Groningen is brimming with venues where actors, dancers and musicians take to the stage. From large auditoriums to cosy theatres. From international productions to local creations. Here you can find out where performances are taking place. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Grand Theatre
Situated on the Grote Markt stands a striking building. Formerly a cinema, today it is a vibrant theatre. Thanks to a group of rebellious squatters who took over the building 40 years ago, it has become a place where young talent can showcase their skills, with performances from both home and abroad. Take a seat in one of the two atmospheric auditoriums and see what the Grand Theatre has to offer.
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SPOT/Stadsschouwburg
A household name in the city and surrounding countryside for almost 140 years. A theatre of the past and certainly a theatre of the present too. With both national and international performances, there’s always something to suit your taste. And the building itself is well worth a visit. It’s no surprise that it has been designated a listed building since 1994. A distinctive feature of the Stadsschouwburg is that the audience sits close to the stage – for that little bit of extra immersion.
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Martiniplaza
The largest event venue in the northern Netherlands. In fact, it can accommodate over 1,500 people per theatre show. Martiniplaza therefore regularly hosts major performances. This is the place to be for big-name acts. Why not take a seat in the spacious yet cosy theatre café to get in the right mood for the show?
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Der Aa-theater
Situated at the foot of the church of the same name, this is an authentic and cosy theatre dating from the 1920s. It hosts a wide range of cultural events, from theatre performances to concerts and exhibitions. It is also home to the De Grunneger Sproak Foundation, which organises the Grunneger Laidjesfestival here every year. The ‘ Der Aa-theater ’ is, quite rightly, a true Groningen phenomenon.
De Machinefabriek
In the past, this historic building supplied steam to the whole city; today, it is home to the Noord Nederlands Toneel. This is where plays are conceived, rehearsed and, of course, performed. With seating for 160 people, there’s plenty of space. But inside, you’ll also find, for example, a costume workshop, a rehearsal room and two foyers. In fact, almost every room in the building has at some point served as a stage set. Fortunately, you can take a seat in an authentic red theatre seat.
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Cultuurhuis De Klinker | Winschoten
There’s plenty to enjoy for theatre lovers outside the city too. Take De Klinker in Winschoten, for example. With performances for young and old, there’s always something going on here. The modern building is the place to be for culture in the Oldambt region. As well as a theatre, De Klinker also houses an arts centre, an arthouse cinema, a library and the local broadcaster RTV GO.
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VanBeresteyn | Veendam
Also known as the cultural heart of Veendam, right next to the Veenkoloniaal Museum. The Van Beresteyn cultural centre houses, amongst other things, a music and dance school, a library and a trendy café. At the heart of the building is the theatre auditorium, where both large-scale and smaller-scale performances are staged for audiences of all ages. It’s well worth a visit.
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FRIDAY Prinsentheater
The VRIJDAG Prinsentheater is a theatre in the city of Groningen where amateur theatre companies and cabaret artists from the city, the province and the rest of the country perform for audiences. The theatre is housed in a former schoolgebouw at Noorderbuitensingel 11 and has two professional auditoriums and a café.
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