From Circusclub – Amsterdam

De Circusclub is an amateur circus school located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in June 2016 by Henny Diebels and Marjolein Wagter , it offers regular circus arts instruction for children and teenagers.

The school develops an educational approach combining the discovery of circus disciplines, artistic expression, personal development and cooperation.

Its goal is to enable each child to discover their abilities, develop their talents and gain self-confidence in a collective and encouraging environment.

A story linked to the Circus Elleboog

De Circusclub has a history closely linked to that of Circus Elleboog , an important circus structure for children and teenagers formerly based in Amsterdam.

Henny Diebels worked there for twenty-two years , while Marjolein Wagter worked there for thirteen years .

When Circus Elleboog had to cease operations following the withdrawal of its subsidies, the two teachers decided to continue their commitment by creating a new school.

De Circusclub was thus born from a collaboration between Stichting Arts in Motion , founded by Henny Diebels, and Compagnie with Balls , led by Marjolein Wagter.

The two founders wanted to preserve an approach to circus that was accessible to young people and particularly attentive to social and educational dimensions.

The groups and disciplines taught

The school now welcomes children from the age of 4 .

The courses are organized into several groups, allowing activities to be adapted to the age and experience of the participants.

The youngest children discover circus arts through playful exercises and activities adapted to their motor development.

Children gradually learn to coordinate their movements, develop their balance, and experiment with different techniques.

Older students can deepen their skills and participate in exercises requiring greater technical mastery.

Juggling

Juggling is one of the disciplines offered.

The children discover how to manipulate different accessories, including balls, juggling scarves and Chinese plates.

These activities help to develop coordination, concentration and precision.

The diabolo

The diabolo is also among the techniques practiced.

Participants gradually learn to control the object's movements and perform different figures.

The balance disciplines

Balance disciplines occupy an important place in teaching.

Students can, in particular, discover how to balance on a circus ball.

This activity helps to work on posture, stability and body control.

Tightrope walking is another discipline offered.

Children learn to control their movements on a narrow surface and to develop their concentration.

Acrobatics

Acrobatics also represents an essential component of the program.

Students discover different floor movements and participate in individual or group exercises.

These activities help develop coordination, flexibility and body awareness.

Working together also promotes cooperation and mutual trust.

The trapeze

The trapeze is one of the apparatuses used in the discovery activities offered by the school.

Participants can thus experiment with certain balance and suspension techniques.

The diversity of disciplines is an important element of De Circusclub's educational project.

Each child can discover different practices and gradually develop their preferences.

Some students are particularly interested in juggling, while others prefer acrobatics or balance disciplines.

The school aims to allow everyone to progress according to their abilities and desires.

A pedagogy at the service of personal development

Education is not solely based on the acquisition of technical skills.

De Circusclub uses circus arts as a means to promote the personal and social development of participants.

Children learn to persevere, to take on new challenges, and to discover their own potential.

Successfully completing an exercise helps to boost self-confidence.

Students gradually discover that they can perform movements that initially seemed difficult to them.

Cooperation constitutes another fundamental dimension of teaching.

Participants are encouraged to help each other and work together.

Group exercises help to develop mutual trust and respect for others.

Artistic expression and performances

De Circusclub also places great importance on artistic expression .

Students are encouraged to explore different ways of presenting their work.

Preparing for shows is an important moment in their journey.

Each year, the school organizes performances allowing children and teenagers to showcase the techniques they have learned during classes.

These shows are also open to local residents.

They allow families and the public to discover the achievements of young artists.

Preparing a performance encourages students to develop their creativity and their ability to work collectively.

Children learn to organize their movements and share their achievements in front of an audience.

This experience helps to strengthen their confidence and independence.

A social circus approach

De Circusclub develops an approach that is particularly attentive to social circus .

This approach uses circus arts as a means to promote inclusion, encounters, and personal development.

The founders have significant experience in supporting young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods and people facing social difficulties.

They believe that the circus can allow participants to discover their abilities and develop a positive self-image.

The activities also promote encounters between children from different backgrounds.

The school thus hopes to contribute to strengthening social ties in the neighborhoods where it operates.

Projects in neighborhoods and schools

In addition to its weekly classes, De Circusclub organizes social circus projects in different neighborhoods of Amsterdam.

These interventions make it possible to offer artistic activities to children who do not necessarily participate in regular classes.

Projects may combine discovery workshops, group training sessions, and public presentations.

The school also intervenes in educational institutions.

These activities allow students to discover circus arts within the framework of educational projects.

The workshops promote coordination, cooperation and creativity.

De Circusclub also offers entertainment for groups and families.

Workshops can be organised for children's birthdays, association events or professional events.

These activities allow participants to discover different circus disciplines in a fun environment.

Cultural events

The association also participates in cultural events organized in Amsterdam.

In August 2026, she notably offered workshops as part of the Circusbende Festival .

The activities took place in Amsterdam-Noord , on the Groene Veld site, and then in Amsterdam-West , in Erasmuspark.

These interventions illustrate the school's desire to make circus arts accessible to a wider audience.

Teacher training

De Circusclub also has a significant activity in educational training .

Henny Diebels and Marjolein Wagter work with circus teachers, trainees and volunteers.

They offer training courses and workshops dedicated to the transmission of circus techniques and the support of participants.

Their expertise is recognized by several national and international organizations.

In particular, they collaborated with Circomundo , an organization representing circus schools for young people in the Netherlands.

The Vlaams Circuscentrum , in Belgium, also called upon their expertise.

Henny Diebels

Henny Diebels has extensive experience in teaching circus arts and dance.

A graduate of the Amsterdam Theaterschool in the field of dance, she participated in the creation of Stichting Arts in Motion in 1996 .

She devoted a large part of her professional career to teaching circus arts to children and teenagers.

She also has significant experience in teacher training.

In particular, she participated in the development of educational programs dedicated to social circus.

Her work includes involvement in various European projects aimed at improving the training of circus teachers.

Marjolein Wagter

Marjolein Wagter also has significant experience in circus arts.

She began her career as a volunteer at Circus Santelli in Groningen, before taking on artistic responsibilities there.

She then worked at Circus Elleboog, notably in supporting teachers, trainees and volunteers.

His experience also includes projects aimed at young people facing social difficulties.

She is particularly interested in acrobatics, balances and the transmission of circus arts.

Alongside her teaching activities, she develops artistic creations with Compagnie with Balls .

The two founders also participate in international projects dedicated to the development of social circus.

Their commitment helps to make De Circusclub a structure that combines amateur teaching and pedagogical expertise.

The training area and the organization of classes

De Circusclub has a training space located at Rapenburg 51 , in the center of Amsterdam.

Classes are held there every week, mainly on Wednesdays and Saturdays .

The groups are divided according to the age of the participants.

• Children aged 4 to 6 have a specific time slot.
• Other sessions are for children aged 6 to 12 .
• A group for young people aged 10 and over also allows them to continue learning.

The educational organization thus allows children to discover circus arts from a very young age and to progress over several years.

The school offers a free trial session to allow families to discover its activities before enrolling.

The courses are organized into cycles of fifteen or thirty sessions .

This formula allows participants to practice regularly and gradually develop their skills.

A local and community-based foundation

De Circusclub maintains an associative structure based on close ties with families and residents of the neighborhood.

The shows and outdoor projects allow the children's achievements to be shared with a wider audience.

The school thus contributes to local cultural life and the development of circus arts in Amsterdam.

A loyal commitment since 2016

Since its creation in 2016 , De Circusclub has continued the educational commitment of its founders.

It combines technical learning, creativity, cooperation and social inclusion.

Her approach is based on the belief that every child possesses abilities that can be revealed and developed through circus arts.

With its weekly classes, shows, school workshops and educational training activities, De Circusclub is a particularly interesting structure in the Dutch amateur circus scene.

It allows children and teenagers to discover different disciplines, to progress at their own pace and to participate in collective creations.

Its commitment to social circus and personal development makes De Circusclub a place of learning where circus arts also become a means of fostering self-confidence, artistic expression and encounters between participants.