Performing arts

Cinemas in the region offer mainstream movies as well as art-house productions. Most films are shown in their original language with Dutch subtitles. Foreign films aimed at younger children are shown in 2 versions: the original (subtitled) version and a version dubbed into Dutch. Make sure to specify which version of the movie you want to see when buying tickets for a children’s movie!  You will find several cinemas in the main cities and some smaller towns also have their own cinema.

For dance, theater and other performances in Eindhoven, look no further than the Parktheater for a range of performances, plus an international program and an annual Winter Circus. Natlab offers theater, dance and cabaret performances in collaboration with Parktheater, and they also screen English movies and English-subtitled movies from all over the world.  In the school holidays Natlab organizes activities for children. For a quiz or some board games go to LAB-1, which is also a cinema, club, bar and meeting place in the heart of Eindhoven. 

Schouwburg and Concert Hall Tilburg offers a broad range of live theatre, music and dance, with more than 350 performances and concerts each year. They also offer ‘Language no problem performances’ for those who do not speak Dutch.

Also worth keeping an eye out for are Wonka Podia’s ‘No Dutch Required’ performances, which are held at one of 5 Southeast Brabant theaters: Het Speelhuis Helmond, Parktheater Eindhoven, Theater de Schalm Veldhoven, Theater de Hofnar Valkenswaard and Kattendans Bergeijk. These shows can easily be understood by those who do not speak Dutch. 

In Eindhoven, try the Muziekgebouw Frits Philips for a wide selection of classical and world music concerts or De Effenaar for pop, rock and dance music. 013 Poppodium is a renowned popular music venue in Tilburg that regularly features national and international acts, festivals, cabaret and the Metal Matinee. Or for alternative modern music genres in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, take a trip to PaRaDoX. In Breda, you can head to MEZZ for live pop music and dance. 

If you would like to be more than just a member of the audience, contact the International Theatre Collective Eindhoven (ITCE). ITCE works with amateurs and professionals both on the stage and in the crew. Their mission is to bridge cultural differences between Dutch and international residents of Eindhoven through the universal language of theatre, working in English.