Agora Theater Lelystad in Lelystad
AGORA Theater Lelystad is the bright-orange city theatre at Agorabaan 12, opened in 2007. Its Grote Zaal seats 750, the Kleine Zaal 195, and the programme runs from cabaret and music to family shows and musicals.
Photo credits
The bright-orange exterior of AGORA Theater Lelystad, the landmark theatre on Agorabaan in the city centre.: FakirNL · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers
- Halls
- Grote Zaal 750 · Kleine Zaal 195
- Address
- Agorabaan 128224 JS Lelystad
- Opened
- 25 May 2007, designed by UNStudio
- Station
- Lelystad Centrum, 7 min walk
- Start times
- Evening 20:15 · matinee 13:30 or 15:00
- Parking
- Agoradek next door · De Waag 3 min
- Wheelchairs
- Places on request, book by email
- Contact
- 0900-0322
Agora Theater Lelystad agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Lelystad.
Last night at Agora Theater Lelystad: U2 The Music
February 2027
March 2027
Plan your visit to Agora Theater Lelystad
How many people fit in AGORA?
AGORA has two theatre halls. The Grote Zaal seats 750 and the Kleine Zaal 195. Wikipedia still gives 753 and 207, figures from the opening year.
- Grote Zaal
- 750 seats
- Kleine Zaal
- 195 seats
- Lelystad Zaal
- 49 seats
The 750-seat figure comes from theater.nl and from musicalweb, which lists the same room under its sponsor name Stipte Zaal. Musicalweb gives 195 for the Van Wijnen Zaal, the smaller hall. Those are the two audience capacities used here; the theatre does not publish one combined figure.
For comparison, Theater Orpheus in Apeldoorn has three halls from 242 to 1,300 seats, and De Meerpaal in Dronten has two theatre halls with more than 2,000 seats together. AGORA sits between them: large enough for a full-scale musical, small enough that the back row stays close to the stage.
There is also a smaller room, the Lelystad Zaal, with 49 seats.
| Hall | Venue | Seats | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grote Zaal | AGORA Theater Lelystad | 750 | theater.nl |
| Kleine Zaal | AGORA Theater Lelystad | 195 | musicalweb.nl |
| Largest hall | Theater Orpheus, Apeldoorn | 1,300 (3 halls from 242) | orpheus.nl |
| Two halls together | De Meerpaal, Dronten | more than 2,000 | theater.nl |
Seating plan: rows, balcony and PDF maps
Every ticket has a fixed row and seat number. The Grote Zaal runs to row 31 and has a balcony; the Kleine Zaal is more compact, to row 9.
- Grote Zaal
- Rows 1–31 plus balcony
- Kleine Zaal
- Rows 1–9
- Seating
- Fixed row and seat on every ticket
- Numbering
- Odd and even numbers on opposite sides
- Access
- Wheelchair places on request
In the Grote Zaal, rows 1 to 31 cover the stalls, with a balcony at the rear. The Kleine Zaal has rows 1 to 9. Both plans sit under 'Informatie voor techniek' on the theatre website, each linked as 'Zaalindeling': one for the Grote Zaal, one for the Kleine Zaal.
Seat numbers are odd on one side and even on the other. A missing number on your ticket does not mean a missing seat: consecutive odd or even numbers are next to each other.
For a close view, choose the first five rows; for an overview, the middle of the stalls or the balcony. The Kleine Zaal is small enough that rows 3 to 7 put you near the action. Wheelchair places are booked by email, not online.
Tickets, exchanges and payment
Tickets are sold online through the AGORA agenda. The theatre's ticket page explains the account, payment and exchange rules.
Choose your seat in the agenda, pay with iDEAL and keep the e-ticket on your phone or print it. There are no shipping costs. An account in Mijn AGORA is needed for an online order.
Tickets can be exchanged for another performance or a credit note up to 24 hours before the start, for a €3.25 fee per transaction. Email or call the service desk; returning tickets after the performance is not possible.
The theatre has been PIN-only since 1 October 2021, including at the bar. A maximum of six tickets can be ordered per performance, and some shows have a lower limit.
- Online
- Agenda, iDEAL, e-ticket
- Exchange
- Up to 24 hours before, €3.25
- Payment
- PIN only since 1 October 2021
- Limit
- 6 tickets per performance
How an evening at AGORA runs
A simple sequence for a first visit, from the doors opening to the last drink.
- Arrive about an hour before the start. Doors open one hour before the performance; for a 20:15 show that means 19:15.
- Hand in your coat at the guarded cloakroom. It is included in the ticket, together with one drink.
- Find your fixed seat in good time. Every performance is seated, and latecomers can be refused entry.
- In the interval, collect your included drink at the self-service buffet. Food and drink cannot be taken into the hall.
- Afterwards, Restaurant Applaus is open until midnight from Tuesday to Saturday for a drink or a bite.
Eating at AGORA: Restaurant Applaus and the interval drink
The theatre has Restaurant Applaus at Agorabaan 14, plus an included interval drink with every ticket.
Restaurant Applaus calls itself the restaurant grand café in the theatre. It serves a three-course theatre menu and a five-course chef menu; its sunny terrace is a spot for lunch or a drink before the show.
Applaus is open Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 to 24:00. On Saturday it opens at 13:00 for drinks and bites, with dinner from 17:00 to 24:00. It is closed on Sunday and Monday. Reserve on 0320 239 248 and say which performance you are attending.
Inside the theatre, one consumption is included with each performance unless stated otherwise. It is ready at the self-service buffet in the interval, or before or after the show if there is no interval. Own food and drink are not allowed, and nothing may be taken into the hall.
- Restaurant
- Applaus, Agorabaan 14
- Theatre menu
- 3 courses
- Chef menu
- 5 courses
- Reserve
- 0320 239 248
- Interval drink
- Included, unless stated otherwise
Accessibility: wheelchair places, hearing support and parking
AGORA has wheelchair places and a hearing system, but both are arranged directly with the service desk.
Each performance has three wheelchair places, each with a companion place. They cannot be booked online: email [email protected] with the performance and hall. The theatre advises booking early for popular shows.
For hearing support, AGORA uses an RF system with a receiver and headphones, so you can set your own volume. Reserve a set by email before the performance. The theatre says it meets the NVVS requirements for hard-of-hearing visitors.
There are disabled parking spaces near the entrance for a short route to the hall. De Waag has six; Agoradek has none. Ask the service desk about the step-free route and accessible toilet when you book.
- Wheelchair places
- 3 per performance, companion included
- Booking
- By email only
- Hearing
- RF receiver and headphones
- Parking
- De Waag: 6 disabled spaces
- Children
- Seat boosters at the hall entrance
House rules: what to leave at home
AGORA applies the VSCD visitor terms and a short list of house rules. Most are common sense; two can catch out first-time visitors.
Children under one are not admitted to theatre performances, because of the risk to their hearing. Latecomers may be refused entry once the performance has started, sometimes after one minute, and there is no refund. Plan to be at the door before the start.
Photography, video and sound recording are not allowed during performances. Phones must be switched off, not just on silent. Own food and drink are not allowed in the hall, and a maximum of six tickets can be ordered per performance.
- Terms
- VSCD visitor terms
- Age
- Children under 1 not admitted
- Latecomers
- No entry, no refund
- Children under 1: not admitted.
- Late arrival: entry may be refused, no refund.
- Phone: switched off, not on silent.
- Camera: no photo, video or sound recording.
- Food and drink: none in the hall.
- Tickets: maximum 6 per performance.
Getting to AGORA by train, bus or on foot
AGORA sits in Lelystad's city centre. The nearest station is Lelystad Centrum, a seven-minute walk; several buses stop even closer.
From Lelystad Centrum, walk south through the city centre to the Agorabaan: 530 metres, about seven minutes. The station is also the hub for the buses below; bus 3, 5, 214 or 218 stops at Agora, 160 metres from the entrance.
Bus 5 and 143 stop at Gorsbrug, a 14-minute walk; bus 4 and 663 at Schansbrug, 10 minutes. For the return journey, the same stops serve the centre and the station.
By car, follow the signs for the city centre and Agoradek. The theatre has no car park of its own; see the parking section for the four garages.
For a late finish, the station is still a seven-minute walk; check the 9292 and NS travel planners for the last bus or train. Taxi Company Lelystad runs 24/7 on 0320 751 580 for rides within Lelystad, including the station; book ahead on busy nights.
Parking near AGORA: Agoradek, De Waag, Neringweg and Zilverpark
The theatre has no car park of its own. Four public garages are within a short walk, all at the same 2026 rate: €1.80 an hour or €8.00 a day.
Agoradek is the closest garage, next to the theatre on the Agoraweg. It has 263 spaces, a clearance of 2.10 metres and is open 24/7. Payment is by PIN only, and there are no separate disabled spaces. Paid hours are Monday to Saturday 09:00–18:00, on Thursday until 21:00.
De Waag at Waagstraat 2 has 664 spaces, including 8 electric charging points and 6 disabled spaces. It is a three-minute walk away and free on Sundays and public holidays. Note that the garage is due to close for up to two months from early 2027 because of construction in the Theatre Quarter; check the operator before you drive.
Neringweg 171 is an eight-minute walk (600 metres) and has 256 spaces at the same rate. The operator lists the garage at Neringweg 157; follow the signs for Neringweg. Paid hours are Monday to Saturday 09:00–18:00, on Thursday until 21:00, with free parking on Sundays and public holidays; exit is possible 24/7.
Zilverpark at Reaalhof 101 has 296 spaces and is a nine-minute walk. The temporary Arcus field on the site of the former Arcus school adds about 140 spaces, expanded to about 375 after the building holiday; it is a surface overflow lot rather than a garage and no 2026 rate or opening hours are published, so it is not in the table. It is reached via Kustendreef or Zilverlinde.
| Garage | Address | Walk | Spaces | 2026 rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agoradek | Agoraweg 2, 8224 BX | Next to the theatre | 263 | €1.80/hour, €8/day |
| De Waag | Waagstraat 2, 8232 DZ | 3 min (180 m) | 664 | €1.80/hour, €8/day |
| Neringweg | Neringweg 171, 8224 KA | 8 min (600 m) | 256 | €1.80/hour, €8/day |
| Zilverpark | Reaalhof 101, 8232 VW | 9 min (660 m) | 296 | €1.80/hour, €8/day |
- Closest garage
- Agoradek, next to the theatre
- De Waag
- 664 spaces, 6 disabled
- Neringweg
- 256 spaces, 8 min walk
- Zilverpark
- 296 spaces, 9 min walk
- Rate
- €1.80 an hour, €8 a day
- Note
- De Waag closed in early 2027
Contact and address
AGORA Theater Lelystad is at Agorabaan 12 in the city centre, 8224 JS.
- Address
- Agorabaan 12, 8224 JS Lelystad
- Phone
- 0900-0322, €0.45/min
- Phone hours
- 7 days, 10:00–20:00
- [email protected]
- Restaurant
- 0320 239 248
Official links
A bright-orange theatre on the Agorabaan
AGORA is Lelystad's city theatre: a deliberately extrovert building that puts a bright-orange shell around two very different halls.
AGORA opened on 25 May 2007 on the site of the old Lelystad theatre, which dated from 1977 and was demolished in 2004. Ben van Berkel of UNStudio designed the replacement as a deliberately extrovert building: a bright-orange exterior wrapped around white and pink foyers.
Inside are two halls. The Grote Zaal is warm red, the Kleine Zaal dark blue, and together they host roughly 140 performances a year: theatre, children's shows, dance, classical and world music, jazz, cabaret and musical.
The building stands in the city centre, a seven-minute walk from Lelystad Centrum station. Its colour makes it easy to spot from the Agorabaan; the main entrance is at number 12.
- Opened
- 25 May 2007
- Architect
- Ben van Berkel (UNStudio)
- Halls
- Grote Zaal and Kleine Zaal
- Colours
- Orange outside, white and pink foyers
Photos
Photo credits
The bright-orange exterior of AGORA Theater Lelystad, the landmark theatre on Agorabaan in the city centre.: FakirNL · CC BY-SA 4.0
The warm-red Grote Zaal of AGORA Theater Lelystad, with rows of fixed seats facing the stage.: Cermivelli · Public domain · Commons title: 'Agoratheater - Agorazaal'; description: 'Het interieur van het nieuwe agoratheater: de grote zaal'; category: Agoratheater.
The foyer of AGORA Theater Lelystad, with the white and pink interior that leads visitors to the two halls.: Cermivelli · Public domain
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Frequently asked questions about AGORA
What time do shows start and end at AGORA?
Evening performances most often start at 20:15, with doors at 19:15; some start at 20:30 or earlier and end around 21:45 to 22:35. Matinees usually start at 13:30 or 15:00, with doors an hour earlier, and end between 14:25 and 16:50 depending on the production. Your e-ticket has the exact time.
How many seats do the halls have?
The Grote Zaal has 750 seats and the Kleine Zaal 195. There is also the Lelystad Zaal with 49 seats. Wikipedia still mentions 753 and 207; those are older figures from the opening year.
Where can I find the seating plan?
The Grote Zaal and Kleine Zaal plans are PDFs under 'Informatie voor techniek' on the AGORA website, each linked as 'Zaalindeling'. The Grote Zaal plan shows rows 1–31 and the balcony; the Kleine Zaal plan shows rows 1–9.
Where is AGORA Theater Lelystad?
At Agorabaan 12, 8224 JS Lelystad, in the city centre. From Lelystad Centrum station it is about 530 metres, or seven minutes on foot.
How do I get to the theatre from Lelystad Centrum?
Walk south through the centre in about seven minutes (530 metres). Bus 3, 5, 214 or 218 stops at Agora, 160 metres from the entrance; bus 5 and 143 stop at Gorsbrug, and bus 4 and 663 at Schansbrug.
Where can I park and what does it cost?
Agoradek is next to the theatre (263 spaces, PIN only). De Waag has 664 spaces three minutes away, Neringweg 171 has 256 spaces eight minutes away, and Zilverpark 296 spaces nine minutes away. All four cost €1.80 an hour or €8.00 a day in 2026. De Waag is due to close for up to two months from early 2027.
Can I eat at AGORA before the show?
Yes, at Restaurant Applaus, Agorabaan 14. It serves a three-course theatre menu and a five-course chef menu. Tuesday to Friday it is open 12:00–24:00; on Saturday from 13:00, with dinner 17:00–24:00. Reserve on 0320 239 248. One interval drink is included with your theatre ticket.
Do I need to print my ticket?
No. You can keep the e-ticket on your phone or print it. There are no shipping costs. You pay online with iDEAL and need an account in Mijn AGORA.
Can I exchange or return tickets?
Yes, up to 24 hours before the start: exchange for another performance or a credit note, for a €3.25 fee per transaction. Returning tickets after the performance is not possible. Email or call the service desk.
Is AGORA accessible for wheelchair users?
Each performance has three wheelchair places, each with a companion place. Book by email at [email protected], not online. There are disabled parking spaces near the entrance; De Waag has six, Agoradek none. Ask about the step-free route and accessible toilet when you book.
Can I take photos or use my phone?
No photo, video or sound recording is allowed during performances. Switch your phone off completely, not to silent. Using the screen also disturbs other visitors and the performers.
What happens if I arrive late?
Latecomers may be refused entry once the performance has started; sometimes one minute is enough. There is no refund in that case, so aim to arrive an hour before the start.
Are children allowed at AGORA?
Children under one are not admitted to theatre performances, because of the risk to their hearing. Family shows often carry an age recommendation; follow it. Seat boosters are available at the hall entrance.
Sources: Wikipedia: Agoratheater (October 30, 2026) · Theater.nl: AGORA Theater Lelystad (October 30, 2026) · AGORA Theater: technical information and hall plans (October 30, 2026) · AGORA Theater: tickets (October 30, 2026) · AGORA Theater: questions and answers (October 30, 2026) · Restaurant Applaus: theatre menu (October 30, 2026) · AGORA Theater: getting there (October 30, 2026) · ParkeerService Lelystad: Agoradek (October 30, 2026) · AGORA Theater: accessibility (October 30, 2026) · AGORA Theater: house rules (October 30, 2026) · AGORA Theater: contact (October 30, 2026)
