Winter Parade

Winter Parade is a bizarre event in Amsterdam where winter celebrations, delicious food and theatre collide, ringing in the winter season at a 120-metre long feasting table! 

Acting and dancing on table tops

The feasting table is used both as a dinner table and as a stage for actors, dancers, musicians and storytellers. While visitors are treated to a delicious dinner, the show goes on right in front of their noses. 

The multi-course dinner is provided by De Nieuwe Garde and even the chefs and waiters will be climbing on table tops to give unexpected appearances. Each course of the dinner will be interspersed with intriguing acts. 

A considerable portion of the programme is in Dutch, but there is also a large amount of the acts where language is not a problem.

Winter Parade times, dates, places and prices

Winter Parade takes place and two different locations: Amsterdam in December and Haarlem in January. See below to choose your evening of choice:

Amsterdam: Zuiderkerk church

• December 19, 2018 (try-out)
• December 20, 21 and 22,  2018
• December 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2018

The performance on December 19 is a try-out performance, therefore it has a discounted entrance fee of 30 euros for adults and 15 euros for children.

Haarlem: Grote St. Bavokerk church

• January 4 and 5, 2019

Timetable

The timetable, which is the same on each night of Winter Parade, is as follows:

• 6pm: doors open
• 6.30pm until 10pm: Dinner and performances
• 10pm until 11pm: Silent Disco

Winter parade concept

Winter Parade is an interesting concept, devised by Terts Brinkhoff, the inspiring creator of The Parade theatre festival.

Creator Terts Brinkhoff started the Parade 28 years ago, with a grand image in his head of an inside-out circus where the initiative would lie with the audience and the individual artists. His festival was named the Parade, after the term "parade maken", which was what carnival performers did to attract people to their tents.

In winter, instead of tents, an indoor great hall is more appropriate. Zuiderkerk is the winter venue of choice.

Book your place at the Winter Parade table

You could be one of 500 guests at a long feasting table. Vegetarian options are also possible. Make your reservation on the Winter Parade website.

Thumb photo credit: Marjolein van Dijk