Recap ND2025

The 28th edition of the Nederlandse Dansdagen showed how dance continues to surprise, connect, and disrupt. The festival brought tradition and the future together, both in theaters and on the streets, and reaffirmed that dance can be a place where everyone - regardless of age, background, or body type - can feel at home.

Focus areas

This year, Dance, Health & Inclusion and Dance & Protest were the main themes. Dance was visible as more than just an art form. Namely, as a source of physical well-being, emotional balance, and social connectedness. The founders of R.A.A.F. danst, Annemarie and Bryndís, said: “At a time when more and more people are getting stuck, falling ill or experiencing life-changing events, dance can be a powerful, free form of expression that supports people physically, mentally and socially.” Dance also emerged as a way of looking at the world, ourselves, and each other. NOW WE ARE EARTH/ An Orchestra by Nicole Beutler Projects, for example, offered a hopeful view of coexistence and change.

DansWEB performance: Er begint iets te spelen...

DansWEB remained an important part of the festival this year with a new performance. In collaboration with PRA Muziektheater, Er begint iets te spelen... was created. It was a special project consisting of various workshops in which elderly people, children from special education, people with disabilities, and local residents worked together. The result was a heartwarming performance in which participants from all target groups stood together on stage and brought their stories to life. A personal assistant to one of the participants put it aptly: “Two hours of joy and fun, two hours of being able to participate fully in this musical celebration: you would wish that for everyone every day.” The entire process was captured on camera by Ron Ramaekers and resulted in a beautiful, moving documentary. Watch the documentary here.

A wealth of visitors and activities

With nearly 17,000 visitors, the Nederlandse Dansdagen continued its growth. The Danstent was once again the beating heart of Maastricht. More than 5,000 people danced here, participated, or stopped to watch, drawn by what was happening and what you simply did not want to miss.

At 12 festival locations, established companies, mid-career artists, and new creators showed how rich and diverse Dutch dance is. For the second time, the Sint Janskerk was renamed the Danskerk, where four different programs with various performances were presented in an intimate setting in a single day. There were also programs such as the Nederlandse Dansdagen Gala, Meesterwerken, the Open Your Mind X IBE Battle, premieres, workshops, and in-depth discussions, which attracted twice as many participants this year.

International connections were formed through the visit of students from the Arts Umbrella Dance Company from Canada, who immersed themselves in the Dutch dance scene by attending workshops, visiting performances, dancing in the Danstent, and showcasing their talent on stage at Theater aan het Vrijthof.

Farewell and future

After ten years, the festival bid farewell to its general director Ronald Wintjens. Under the new leadership of Claudia Laenen and Lobke Nabuurs, work began on the next step in the renewal and deepening of the festival: as a stage, platform, and content compass.

Dansdagen in the region

Nederlandse Dansdagen is expanding into the region, where local strength and national visibility come together to increase the impact of dance on society. The pilot, Dansdagen Enschede, took place successfully last October and attracted almost 17,000 visitors. No fewer than 15,000 visitors visited the Danstent on the Oude Markt, where the program consisted of activities organized by local organizations and initiatives. In 2026, Dansdagen will expand further in the region and more cities will join.