Renowned for over 100 years of theatre history and nowadays mainly famous for the impressive musicals of Stage Entertainment Netherlands: the AFAS Circus Theater in The Hague. The unique building has grown over the years into an impressive and stylish location that is also ideal during the day for various purposes.
History Circustheater Scheveningen
The original theatre was opened on 16th July in 1904 by Circus Schumann. The Circus Theater, then Circus building, was in fact a real circus until the 1960’s, which was only open in the summer months. The building was later renamed Circus Strassburger. Animals were brought by train to Hollands Spoor station, from where they were transported via the section of tram line 11 to Duinstraat, where there was an unloading platform. The circus animals were accompanied from there via the Juriaan Kokstraat to the Gevers Deynootplein. In the winter months, the stables of the Circus Theater were used as storage space for the luxury bath that was built up for tourists in the summer.
Joop van den Ende
In 1991 the complex became partly owned by Joop van den Ende. The building was purchased for the symbolic amount of 1 guilder from the municipality of The Hague, under one condition, that he would convert it into a theatre. The theatre is now part of Stage Entertainment. Van den Ende mainly uses the theatre for successful musicals. After the purchase, Les Miserables was the first production. After a renovation by architect Arno Meijs, The Phantom of the Opera started in 1993. Many musicals followed. Various traveling theatre productions can be seen on the so called musical-free evenings. In the past 20 years, legendary musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Elisabeth, Aïda, The Sound of Music, The Lion King, Tarzan, Ciske de Rat, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, Billy Elliot and Disney's Beauty and the Beast have attracted millions of visitors.
Ticket sales
Tickets for musicals and other theatre performances in the Circus Theater can be booked via the website and by telephone at 0900-1353 (60cpm).
A Night Out in Scheveningen
In addition to the Circus Theater, there is much more to experience in Scheveningen in the evening. The Hague seaside resort is the setting for countless dance parties, comedy shows, live performances, performances and musicals all year round. Extensive dining is possible in one of the numerous restaurants in Scheveningen, from simple to chic, from European to worldly. View the skyline of Scheveningen and The Hague from the Ferris wheel. A unique experience, especially in the evening with the fairytale effect of hundreds of lights. You can of course catch a movie at Pathé Scheveningen which contains eight cinema rooms and offers many special events. Alternatively how about gambling in Holland Casino Scheveningen? You can also eat delicious food. Live music can be heard every evening at Crazy Pianos on the boulevard. Fancy an overnight stay, then you can go to one of the many hotels, including the magnificent Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus.
Accessibility Circus Theater
The AFAS Circustheater in Scheveningen is quickly and easily accessible by tram lines 1 and 9 and bus lines 21, 22 and 23. From The Hague Central Station you can use tram line 9 towards Scheveningen and get off at the Circustheater stop. From The Hague Hollands Spoor station take tram lines 1 and 9 towards Scheveningen. For tram line 1 get off at the Kurhaus stop, for tram line 9 at the Circustheater stop.
There are three parking garages in the immediate vicinity of the AFAS Circus Theater: Parking Nieuwe Parklaan, Parking Kurhaus and Parking Scheveningen Strand. These are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all three are within a ten minute walk of the theatre. You can buy inexpensive exit tickets for these garages at the information desk in the AFAS Circus Theater. For practical information about the best route, accessibility and parking in Scheveningen, visit denhaag.com/en/scheveningen-accessibility.
