It was a brilliant and vibrant season at Amare!

July 2025, a look back

With the summer vacation practically upon us, we can look back on a season full of incredible performances, concerts, events and meetups in Amare. We thank all the inspirational musicians and performers, our hardworking colleagues, and of course the countless enthusiastic visitors for having created this hugely successful cultural season! Below we revisit some of the many highlights from the 2024/2025 programme.

September
On 25 September 2024, the legendary Buena Vista All Stars treated the audience to a spectacular Cuban party in a sold-out concert hall. It was an exuberant evening with dancing visitors, Cuban cocktails, and a memorable Amare Members’ event.

October
One of October’s highlights was of course the yearly art festival for children during the autumn holiday, De Betovering. Amare was one of the locations where children could enjoy various performances and workshops, with this year’s theme of GEESTIG!

November
The tour of the sensational rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar concluded with a full farewell week in Amare, from 21 to 24 November. The audience was treated to a stunning new and epic version of the iconic drama, some of whom could experience the passion from up close, seated in the ‘Super Seats’ right on stage.

Also, The Hague’s home rockers of DI-RECT raised the roof of our completely sold-out Concertzaal, not once or twice but three times in a row. Now there’s a band that knows how to build a party!

December
For Christmas, The Hague’s dance company De Dutch Don’t Dance Division (DeDDDD) brought an enchanting world premiere with Ratatouille the Ballet: Linguini’s Christmas Menu. Both youngsters and adults enjoyed six magical world-class shows.

Another December highlight was the concert by the popular piano brothers Lucas & Arthur Jussen. The siblings treated the audience to a recital featuring the most beautiful piano music by Mozart, Schumann, Widmann, Debussy and Rachmaninov. 

January
On 21 January, Amare hosted the very first Third Places inspiration session, about programming in public space. It was an occasion for professional peers to exchange inspiring ideas and to have a behind-the-scenes look at our Open Amare programme.

Zoom in

February
February was a month with a succession of highlights. First, on the first day of February, we proudly welcomed the Bach Collegium Japan in a sold-out Concertzaal. This world-famous baroque orchestra led by Masato Suzuki offered a stunning programme with Mozart’s Requiem.

We also welcomed 3500 visitors for the celebration of the Hindu Shiva Festival, during the worldwide Maha Shivaratri or ‘The Great Night of Shiva’. It was an inspiring event full of music, dance, culture and contemplation.

The day after the Shiva Festival, the brilliant Michael Kiwanuka kicked off his tour in Amare. We are very proud to have hosted this concert in collaboration with PAARD. With his warm voice and sensitive spirit, Kiwanuka kept the audience enthralled from start to finish.

March
March ended with a sold-out Turandot. This famous last opera by the Italian maestro Giacomo Puccini has been much beloved by audiences ever since it premiered in 1926; so too in Amare.

April
On Sunday 13 April, Amare transformed into a true children’s paradise during the international BIG BANG Festival. Children could discover and explore music through all sorts of performances and do-activities. It was a great party for the young and even younger!

May
In May Amare was host to the remarkable Sutra, a collaboration between the Flemish-Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, sculptor Antony Gormley, and nineteen Buddhist monks from the Shaolin temple in China. This performance drew standing ovations all around the world and was seen by over 250,000 people. Also in The Hague, the audience (and our own staff) was hugely impressed by this wonderful performance.

June
In June, Amare proudly presented the unique two-part Jiří Kylián retrospective: Wings of Time, in collaboration with Holland Dance Festival and Kylián Productions. The performance was highly acclaimed by the media, the audience, and also by the distinguished member of the audience, Princess Beatrix. This sublime diptych uniquely demonstrates the richness and significance of Jiří Kylián’s work.

July
Two more programme highlights occurred in the present month of July. On 1 July, the day of Keti Koti (remembrance of the end of slavery in Surinam), Amare hosted the fifth edition of Free Heri Heri For All x The Black Hague Experience. As part of this event, free Heri Heri meals were served in Amare. It was a vibrant day full of meaning and music, food, stories and connection.

And to end with a bang: the last major performance of this season was by the legendary Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour. The concert hall was rocking from start to finish, with barely any audience member remaining in their seat. It was a vivacious dance party, powered by a top-class band and Youssou N’Dour’s unmistakable voice.

Lots of incredible shows await us in the new season, but now it’s time to kick back and enjoy the holiday, feet in the sand and drink in your hand. See you after the summer!