Theater de Liefde in Haarlem
Theater de Liefde is a 120-seat theatre in the former Begijnhof chapel in central Haarlem, 11 minutes' walk from the station, with cabaret, music and stand-up, regular tickets € 19 including an interval drink and Wednesday tickets € 14.
Quick answers
- Capacity
- 120 seats in one hall
- Address
- Begijnhof 102011 HE Haarlem
- From Haarlem station
- 11 min walk (770 m)
- Closest car park
- Appelaar, 4 min walk
- Tickets
- € 19 incl. interval drink
- Doors
- 45 min before the show
- Start time
- Often 20:30; times vary
- Payment
- Card only, no cash
- Contact
- 06 - 255 362 78
Cabaret at Theater de Liefde: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Haarlem.
Last night at Theater de Liefde: De Rode Horde
April 2027
- Sat10Apr
- Wed28Apr
May 2027
- Sat15May
- Wed26May
- Fri28May
June 2027
- Sat5Jun
Plan your visit to Theater de Liefde
How many people fit in Theater de Liefde?
One hall, 120 seats, and the same room for congresses.
Theater de Liefde gives its capacity as 120 seats. The same hall takes 120 people for congresses and presentations, so there is no separate smaller room.
The hall is in the former Begijnhof chapel. The stage is 6 m wide, 4.5 m deep and 6 m high, with a black backdrop and a Yamaha grand piano.
For comparison: De Toneelgarage in Haarlem seats 30, and Theater De Waterwolf, further away, seats 356.
| Venue | Distance from De Liefde | Capacity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theater de Liefde | — | 120 seats | theaterdeliefde.nl/verhuur |
| De Toneelgarage, Haarlem | 0.8 km | 30 | Wikidata |
| Theater De Waterwolf | further away | 356 | Wikidata |
Seating at Theater de Liefde: one hall, 120 seats
The venue publishes no seat map; all 120 seats are in the same room.
The venue publishes no seating plan or seat numbers for the 120 seats in the hall.
The stage is 6 m wide and 4.5 m deep, with a black surround along three walls, a black backdrop and a Yamaha grand piano tuned to 440 Hz.
No rows or seat numbers are published; check the ticket page for the show you are booking.
Food and drink at Theater de Liefde: the bar and the interval drink
A regular ticket includes one interval drink; the bar is closed while the show runs.
- A regular ticket costs € 19 including an interval drink and service costs; the Wednesday 'Woensdag voor weinig' ticket is € 14 including service costs.
- The bar is open around the performance but closed during it, so order before the show or in the interval.
- Payment is by card only: the theatre does not accept cash.
- No drinks or glass may be taken outside.
- For rentals, catering is available on request.
Theater de Liefde house rules: doors, phones and photos
Doors open 45 minutes before the start; latecomers cannot come in.
- Doors and the hall open 45 minutes before the performance. There is no admission after the start, so arrive on time.
- Phones off, including vibrate, for the whole performance.
- No photography or filming.
- No smoking anywhere in the building.
- No drinks or glass outside; respect the neighbours around the Begijnhof.
- The bar is closed during performances.
- Card only (pin), no cash.
- Tickets are sold online; the door only sells if the show is not sold out.
Getting to Theater de Liefde: from Haarlem station and by bus
Begijnhof 10 is 770 m (about 11 minutes) from Haarlem station.
From Haarlem station, walk 770 m through the city centre; the theatre is 300 m from the Grote Markt.
By bus, line 15 stops at Koudenhorn, 410 m from the door. Lines 2, 3, 73, 568, 569 and N80 stop at Nassaulaan, and 300, N30 and N80 also serve Centrum/Verwulft.
Bicycles: the free, covered and guarded bicycle parking is at Smedestraat 43. The theatre has no bicycle storage of its own.
Parking at Theater de Liefde: which garage and what it costs
The Appelaar is the closest garage; Station is the cheapest for a whole day.
The Appelaar is 270 m (4 min) away at Damstraat 12: 296 spaces, open 24/7, € 4,70 per hour until 23h, € 4,50 for the night from 23h to 8h, at most € 39,30 per day. Clearance is 2 m.
Parkeergarage Station (Lange Herenstraat 11, 448 spaces, 600 m/9 min) charges € 1,10 per 20 minutes and € 30,00 per 24 hours. De Kamp (De Witstraat 1, 395 spaces, 820 m/11 min) and Raaks (Zijlvest 45, 960 spaces, 730 m/10 min) charge € 4,10 per hour from 08:00 to 19:00, or to 21:00 on Thursdays, then € 4,10 for the evening and night from 19:00 to 08:00, or from 21:00 on Thursdays, with a maximum of € 34,40 per day.
The theatre itself names Appelaar, Station and Kamp as the garages within walking distance. Street parking in the centre is scarcer and more expensive per hour.
| Garage | Address | Walk | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appelaar | Damstraat 12 | 270 m, 4 min | € 4,70/h until 23h; € 4,50 night 23h to 8h; max € 39,30/day |
| Station | Lange Herenstraat 11 | 600 m, 9 min | € 1,10 per 20 min; € 30,00 per 24 h |
| De Kamp | De Witstraat 1 | 820 m, 11 min | € 4,10/h 08:00–19:00 (Thu 21:00); € 4,10 evening 19:00–08:00 (Thu 21:00); max € 34,40/day |
| Raaks | Zijlvest 45 | 730 m, 10 min | € 4,10/h 08:00–19:00 (Thu 21:00); € 4,10 evening 19:00–08:00 (Thu 21:00); max € 34,40/day |
Contact and address of Theater de Liefde
The theatre has no published daytime opening hours; it opens on performance nights.
- Address
- Begijnhof 10, 2011 HE Haarlem
- Phone
- 06 - 255 362 78
- [email protected]
- Rental
- [email protected]
- Opening hours
- Show nights only; doors 45 min before the start
Official links
The history of Theater de Liefde: from a rejected plan to a Haarlem stage
Theater de Liefde began as a disappointment: Mylou Frencken and Gerrie Hondius were told their new production could not be sold, and the impresario suggested they start their own theatre. They found the former Begijnhof chapel, set up a foundation and built a 120-seat hall.
The plan was to open in March 2021, but corona kept audiences away; the official opening followed in September 2021. During the restrictions, two full houses for Theo Maassen made national news, and the municipality fined the theatre.
The theatre is run by volunteers and an unpaid board. The programme covers cabaret, kleinkunst, theatre and music, and O.P. De Liefde gives new makers an open stage.
What kind of theatre is Theater de Liefde?
Theater de Liefde is a 120-seat theatre in the former Begijnhof chapel in central Haarlem. It programmes cabaret, kleinkunst, stand-up, theatre and music, mixing established names with try-outs and newer makers.
The chapel gives the hall its acoustics; the stage is 6 m wide and 4.5 m deep, with a black backdrop and a Yamaha grand piano. The bar is the meeting place before the show and in the interval.
The theatre can be hired for training, presentations and company gatherings for up to 120 people, and amateur theatre groups can rehearse and perform there. O.P. De Liefde is the venue's open stage for talent.
Photos
Photo credits
Three musicians on stage during a 2024 performance in the hall of Theater de Liefde in Haarlem, a grand piano behind them.: Hannolans · CC BY 4.0 · Cropped
The Begijnhof chapel in Haarlem, the historic building that now houses Theater de Liefde, seen from the courtyard.: Torsade de Pointes · CC0 1.0
The auditorium of Theater de Liefde in Haarlem, the single 120-seat hall used for cabaret, music and stand-up.: Theater de Liefde
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Theater de Liefde: questions people ask
How many seats does Theater de Liefde have?
The hall has 120 seats, all in the same room. The same space is used for congresses and presentations for up to 120 people, and there is no balcony or second hall.
Where is Theater de Liefde?
The address is Begijnhof 10, 2011 HE Haarlem. The theatre is in the former Begijnhof chapel in the city centre, about 300 m from the Grote Markt.
How far is Theater de Liefde from Haarlem station?
It is 770 m, about 11 minutes' walk. Bus 15 also runs from the station to Koudenhorn, which is 410 m (6 minutes) from the theatre.
Where can I park near Theater de Liefde?
The Appelaar is closest: Damstraat 12, 270 m (4 min), € 4,70 per hour from 8h to 23h, € 4,50 for the night from 23h to 8h, and at most € 39,30 per day. Parkeergarage Station is 600 m (9 min) and costs € 1,10 per 20 minutes or € 30,00 per 24 hours; De Kamp and Raaks are also within walking distance.
What time do shows start at Theater de Liefde?
The event pages we checked start evening performances at 20:30 and the Sunday matinee at 15:30; the official agenda gives the exact start time for every show, and times vary. Doors open 45 minutes earlier. The venue does not publish end times.
How much are tickets for Theater de Liefde?
A regular ticket is € 19 including an interval drink and service costs. On Wednesdays the 'Woensdag voor weinig' ticket is € 14 including service costs.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Only if the show is not sold out. Tickets are sold online, and the theatre warns that door sales stop when the hall is full.
Can I pay with cash at Theater de Liefde?
No. The theatre only accepts card payments (pin), for tickets and at the bar.
Is there a bar at Theater de Liefde?
Yes. The bar is open around the performance, and a regular ticket includes one interval drink. The bar is closed while the show is running.
Can I take photos or film during a show?
No. Photography and filming are not allowed, and phones must be switched off, including vibrate, during the performance.
What happens if I arrive late?
There is no admission after the performance has started. The doors close at the start, so plan to arrive before then.
Can I hire Theater de Liefde?
Yes. The hall is available for training, presentations and company gatherings for up to 120 people, and for amateur theatre groups. Contact [email protected] for availability and catering.
What is O.P. De Liefde?
It is the theatre's open stage for new talent, a recurring evening where makers can try out material in front of an audience. The agenda lists the dates.
Sources: Theater de Liefde — verhuur (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Liefde — algemene en technische info (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Liefde — contact (October 30, 2026) · Parkeren Haarlem — Parkeergarage de Appelaar (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Liefde — huisregels (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Liefde — historie (October 30, 2026)
