First City Theatre on Leidseplein, 1875, 1888-1890

Netherlands

Amsterdam's first City Theatre on Leidseplein. In 1638, a wooden theatre designed by Jacob van Campen opened on the Keizersgracht canal. Joost van de Vondel wrote Gysbrecht van Aemstel for the occasion, a play which became a Dutch classic. Traditionally opening each New Year's theatrical season, De Gysbrecht was performed annually for 300 years until the tradition ended in the 1960s due to modern theatre innovations. Three years ago, a new interpretation of the play was revived at the Leidse.. Read more »plein theatre. The theatre on Keizersgracht burned down in 1782 during a performance when the number of candles was doubled for better lighting. A stone theatre was built in 1874 but also burned down completely on February 20, 1890. The current City Theatre on Leidseplein opened in 1894.