Theater de Richel in Amsterdam
Theater de Richel is an intimate, monument-listed theatre on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in Amsterdam, with a 120-seat Grote Zaal, two smaller halls, a café and a programme of cabaret, comedy and music.
Photo credits
The empty Grote Zaal of Theater de Richel, the theatre’s main hall.: Theater De Richel
Quick answers
- Halls
- 3, plus foyer and café
- Address
- Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 282-H1012 RT Amsterdam
- Grote Zaal
- 120 people
- Nearest stop
- Paleisstraat, 3 min walk
- From Centraal
- About 12 min on foot
- Parking
- Q-Park Nieuwendijk, €13 per hour
- Jongerenpas
- Free for ages 12–25
- Accessibility
- Not fully wheelchair accessible
- Contact
- [email protected]No public phone number
Theater de Richel agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Amsterdam.
Last night at Theater de Richel: Betty Friday - vrij-mi-bo cabaret - MC020, Rikkert van Huisstede / Boys Won’t Be Boys – Oudejaars met Rikkert (Try-out), Festival of the Dead
November 2026
- Fri27Nov
€20 - Sun29Nov
- Sun29Nov
€22.50 - Mon30Nov
€18
December 2026
January 2027
- Sat2Jan
Plan your visit to Theater de Richel
How many people fit in Theater de Richel?
The Grote Zaal holds 120 people, the Kleine Zaal 60 and the Zolderzaal 65; the foyer holds 100 for drinks and receptions.
- Grote Zaal
- 120 people
- Kleine Zaal
- 60 people
- Zolderzaal
- 65 people
- Foyer
- 100 people
- Theatercafé
- 60 people
The three halls are separate rooms, not tiers of one auditorium: the Grote Zaal is the main stage, the Kleine Zaal is in the souterrain and the Zolderzaal is the attic room with its own bar.
For comparison, Torpedo Theater (49) and Het Perron (50) are similarly small Amsterdam stages, while Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam seats 750. The table uses the capacity recorded for each venue.
| Room or venue | Type | Capacity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theater de Richel — Grote Zaal | Main hall | 120 | theaterderichel.nl/verhuur |
| Theater de Richel — Kleine Zaal | Souterrain hall | 60 | theaterderichel.nl/verhuur |
| Theater de Richel — Zolderzaal | Attic hall, with bar | 65 | theaterderichel.nl/verhuur |
| Theater de Richel — Foyer | Reception space, with bar | 100 | theaterderichel.nl/verhuur |
| Torpedo Theater | Small theatre, 0.3 km away | 49 | OpenStreetMap area data (Wikidata) |
| Het Perron | Small theatre, 0.8 km away | 50 | OpenStreetMap area data (Wikidata) |
| Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam | City theatre, 0.9 km away | 750 | OpenStreetMap area data (Wikidata) |
Seating: the Grote, Kleine and Zolderzaal
Every performance is assigned to one of the three halls, and the event page names it. The venue publishes each room's capacity and use, so check the room before you book.
- Grote Zaal
- 120 places, main hall
- Kleine Zaal
- 60 places, souterrain
- Zolderzaal
- 65 places, with bar
- Seat map
- No numbered plan published
- Booking
- Per show; hall named on event page
The Grote Zaal is the main hall, with 120 places and the largest stage; cabaret, theatre and music evenings are billed there.
The Kleine Zaal is the souterrain room and holds 60 people; comedy and intimate theatre play there.
The Zolderzaal holds 65 people and has its own bar; it is used for festivals and music.
The venue publishes capacities and room functions, but publishes no numbered row or seat plan on the pages read, so this section describes the rooms rather than recommending a row. The Grote Zaal is the largest room and carries the main programme; the Kleine Zaal is the smallest and most intimate; the Zolderzaal has its own bar. Book early because the rooms hold 120, 60 and 65 people, and for festival time slots in the Grote Zaal the ticket reserves a place because of capacity. If you need step-free access or a seat with more room, email [email protected] before booking; the monument is not fully wheelchair accessible.
- Check the event page for the hall before you book.
- Book early: the halls hold 120, 60 and 65 people.
- For festival slots in the Grote Zaal, your ticket reserves a place.
- Email [email protected] before booking if you need step-free access.
Eating and drinking at Theater de Richel
Theatercafé De Richel is in the souterrain, under the Grote Zaal and beside the Kleine Zaal; it is the place for a drink before or after a show.
The café began in 2013 at Nes 71 and moved into the theatre's souterrain when De Theatertroep took over the building. It also hosts jazz jams and small performances.
For a group, party or drinks reception, mail [email protected]. The café's drinks menu is on its own page.
For room hire, lunch, drinks or a buffet can be arranged through the venue's regular caterer, and drinks are supplied by the theatre.
- Theatercafé
- Yes, in the souterrain
- Group bookings
- [email protected]
- Hire catering
- Lunch, drinks or buffet
- Jazz
- Wednesdays, 21:00, free
Tickets, prices and the Jongerenpas
Tickets are sold per show through the agenda, with prices set by the act; standard tickets on the event pages range from €17.50 to €25.00.
The Grote Zaal, Kleine Zaal and Zolderzaal each have their own programme; the event page gives the hall, start time and price before you book.
The free Jongerenpas is for anyone aged 12 to 25. It gives unlimited entry to performances that are not sold out, but you cannot reserve a seat: show the pass at the door and take your chance.
Some performances are matinees: at Café Chantant the room opens in the afternoon, the show starts at 15:30 and ends at 18, with the bar open earlier.
Contact is by email; the contact page lists the department addresses for general questions, room hire, the café and business enquiries.
- Standard tickets
- €17.50–€25.00
- Jongerenpas
- Free, ages 12–25
- Reservation with the pass
- Not possible
- Matinee example
- 15:30–18
Accessibility: a monument with steps
Theater de Richel is not fully wheelchair accessible; the building is a rijksmonument and the venue is studying what can be improved within its heritage status.
The theatre asks visitors with a disability or questions about accessibility to email [email protected] before booking, so the route and the room can be discussed.
Because the building is a monument, any change must respect its legal heritage status. The theatre does not claim step-free access to the halls or the souterrain café.
- Wheelchair access
- Not fully accessible
- Building
- Rijksmonument
- Contact
- [email protected]
- Improvements
- Under study
Getting to Theater de Richel by tram, metro or on foot
Paleisstraat is the closest stop, three minutes' walk; Dam and Rokin are about five minutes away, and Amsterdam Centraal is a 17-minute walk or a short tram or metro ride.
From Amsterdam Centraal, take tram 2, 17 or 24 to Paleisstraat, tram 2, 4, 14, 17 or 24 to Dam, or metro 52 to Rokin. The theatre's own page also gives a walking estimate of about 12 minutes from Centraal.
The theatre is between Dam Square and the Spui, so the last part of any route is through the pedestrian streets of the city centre. Taxis can stop at the door.
Nearest stop
Paleisstraat, 180 m
Dam
340 m
Rokin
350 m
From Centraal
1,230 m
- Taxis can drop you at the door.
Parking near Theater de Richel: three garages and their rates
The theatre recommends Q-Park Nieuwendijk, a 741 m walk of about ten minutes; Q-Park de Bijenkorf and Parkeergarage Rokin are each about eight minutes away and charge the same or less.
Q-Park Nieuwendijk is at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 40, has 410 spaces and is open 24/7. The theatre's page links to a discounted advance booking; driving in and out works by number plate.
Q-Park de Bijenkorf at Beursplein 15 has 431 spaces; Parkeergarage Rokin at Rokin 67 has 293 spaces and is run by the City of Amsterdam.
De Bijenkorf has no evening tariff; its day maximum is €60, against €90 at Rokin. The rates below are per hour, with the day maximum where the garage publishes one.
| Garage | Address | Walk to the theatre | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q-Park Nieuwendijk | Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 40 | 741 m, 10 min | €13 per hour; max €60 per day |
| Q-Park de Bijenkorf | Beursplein 15 | 590 m, 8 min | €13 per hour; max €60 per day |
| Parkeergarage Rokin | Rokin 67 | 540 m, 8 min | €9 per hour; max €90 per day |
- Recommended
- Q-Park Nieuwendijk
- Cheapest hour
- Parkeergarage Rokin, €9
- Day maximum
- €60 at Nieuwendijk and de Bijenkorf
- Evening tariff
- None at de Bijenkorf
Address and contact
Theater de Richel, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 282H, 1012 RT Amsterdam, between Dam Square and the Spui.
- Address
- Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 282H
- General email
- [email protected]
- Room hire
- [email protected]
- Café and groups
- [email protected]
History: mayors' houses, the Prinsenschool and the Betty Asfalt Complex
The theatre occupies the double house at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 282 and 282A, for centuries the homes of mayors and later the Prinsenschool and the Betty Asfalt Complex.
The two houses sit behind one facade; the narrow left house was called Het Rechte Cromhout and stayed with the Bicker family until 1835. A ceiling piece by Jacob de Wit is documented but no longer present.
From about 1910 to 1957 the Prinsenschool, a public primary school, occupied the building. During the war Marie Schotte and her daughter Tina Strobos lived there; they sheltered at most five people at a time, around one hundred in total, and forged papers for the resistance.
Tingel Tangel opened in 1957 under Sieto Hoving. In 1989 the theatre was sold to Paul Haenen and Dammie van Geest, who made it the Betty Asfalt Complex. Stadsherstel bought the building so it could remain a theatre, and from February 2021 the souterrain was excavated for the Kleine Zaal and the foyer.
In 2024 Paul and Dammie handed over to the actors of De Theatertroep; since July 2024 the theatre has been called Theater de Richel and the café has moved into the souterrain.
- Building
- Rijksmonument, 282 and 282A
- Former name
- Betty Asfalt Complex
- Run by
- De Theatertroep
- Wartime hiding
- Up to five at a time
Photos
Photo credits
The empty Grote Zaal of Theater de Richel, the theatre’s main hall.: Theater De Richel
The exterior of Theater de Richel at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 282 in Amsterdam.: Vysotsky · CC BY-SA 4.0
The foyer of Theater de Richel before the audience arrives.: Theater De Richel
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Frequently asked questions
The questions visitors ask most about tickets, halls, travel, parking and accessibility.
Where is Theater de Richel?
The theater is at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 282H, 1012 RT Amsterdam, between Dam Square and the Spui. Paleisstraat tram stop is a three-minute walk; Dam and Rokin are about five minutes away.
How many people can Theater de Richel hold?
The Grote Zaal holds 120 people, the Kleine Zaal 60 in the souterrain and the Zolderzaal 65. The foyer holds 100 for receptions and the theatercafé holds 60. The venue does not publish one figure for the whole building.
Which hall is my performance in?
The event page names the hall. The Grote Zaal is the main room with the largest stage, the Kleine Zaal is downstairs in the souterrain and the Zolderzaal is the attic room with its own bar.
How do I get to Theater de Richel from Amsterdam Centraal?
Walk for about 12 minutes, the theater's own estimate, or take tram 2, 17 or 24 to Paleisstraat, three minutes from the door. The OpenStreetMap route is 1,230 m and takes about 17 minutes at a normal pace.
Where can I park near Theater de Richel?
The theater recommends Q-Park Nieuwendijk at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 40, 741 m, about ten minutes on foot, at €13 per hour with a €60 day maximum. Q-Park de Bijenkorf (8 minutes, €13 per hour) and Parkeergarage Rokin (8 minutes, €9 per hour) are alternatives.
What time do shows start and end?
Evening shows on the event pages read mostly start between 20:00 and 21:00, with 20:15 and 21:00 the common times; a few start at 19:00 or 19:30. The venue does not publish one closing time: it varies by show. A two-hour performance with a 30-minute break that starts at 20:15 ends at 22:15, a comedy slot can run from 21:00 to 22:00, and a matinee can run from 15:30 to 18. Check the event page for your date.
Do I need to book in advance?
Tickets are sold per show through the agenda. Cabaret and comedy nights can sell out, and Jongerenpas holders cannot reserve a seat, so book ahead if you want a guaranteed place.
How much are tickets at Theater de Richel?
Prices vary by show. Standard tickets on the event pages range from €17.50 to €25.00, and some performances have a student or Stadspas rate; the event page shows the price for your date.
What is the Jongerenpas?
A free pass for anyone aged 12 to 25. It gives unlimited entry to performances that are not sold out; you cannot reserve, so show the pass at the door and take your chance.
Can I eat or drink at the theater?
Theatercafé De Richel is in the souterrain, under the Grote Zaal and next to the Kleine Zaal, for drinks before or after a show. For a group, mail [email protected]; room-hire catering can also be arranged.
Is Theater de Richel wheelchair accessible?
No, not fully. The building is a monument and the venue is studying improvements within its heritage status. Email [email protected] to discuss your visit before booking.
Can I hire Theater de Richel for an event?
Yes. The Grote Zaal (120), Kleine Zaal (60), Zolderzaal (65), foyer (100) and theatercafé (60) are available. Lunch, drinks or a buffet can be arranged and drinks come from the theater; mail [email protected].
What was Theater de Richel called before?
It was the Betty Asfalt Complex until 2024. Before that the building housed Tingel Tangel and the Prinsenschool, and since July 2024 it has been Theater de Richel.
Sources: Theater de Richel: room hire (October 30, 2026) · OpenStreetMap: area around Theater de Richel (October 30, 2026) · Centrumparkeren: Q-Park Nieuwendijk (De Kolk) (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Richel: café (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Richel: Jongerenpas (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Richel: route and accessibility (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Richel: about the theatre (October 30, 2026) · Theater de Richel: contact (October 30, 2026)
