Dutch National Opera

Operetta Land

Johann Strauss II, Jacques Offenbach, Arthur Sullivan a.o.

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Dates

5 – 23 October 2025

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

1:40, no interval

Tickets

From € 13

Man posing inside a painted cardboard cutout of a historical costume, holding a hat and looking comically surprised.

Photo: Hugo Thomassen

A festive world of imagination

In Operetta Land, anything is possible—as long as you use your imagination. Theatre maker Steef de Jong and writer Paulien Cornelisse take you on a journey to an enchanting kingdom where romance, mistaken identities and music reign supreme. On an empty stage, the ‘Verzinner’ (the Inventor) sets his imagination to work, and suddenly Operetta Land appears: a marvellous kingdom where every day is filled with celebration and music. But when evil King Pygmalion, ruler of the dour neighbouring country of Operania, arrives on the scene, all joy is at risk of vanishing.

This production, which weaves together music from various operettas, received glowing reviews after its 2022 premiere and now makes a welcome return. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Aldert Vermeulen, brings the music to life, with soloists including Elenora Hu, Laetitia Gerards and Raoul Steffani.

A fantastical adventure

An empty stage transforms into a vibrant kingdom where the inhabitants sing their troubles away. But when evil King Pygmalion tries to impose his will, not everything seems destined for a happy ending. Will the Inventor find a way out?

Stars on stage

For this revival, most of the original cast returns. Alongside Steef de Jong, the stage will be graced by Elenora Hu, Laetitia Gerards, Raoul Steffani, Marc Pantus, Steven van der Linden, Frederik Bergman and Aaike Nortier. Aldert Vermeulen will once again conduct the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.

Performance information

Dutch National Opera & Ballet advises a minimum age of 8 for this performance.

Revival

Mainly sung in Dutch

Music Johann Strauss II, Jacques Offenbach, Arthur Sullivan a.o.

Libretto Paulien Cornelisse and Steef de Jong

Musical direction Aldert Vermeulen
Stage direction, set and costume design Steef de Jong
Co-direction Maria Lamont
Lighting design Cor van den Brink
Dramaturgy Laura Roling

Verzinner / Lady Kant / Venus Steef de Jong
Koningin Raoul Steffani
Minister van Financiën Marc Pantus
Graaf Lothar Laetitia Gerards
Prinses Galathea Elenora Hu
Koning Pygmalion / Heggenschaarhuzaar Frederik Bergman
Prins Nicola / Heggenschaarhuzaar Steven van der Linden (Dutch National Opera Studio)
Sir Taki Aaike Nortier (Dutch National Opera Studio)

Netherlands Chamber Orchestra

Performances for schools
We offer an exclusive school matinee for primary school students. Explore the programme.

Scenes from Operetta Land | Photos: Bart Grietens

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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
1^st	€ 49,00	€ 41,00
2^nd	€ 42,00	€ 34,00
3^rd	€ 32,00	€ 26,00
4^th	€ 20,00	€ 15,00
5^th	€ 12,00	€ 10,00
6^th	€ 10,00	€ 5,00

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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Introduction

An introduction offering background information to enrich your theatre visit takes place 45 minutes before the performance. The introductions are given in Dutch and are free to attend without a reservation. Simply present your ticket for the performance. They take place in the Souterrain.

Introduction to Operetta Land
By Laura Roling

Operetta Land' by Steef de Jong is a feast in which everything grandiosely unfolds and converges.

21 November

Painted gardens, banquet halls, ball gowns, dinner tables, a truck with champagne and truffles: everything is pulled out of the closet in Steef de Jong's new operetta.

21 November

After Operetta Land, you want to go and see many more operettas. Preferably with texts and sets as inventive and imaginative as those of Paulien Cornelisse and Steef de Jong.