Amsterdam Photo: Koninklijk Theater Carre

A bunch of jesters and clowns grin down from the cornice of the Carré Theatre.

Koninklijk Theater Carré, Royal theatre Carré, stands on the Amstel River. Late nineteenth century, German-born Oscar Carré visited Amsterdam with his travelling circus and decided to stay. He built a temporary wooden tent but the city council considered it a fire trap. Carré replaced the tent by a stone building which is a cross between a circus tent and a theatre.

Carré Circus attracted many people to Amsterdam. The circus performed acts in winter, the rest of the year they toured outside Amsterdam. This left the theatre empty in summer. A solution was found for the problem, and variety shows found their way to the theatre.

Today it is a multi-functional theatre. Actors and comedians from both Holland and abroad perform in Carré. The theatre also hosts musicals. But the best time to see its circular interior is during the Christmas holidays when the theatre reverts to being a circus.

QUICK FACTS:
WHAT: Koninklijk Theater Carré (map)
WHERE: Amstel 115
HOW TO GET THERE: tram 4, 6,7,10 and 20