Circus Lab Amsterdam
Circus Lab Amsterdam is a center for circus practice, training and creation located in the Slotervaart district of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
It welcomes amateurs, professional artists and young talents wishing to discover or deepen their knowledge of circus arts. The disciplines practiced include aerial silks, aerial hoop, trapeze, rope, aerial cube, ground acrobatics, duo acrobatics and trampoline.
The center offers open training sessions several times a week, classes led by professionals, and specialized workshops. It also serves as a meeting place and space for artistic exploration for circus artists.
Circus Lab Amsterdam develops contemporary circus projects and supports the creation of shows. It also hosts Olympia Circus, a social circus organization offering classes to children and teenagers in the neighborhood.
In 2026, its activities are temporarily taking place at Jacob Geelstraat 42, during the renovation of its usual building, Podium Lely.
1065 VT Amsterdam
Circus Lab Amsterdam is a practice, training and creation center dedicated to circus arts , located in the Slotervaart district of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
It provides a meeting place for professional artists , amateurs and young talents wishing to develop their skills in different circus disciplines.
Its operation combines free training , supervised teaching , specialized workshops , artistic research and the creation of shows .
A space dedicated to circus arts
Circus Lab Amsterdam presents itself as an artistic development space open to different practices.
The center welcomes people wishing to discover circus arts, but also experienced artists looking for a place to train, exchange ideas and develop new projects.
His approach promotes encounters between traditional circus disciplines , contemporary forms of live performance , dance and theatre .
Hip-hop and street dance are also among the artistic practices that can be found within the center.
Aerial disciplines
Aerial disciplines occupy an important place in the activities of Circus Lab Amsterdam.
Practitioners can work with aerial silks , aerial hoop , aerial hammock , rope and trapeze .
The center also has equipment for practicing aerial cube .
These different disciplines allow you to explore suspended movements, develop strength and flexibility , and work on artistic sequences.
The facilities include several attachment points for aerial equipment.
Acrobatics and trampoline
Circus Lab Amsterdam also offers spaces adapted for ground acrobatics .
Practitioners can work on individual acrobatic techniques, floor movements, and tumbling exercises.
Acrobatics in pairs is another discipline represented.
The center also has trampolines of different sizes.
This equipment allows artists to develop their coordination , body control and acrobatic abilities .
Open training sessions for amateurs and artists
One of the main activities of Circus Lab Amsterdam is the organization of free training sessions.
These time slots allow practitioners to have a fully equipped space to work on their disciplines.
Participants can use some of the equipment provided or bring their own.
These sessions promote encounters between artists and the exchange of skills.
Access conditions
However, they are intended for people capable of practicing independently : free training does not include formal instruction or technical supervision .
Specialized courses and workshops
In addition to open training sessions, Circus Lab Amsterdam hosts courses taught by professional instructors .
Specialized workshops are also organized throughout the year.
These activities allow students to delve deeper into certain disciplines and discover different artistic approaches.
Information about the workshops is communicated through discussion groups and the center's newsletter .
A place for artistic development
Circus Lab Amsterdam is not limited to sports practice or technical learning.
It also provides a space for research and creation for contemporary circus artists.
Participants can develop new ideas, experiment with artistic forms and work on performance projects.
The center hosts a community of artists and teachers who train together and participate in various activities.
Some projects result in public performances , both in the Netherlands and internationally.
Olympia Circus: the circus for children
Circus Lab Amsterdam maintains a close link with Olympia Circus , its social circus structure for children and teenagers.
Olympia Circus offers activities accessible to young people in the Amsterdam Nieuw-West district.
The Olympia Circus program
Its program includes, in particular:
- introductory sessions for the youngest children,
- Circus classes for children,
- training sessions designed for teenagers.
Highly motivated young people can join a talent development group .
This training allows students to deepen their knowledge of circus disciplines, prepare shows and potentially consider further studies in circus arts.
The project places particular emphasis on social inclusion , cooperation and self-confidence .
A center involved in local life
Circus Lab Amsterdam develops a social and cultural approach to circus arts.
The center aims to make these practices accessible to diverse audiences and to promote encounters between residents, artists and participants.
Its location in Amsterdam's multicultural Nieuw-West district contributes to this approach.
Social circus projects allow children from different backgrounds to practice together and develop their artistic and relational skills.
A building under renovation
Circus Lab Amsterdam usually shares the Podium Lely building with ISH Dance Collective .
This cultural space is currently undergoing major renovation work .
During this period, operations were transferred to temporary premises located at Jacob Geelstraat 42 , in Amsterdam.
The centre has two rooms on this site equipped for circus arts practice.
Back to Podium Lely
The return to the renovated Podium Lely building is announced for 2027 .
A meeting place for the circus community
Circus Lab Amsterdam occupies a special place in the Dutch circus scene.
It brings together teaching activities, independent training , social circus projects and contemporary creation initiatives.
This diversity allows amateurs and professional artists to meet and share their experiences.
Thanks to its equipment, workshops and artistic collaborations, Circus Lab Amsterdam contributes to the development of circus arts in the Dutch capital.
