporary and established artists. Directly comparable as an Amsterdam-based concert venue hosting contemporary music programming — relevant to Plein Theater's Nieuwe Noten contemporary-music series, though at a far larger scale and broader music remit.
• Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam: Municipal theater of Amsterdam, one of the city's largest subsidised performing arts venues, presenting theater, dance, and music on a much larger scale and program. Competes indirectly for the same audiences and draws on the same Amsterdam public arts funding ecosystem, though it serves a broader remit than Plein Theater's community niche.

Direct peers

• Theater Bellevue: Amsterdam intimate theater presenting contemporary theater, dance, and performance with a comparable capacity scale and similar mission to develop and showcase new work. Operates within the same Dutch subsidy funding context and shares Plein Theater's emphasis on socially engaged, contemporary programming.
• Frascati Producties: Amsterdam-based producer and venue operator specializing in contemporary experimental theater, dance, and performance with strong ties to public cultural funding. Operates Frascati Theater in Amsterdam with overlapping contemporary programming and a similar small-to-mid scale independent-theater business model.
• Bijlmer Parktheater: Amsterdam community theater in Amsterdam Zuidoost presenting contemporary theater, dance, youth performances, and music for a neighborhood audience. Operates on a similar scale and mission to Plein Theater, with parallel reliance on Dutch public cultural funding and shared focus on culturally diverse and family programming.
• Podium Mozaïek: Amsterdam-based community performing arts venue with a comparable-sized hall, multicultural contemporary programming (theater, dance, music), and similar reliance on Dutch public cultural subsidies. Operates the same funding context (Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst, etc.) and competes for the same audience of culturally engaged residents in Amsterdam.
• OT301: Amsterdam alternative cultural venue housed in a former squat, with programming spanning film, theater, exhibitions, and community events. Shares Plein Theater's origin in the Amsterdam squatting movement and comparable activist/community-arts positioning, target audience, and independent operational model.

Regional players

• Soho Theatre London: Independently run London theater presenting new contemporary work — comedy, theater, cabaret, drag — at small-to-mid scale with a comparable community-arts and culturally-engaged positioning. Highly analogous operating model (independent, mixed ticketed + rental + bar revenue, programmer-led) though operating under UK Arts Council funding rather than Dutch equivalents and in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plein-theater

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 PLEIN THEATER