Schouwburg Het Park

Schouwburg Het Park is a modern theatre and congress centre in Hoorn, opened in 2004 and designed by the architectural practice Alberts & Van Huut. Its distinctive organic volumes stand beside the water, while two performance halls accommodate everything from drama and musicals to concerts, comedy and dance productions. The main Hamlet auditorium has just over 1,000 seats, while the more flexible Othello auditorium normally accommodates around 250 spectators.

The interior places strong emphasis on clear sightlines and carefully designed acoustics. Hamlet combines stalls and balcony seating with acoustic features suited to spoken theatre, music and large-scale stage productions, while the more intimate Othello hall can be arranged in different configurations. Spacious foyers overlooking the water, cloakroom facilities, lifts and food-and-drink options add to the experience before performances and during intervals.

The theatre is located at Westerdijk 4, Hoorn, Netherlands. A public parking garage is situated directly beneath the building, with lift access into the theatre, while the main entrance can also be reached from the driveway at the front. Hoorn railway and bus station is approximately a ten-minute walk away. For a broader overview of transport to Hoorn and getting around the city, see the practical information further down the page.

Hoorn, a historic city in the province of North Holland on the shores of the Markermeer, combines the intimate atmosphere of a Dutch harbour town with a diverse range of cultural, music and sporting events. For visitors arriving for a concert, performance or sporting programme, the city offers a convenient combination of a compact centre, restaurants, cafés and accommodation, making tickets for events in Hoorn an easy starting point for a complete city break. Among the city's recognisable venues for performances and larger gatherings is Schouwburg en Congrescentrum Het Park, located beside the Hoornse Hop, while Sportcentrum Hoorn complements the city's range of sporting facilities.

Arriving and getting around the city is straightforward thanks to the Dutch railway network operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), with the main stations being Hoorn and Hoorn Kersenboogerd. Hoorn is connected by rail with Amsterdam and other important transport hubs, while local and regional bus services in North Holland connect the station with different parts of the city and surrounding area. For international visitors, the most convenient major airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which has a railway station directly beneath the terminal and provides onward connections towards Hoorn through the Dutch rail network. The city's compact layout makes it easy to continue on foot or by bus towards the centre, theatre and other event locations.

Before or after an event, it is worth exploring Roode Steen, the historic square surrounded by monumental buildings, walking through the old city centre and continuing down to the harbour with the distinctive Hoofdtoren. A walk along the canals, old merchant houses and the shores of the Hoornse Hop offers an excellent impression of the city's maritime character, while the harbour area and Markermeer provide a relaxed contrast to an evening programme. This combination of events, history and waterfront scenery makes Hoorn a convenient destination for visitors wishing to combine a concert or sporting event with a short city break in North Holland.