Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT): World-class dance, right from The Hague

By Nederlands Dans Theater | Photos: Rahi Rezvani

For over 65 years, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) has been a leading international dance company based in The Hague. The new season, starting from September 2026, is filled with striking world premieres alongside the return of celebrated works. Whether you are a long-time admirer of NDT, just discovering contemporary dance, or somewhere in between, there is something for everyone.

When NDT was founded in 1959, curiosity, innovation, and the talent development were at its core, and that spirit has remained unchanged. Today, the company has grown into a house of creation dedicated to contemporary dance, bringing together 46 dancers alongside lighting and sound technicians, costume designers, set builders, a medical team, and many others.

KID IN A CANDY SHOP.

Together with its various departments, creative talents and theatre professionals, NDT is considered one of the world’s leading dance companies, collaborating with both emerging and established choreographers. Each year, the company reaches around 150,000 visitors worldwide!

Figures in Extinction [3.0] – requiem.

What audiences experience most directly, are the extraordinary dancers on stage. They come from all over the world, with diverse backgrounds and at different stages of their careers, yet they share a remarkable passion and exceptional talent for dance. While all have trained at leading dance academies, their paths differ: some began dancing at a young age, while others discovered it a bit later. Within NDT, dancers are part of one of two companies: NDT 1, the main company, and NDT 2, for emerging dancers up to the age of around 25. Life as a dancer demands full commitment: they train and rehearse six days a week, perform regularly, and tour extensively across the Netherlands, Europe, and beyond.

Each NDT season is carefully curated by artistic director Emily Molnar, who has led the company since 2020. Acting as a curator, she brings together programmes that reflect a wide range of choreographic voices, while considering the strengths and development of the dancers, and, above all, the experience of the audience.

Ties Unseen.

“I’m always deeply focused on our audience: their experience, their trust in us, and how they become part of the world of NDT,” says Molnar. “When I begin shaping a new season, such as 2026–2027, I try to see it from their perspective. Which new makers will draw them to the edge of their seats? Which works might they wish to encounter again? At the same time, I want to create space to surprise and challenge them, because that’s when something begins to shift; when it sparks thought, opens dialogue, and something genuinely happens within. That is, ultimately, what art is about. Our new season, I hope, offers all of this. From works of striking power and beauty to pieces that are poetic, humorous and theatrical, there’s much to discover.”

SAABA.

In the new season, the creative versatility of both NDT 1 and NDT 2 takes centre stage, with multiple programmes presented throughout the year. The companies will perform world premieres by renowned choreographers such as Crystal Pite, Marco Goecke and Marcos Morau, alongside the return of audience favourites by Jiří Kylián, Hofesh Shechter, Christos Papadopoulos, Johan Inger, Gabriela Carrizo, Edward Clug and Noé Soulier. New to contemporary dance? Each NDT programme consists of two or three works, offering variety and ensuring there is always something to connect with. Every performance features carefully crafted set design, costumes created in NDT’s own atelier, and in some cases, live music.

Kill Your Darlings.

Alongside performances in theatres, NDT has also developed its Digital Theatre, where selected productions are available to watch online each season. This allows audiences around the world to experience NDT at home. These online performances include livestreams of premieres as well as high-quality recordings, captured from multiple camera angles so that no detail is lost and the experience feels closer than ever.

Curious to discover more about Nederlands Dans Theater and the new season? Visit NDT.nl/en/26-27/ to explore the full programme.