Theater De Leest in Waalwijk
Theater De Leest on Vredesplein in Waalwijk is the town theatre and cinema, with 521 seats in the Rabozaal, 201 in the Kleine zaal, free evening parking nearby and a drink included in most theatre tickets.
Photo credits
Theater De Leest on Vredesplein in Waalwijk at dusk, the brick building and glass entrance glowing: Sknopper · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers
- Halls
- Rabozaal 521 seats, Kleine zaal 201
- Address
- Vredesplein 125142 RA Waalwijk
- Parking
- Free from 18:00, Unnaplein 3 min walk
- Bus
- Central bus station next to the theatre
- Included
- Interval drink and cloakroom with theatre
- Evening shows
- Usually 20:00 or 20:30
- Wheelchair access
- Yes, lift and spaces in both halls
- Contact
- [email protected]No public phone number
Theater De Leest agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Waalwijk.
Last night at Theater De Leest: Fama Koning (cello) & Ido Andeweg (piano) — Kanjers in De Leest, Liedertafel ‘Oefening en Vermaak’ — with The Diamond Baritones
Plan your visit to Theater De Leest
How many seats do the halls of De Leest have?
The Rabozaal holds 521 seats and the Kleine zaal holds 201 seats. Both halls are seated theatres with no standing places.
- Wheelchair spaces
- Rabozaal row 9, Kleine zaal row 1, by phone
- Cheaper seats
- Second rank: side balcony rows, less legroom
The Rabozaal is the grand hall with stalls and a balcony. Its side balcony rows B, C and D and two front balcony seats have less legroom and are sold at a cheaper second-rank price for most professional performances.
The Kleine zaal sits on the first floor and has a retractable stand, so it also works for receptions and dinners with atmosphere. It is the home of film screenings, amateur and youth theatre and smaller professional shows.
Children get booster seats so the youngest can see the stage well; for safety reasons boosters may not be used on the balcony, whose steeper rake still gives children a good view. Toddlers need their own ticket, babies may not be taken into the hall, and youth shows carry an age indication to respect.
If legroom matters, skip the side balcony: its cheaper second-rank price reflects the tighter space. The stalls put you closest to the stage.
At 521 and 201 seats De Leest is a mid-size house next to the region's bigger stages: the Schouwburgzaal of Theaters Tilburg holds 850 seats and the Casinozaal of Theater aan de Parade 920, while the Parade's Pleinzaal holds 435.
| Hall | Seats |
|---|---|
| Rabozaal, Waalwijk | 521 |
| Kleine zaal, Waalwijk | 201 |
| Schouwburgzaal, Tilburg | 850 |
| Casinozaal, Parade Den Bosch | 920 |
| Pleinzaal, Parade Den Bosch | 435 |
How an evening at De Leest works
From ticket to interval drink, in order.
- Buy your tickets online and show the e-ticket with its QR code on your phone at the hall door, or print it at home. The box office counter opens one hour before each performance for pickup and last tickets.
- Leave your coat at the guarded cloakroom: it is included in nearly every theatre ticket, along with the interval drink.
- Take your seat in time. Evening performances usually start at 20:00 or 20:30 and end between 21:30 and 22:30; family shows often start at 19:00 and run about an hour.
- Do not take drinks or food into the theatre hall. At films you may take consumptions into the hall, as long as you bought them at De Leest.
- Collect your interval drink in the foyer during the break and be back in time for the second half.
Tickets, fees and cancellation at De Leest
A theatre ticket carries 0.90 euro in booking fees and a film ticket 0.50 euro, capped per order. The price of a theatre ticket includes the interval drink and cloakroom.
Order online with iDEAL, credit card, Podium Cadeaukaart or your account credit and receive the e-tickets by mail at once. Mailed paper tickets cost 2.50 euro per ticket, up to 7.50 euro per order. Extras such as dinners and introductions carry no fees. You can order at most 10 tickets per performance; for some popular shows the limit is two or four per address.
You can cancel until three days before the performance. The value lands as credit in your website account minus 2.25 euro per ticket; money is never refunded. Discounts for children or library pass holders are listed per show, and Friends of De Leest get their discount automatically when ordering.
- Booking fees
- 0.90 euro theatre, 0.50 euro film per ticket
- Fee caps
- 4.50 euro theatre, 2.50 euro film per order
- Cancellation
- Until 3 days before, 2.25 euro per ticket
- Payment
- Cashless: card, credit card, gift cards
Eating and drinking around your visit to De Leest
De Leest has no full restaurant of its own, so book the brasserie deal with your tickets or eat at a restaurant within walking distance before the show.
The brasserie deal can be added to any performance while ordering. The theatre dinner is a two-course menu at restaurant Este within walking distance, finished with coffee or tea in the theatre before the show.
On Sunday mornings the breakfast film pairs a film with breakfast, and children's parties can be celebrated in De Leest. The brasserie next to the lower foyer has about 50 seats with a view of Vredesplein.
- Theatre dinner
- Two courses at restaurant Este, walk away
- Brasserie
- About 50 seats, view of Vredesplein
- Sunday extra
- Breakfast film with breakfast
Film at De Leest: tickets, halls and times
Films screen in the Kleine zaal, with premieres, kids films and specials through the year.
De Leest shows about 250 films a year, from premieres and film comedy to children's films and the Filmclub. A film ticket costs about 10.50 euro for adults, 6.50 euro for children to 12 and 8.00 euro for pupils 12 to 30, plus 0.50 euro booking fee per ticket.
Screenings run in the afternoon, often at 15:30, and in the evening, often at 19:30. On Sunday mornings the breakfast film pairs a film with breakfast. Consumptions bought at De Leest may enter the film hall.
- Film ticket
- About 10.50 adults, 6.50 kids
- Fee
- 0.50 euro per film ticket
- Screenings
- Afternoons 15:30, evenings 19:30
Accessibility of Theater De Leest for visitors with a disability
De Leest aims to welcome everyone and holds the silver accessibility mark of Ongehinderd, awarded in May 2025 after inspection.
All important parts of the building, including the halls and the foyer, are accessible for wheelchair users, and a lift is available. Wheelchair spaces sit in row 9 of the Rabozaal and row 1 of the Kleine zaal and can only be booked by phone through the box office.
Both halls support visitors who are hard of hearing with the Sennheiser MobileConnect system, which amplifies the sound on your hearing aid through your own smartphone and the app. Prams, rollators, buggies and mobility scooters cannot enter the halls but can be left safely in the foyer. Call the box office about specific wishes; the theatre says much can be arranged. Guide dogs are welcome and may join their owner into the performance.
- Wheelchair access
- Fully accessible, with lift
- Accessible toilets
- On the ground and first floors
- Hearing support
- Sennheiser MobileConnect via your phone
- Wheelchair booking
- By phone only: 0416-331751
Getting to Theater De Leest: bus, bike and staying over
De Leest stands at Vredesplein 12, 5142 RA Waalwijk, in the town centre, with the central bus station right next to it.
By public transport take Bravo bus 301, Tilburg Central Station via Waalwijk to Den Bosch Central Station and back. It runs every 30 minutes and stops at Waalwijk Busstation Vredesplein, next to the theatre. The ride takes about 41 minutes from Tilburg, about 20 minutes from Kaatsheuvel Efteling and about 34 minutes from Den Bosch. Plan the trip and the way back on 9292.nl: line 301 runs every 30 minutes and the last buses leave Vredesplein around midnight, so check the last departure for your evening. Coming from Den Bosch, the same line runs the reverse route every 30 minutes; check 9292.nl for the ride time.
By car plan the route to Vredesplein 12, 5142 RA Waalwijk with Google Maps, the theatre's own advice, and park on Unnaplein or Vredesplein (see parking). Cyclists use the racks in front of and behind the building and lock the bike well.
Staying over pairs well with a visit: Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Waalwijk is within walking distance, Guesthouse Hotel in Kaatsheuvel is a 10-minute drive, and the Efteling, the Schoenenkwartier museum and the Loonse en Drunense Duinen are all nearby.
Address
Vredesplein 12, 5142 RA Waalwijk
By bus
Line 301 every 30 min, stop Vredesplein
Ride times
Tilburg 41 min, Efteling 20, Den Bosch 34
By bike
Racks in front of and behind the building
Late home
Last 301 around midnight, check 9292.nl
Stay over
Fletcher hotel on foot, Efteling 10 min drive
Parking near Theater De Leest: lots and walking times
You can park for free from 18:00, except on Friday evenings when parking is free from 21:00. The theatre asks you to use the lots below and not the streets around the building.
Rates on Unnaplein and Vredesplein are 1.00 euro per hour (Unnaplein up to 7.00 euro per day) Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 18:00 and Friday 18:00 to 21:00; Sundays and holidays are free. On Friday shopping evenings all four listed lots charge until 21:00, so expect extra pressure. The Unnaplein barrier sometimes fails, so leave home in time.
Five disabled spaces need a disabled parking card: three sit on Wilhelminastraat by the main entrance and two on Vredesplein behind the flats. Park only on the listed lots, not in the streets around the theatre: the street opposite De Leest across Vredesplein bans parking.
| Lot | Spaces and payment | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Unnaplein, Marijkestraat 1 | About 200, barrier, pay afterwards, 1.00 euro/hr max 7.00/day, in and out 24/7 | 3 minutes |
| Vredesplein, behind the flats | About 50, pay in advance, 1.00 euro/hr | 1 minute |
| De Els-Zuid | About 400, pay in advance | 8 minutes |
| Taxandriaweg II | About 350, pay afterwards | 10 minutes |
| Olympiaweg, at Dr. Mollercollege | Always free | 10 minutes |
- Disabled spaces
- 3 Wilhelminastraat, 2 Vredesplein
- Friday warning
- Shopping evening: paid until 21:00, extra busy
Contact, box office hours and address of De Leest
The box office counter in De Leest is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 13:00 and from one hour before each performance; on Mondays it is closed.
- Office
- 0416-334746, Tue to Fri 09:00 to 17:30
- Box office
- 0416-331751, Tue to Fri 11:00 to 13:00
- General mail
- [email protected]
- Business and events
- [email protected]
About Theater De Leest in Waalwijk
Theater De Leest opened in November 1996 on Vredesplein in Waalwijk, a new building with striking modern architecture. It is the theatre and film cinema of the town and the De Langstraat region, and calls itself the living room of the city and region.
The programme mixes professional touring shows with amateur theatre, young talent and big names: cabaret, music, drama, musical, opera, dance and family shows, plus a daily film programme with premieres, kids films and specials such as the breakfast film. Each year the theatre welcomes more than 110,000 visitors.
- Opened
- November 1996, Vredesplein Waalwijk
- Renovated
- Grand hall, foyer and brasserie in 2010
- Kleine zaal
- Opened autumn 2015
- Yearly
- About 220 shows, 250 films, 200 events
Photos
Photo credits
Theater De Leest on Vredesplein in Waalwijk at dusk, the brick building and glass entrance glowing: Sknopper · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Kleine zaal of Theater De Leest with red seats, seen from the foyer through glass walls: Theater De Leest
The bright foyer of Theater De Leest with the bar, high tables and the stairs to the balcony: Theater De Leest
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Frequently asked questions about Theater De Leest
Where can I park for free near Theater De Leest?
Parking is free from 18:00 on Unnaplein, about 200 spaces and 3 minutes on foot, and on Vredesplein behind the flats. On Friday shopping evenings you pay until 21:00. Sundays and holidays are free all day.
What time do performances at De Leest start and end?
Most evening performances start at 20:00 or 20:30 and end between 21:30 and 22:30. Family shows often start at 19:00 and run about an hour, and films play in the afternoon and evening. Check the event page for the exact times.
Is the interval drink included in the ticket?
Yes, nearly every theatre performance in the Rabozaal and the Kleine zaal includes a free interval drink and the guarded cloakroom in the ticket price. Some small-hall shows include the cloakroom only, so check the event page.
How do I book a wheelchair space at De Leest?
Wheelchair spaces can only be booked by phone through the box office on 0416-331751. They sit in row 9 of the Rabozaal and row 1 of the Kleine zaal.
Can I cancel my Theater De Leest tickets?
You can cancel until three days before the performance. The ticket value becomes credit in your website account minus 2.25 euro per ticket; money is never refunded. The credit stays valid for this and the next season.
Can I eat or drink inside Theater De Leest?
No food or drinks may enter the theatre hall. At films you may take consumptions into the hall if you bought them at De Leest. Before the show you can book the brasserie deal or the two-course theatre dinner at restaurant Este within walking distance.
How many seats do the halls of De Leest have?
The Rabozaal has 521 seats including a balcony, and the Kleine zaal has 201 seats with a retractable stand. The cheaper second-rank seats are the side balcony rows with less legroom.
What do tickets at De Leest cost extra?
A theatre ticket carries 0.90 euro in booking fees up to 4.50 euro per order, and a film ticket 0.50 euro up to 2.50 euro. Mailed paper tickets cost 2.50 euro each, up to 7.50 euro per order. De Leest is cashless: pay by card, credit card or gift card.
Where is Theater De Leest and how do I get there?
Vredesplein 12, 5142 RA Waalwijk, in the town centre. Bravo bus 301 stops at Busstation Vredesplein next to the theatre every 30 minutes, about 41 minutes from Tilburg and 34 from Den Bosch. Drivers park on Unnaplein, 3 minutes on foot, free from 18:00.
When is the box office open?
The counter in De Leest is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 13:00 and from one hour before each performance; on Mondays it is closed. By phone on 0416-331751 during the same hours.
Can I bring children to De Leest?
Yes, with booster seats in the stalls (not on the balcony, whose steep rake still gives children a good view). Toddlers need their own ticket, babies may not enter the hall, and youth shows carry an age indication.
Does De Leest show films?
Yes, about 250 a year in the Kleine zaal, usually at 15:30 and 19:30. Tickets cost about 10.50 euro for adults, 6.50 for children to 12 and 8.00 for pupils, plus 0.50 booking fee.
Sources: Theater De Leest about us and hall rental (October 20, 2026) · Theater De Leest ticket sales and visits (October 20, 2026) · Theater De Leest food and drink (October 20, 2026) · Theater De Leest agenda (October 20, 2026) · Bravo bus 301 timetable and stops (October 20, 2026) · Theater De Leest accessibility and parking (October 20, 2026) · Theater De Leest accessibility (October 20, 2026) · Theater De Leest home and contact (October 20, 2026)
