Paul Haenen’s Christmas show ends 34-year run at Amsterdam theatre

Paul Haenen will stage his long-running December show at Amsterdam’s Theater De Richel for the final time this year, ending a 34-year run at the venue. The last performances are scheduled from 3 December to 10 January.

Haenen, 80, created the show as a response to what he called the forced jollity of Christmas. This year’s production is titled *Margreet Dolman brengt Warmte in de donkerste dagen van het jaar & Dominee Gremdaat wijst de Weg naar een evenwichtig 2027*.

Haenen and his husband, Dammie van Geest, ran the theatre — formerly known as the Betty Asfalt Complex — for 35 years before handing it over to the De Theatergroep collective in 2024. Van Geest said they had agreed to perform there for three more Decembers after the handover.

The pair want to continue the year-end show, Van Geest said, but are still looking for a new venue. A tour next December is also possible, he added. The production features Haenen’s characters Margreet Dolman and Dominee Gremdaat and usually sells out quickly.

Haenen also announced in September that he would stop voicing Bert in the Dutch version of *Sesamstraat*, a role he had performed for more than 50 years.