Dutch National Ballet

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling

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Photo: Hugo Thomassen

Dates

12 December 2025 – 2 January 2026

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

2:15, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

From € 32

Dancers: Koko Bamford, Luiza Bertho, Kira Hilli, Beatriz Kuperus, Arianna Maldini, Alexandria Marx, Sebia Plantefève-Castryck, Laura Rosillo, Lore Zonderman | Photo: Hugo Thomassen

A magical winter ballet

Since its premiere in 1996, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling has captured countless hearts. Skaters gliding over a frozen Amsterdam canal, a grand party that transforms into a snowy forest, and a colourful journey through a magic lantern: these are scenes that continue to enchant both children and adults. After last year’s overwhelming success, we are once again bringing this holiday classic to the stage. Experience this Christmas ballet with the whole family and let yourself be transported to a world of fantasy and magic. The dark winter days will instantly feel a little brighter.

Dutch fairy tale

December without The Nutcracker is like a Christmas tree without its star, like St Nicholas without his helpers. And in The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, both of these figures make an appearance. Clara, the youngest daughter of the Staalboom family, receives a nutcracker doll as a gift from St Nicholas. When she falls asleep after the party, she dreams that her Nutcracker Prince comes to life and has to fight an army of mice. Reality and fantasy mingle together and the audience is drawn into a magical world set to the famous music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Feast for the eyes

Toer van Schayk not only choreographed a great deal of the ballet, but he also thought up the concept and designed the delightful sets and costumes. His inspiration came from the diary of artist Christiaan Andriessen (1775–1847), which, through more than seven hundred drawings, offers a vivid, almost photographic glimpse into daily life in Amsterdam at the time.

Performance information

Classic for the festive period

Choreography Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling
Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Set and costume design and artistic supervision Toer van Schayk
Lighting design Hans-Åke Sjöquist

Musical accompaniment Dutch Ballet Orchestra conducted by Johannes Witt

Nieuw Amsterdams Children’s Chorus (part of Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam)

Performance for schools
We offer an exclusive school matinee of Carmen for primary school students. Explore the programme.

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Ticket prices

We provide discounts tailored for certain groups to ensure our performances are accessible to all. Please visit this page to determine if you qualify for a discount.

Price category	Standard	CJP \| Stadspas \| Youth aged 16 and under
Premium	€ 114,00	€ 82,00
1^st	€ 97,00	€ 71,00
2^nd	€ 80,00	€ 58,00
3^rd	€ 59,00	€ 38,00
4^th	€ 39,00	€ 24,00
5^th	€ 29,00	€ 21,00

Dutch National Opera & Ballet uses a system of dynamic pricing. This means that tickets for popular performances may increase in price as the performance date approaches and more tickets are sold. All prices exclude the booking fee (€ 3 per ticket).

Student discount and student alert

Last-minute deal! When a performance isn’t sold out, students can purchase a ticket online for just € 20 on the day of the performance starting from 13:00.

To stay updated on more offers, sign up for our student alert. This way, you’ll be informed in advance about which performances you can attend for just € 20!

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Photo: Hans van den Bogaard

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

Dutch Ballet Orchestra is the leading orchestra for dance in the Netherlands. In every performance, the orchestra searches for inspiring synergy between music and dance, in order to give the audience a magical experience. From classical ballet to modern masterpieces, and from music education to talent development, Dutch Ballet Orchestra inspires the movement in dance.

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

From 1 August 2024, the Flemish conductor Koen Kessels (1961) is the new music director of Dutch National Ballet, and artistic director and principal conductor of Dutch Ballet Orchestra. He took over the baton from Matthew Rowe, who has fulfilled this special dual position since 2013 and who will be returning as principal guest conductor.

Since its inception in 1965, the orchestra has been the proud musical partner of Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. One important mission of Dutch Ballet Orchestra is investing in the youngest generation of dancers and musicians.

In 2023, for instance, the orchestra issued an open call for young composers, in collaboration with Dutch National Ballet, resulting in a new work that was presented in the Junior Company’s touring programme, Ten. The orchestra has also been working for some years already with the Dutch National Ballet Academy. For example, the orchestra members provide the music for the end-of-year performances Dancers of Tomorrow.

Dutch Ballet Orchestra has also collaborated regularly on innovative – and award-winning – family and school productions. Creatures, in partnership with ISH Dance Collective, won the international Young Audiences Music Award and the production Hansel and Gretel, received various Musical Awards.

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