Jeugdcircus Bombari – Assen

Jeugdcircus Bombari is an amateur circus school located in Assen , in the province of Drenthe , in the northeast of the Netherlands. Founded in 1977 by Aad Wesseling and his wife, the association has been offering regular circus arts instruction for children and teenagers for almost fifty years.

The school welcomes young people aged 7 to 18 and allows them to discover different circus disciplines in an associative, friendly and collective environment.

The educational project

Bombari's educational project is based on several essential values: the pleasure of practice , cooperation , creativity and self-confidence .

The association aims to make circus arts accessible to all children, regardless of their background or experience.

Groups and levels

The students are divided into several groups according to their age and level of practice.

Beginners usually join the group of aspirants, called Aspiranten.

This first level allows children to discover the fundamental techniques of circus arts and to gradually develop their skills.

• The young people learn, in particular, to juggle , to work on their balance and to perform different acrobatic figures .
• Juggling is one of the important subjects taught. Children discover object manipulation techniques and gradually learn to coordinate their movements. This activity promotes concentration , precision , and perseverance .
• Unicycling is also one of the disciplines practiced. Students learn to find their balance, to move around, and to develop their mastery of this apparatus. Learning requires patience and regularity , but allows children to gradually see their progress.
• Acrobatics also plays an important role in Bombari's activities. Young people develop their strength , flexibility , and coordination through various exercises. Some figures are performed as a group and require cooperation between several participants. These activities help develop mutual trust and a sense of responsibility .

The association favours an approach in which children can discover their own abilities and progress at their own pace.

More experienced students gradually join the junior and artist groups.

These groups continue technical training while giving more space to the creation of acts and the preparation of shows .

The training sessions

Training sessions are organized every week .

The young artists regularly practice their disciplines in order to perfect their skills and prepare for performances.

The regularity of the sessions allows students to develop their physical and artistic skills throughout the year.

Preparing for the shows

Preparing for shows is an essential aspect of the life of Jeugdcircus Bombari.

Each year, the association develops a new production around a particular theme.

The young people participate in the creation of acts combining different circus disciplines.

• The shows include demonstrations of juggling , unicycling and acrobatics .
• They are accompanied by costumes, music and staging that allow for the construction of a true artistic performance.
• Students thus learn to use their technical skills to create acts intended to be presented in front of an audience.

Preparing a show requires several months of work.

Participants must learn their moves, rehearse their sequences and coordinate their movements with those of the other artists.

This experience allows them to develop their concentration , autonomy and ability to work collectively .

The first annual event at De Nieuwe Kolk

Every year, Bombari organizes a major premiere in the De Nieuwe Kolk performance hall in Assen.

This performance is one of the most important moments of the season.

Families and the public can discover the results of the work done during training.

The young artists present their creations in performance conditions, with a real stage space.

Preparing for this first time helps to strengthen self-confidence and the feeling of belonging to the group .

The children discover the joy of sharing their creations with the audience.

Shows and tours

In addition to this annual performance, Jeugdcircus Bombari organizes several shows in the region.

• Young artists can perform at local festivals , cultural events and family-oriented events .
• The association also works in various establishments and participates in events organized in public spaces.
• These performances allow students to gain stage experience and to meet different audiences.

Bombari also has a tradition of summer tours .

Each summer, young artists can participate in trips to different cities in the Netherlands.

These tours constitute an important experience in the life of the association.

Participants discover the different stages of organizing a show while traveling.

They learn to prepare their acts, to work together and to adapt to the performance conditions.

Touring also promotes conviviality and strengthens the bonds between group members.

The young people share moments of collective life outside of regular training sessions.

This experience helps to develop team spirit and a sense of belonging to the association .

Transmission between generations

Transmission between generations is another important characteristic of Jeugdcircus Bombari.

Some former students gradually become coaches and mentor new participants.

This continuity allows the technical skills and values of the association to be passed on.

Young people can thus learn from people who have themselves practiced circus arts within Bombari.

Discovery activities and workshops

The school also develops discovery activities aimed at an external audience.

• It offers workshops allowing children and adults to experience different circus disciplines.
• These interventions can be organised during festivals, cultural events or community events.
• Participants discover, among other things, juggling and various balancing techniques.
• The workshops are led by experienced artists who present the accessories and explain the first exercises.
• These activities help to introduce circus arts to a wider audience.
• They can also encourage new children to join regular training sessions.

Welcoming new members

Jeugdcircus Bombari offers trial sessions to young people wishing to discover the association.

Children can therefore participate in an initial training session before deciding whether they wish to register.

This approach allows families to discover how the school works and the activities offered.

The association places great importance on welcoming new members .

Its goal is to create an environment in which every child can find their place.

The skills developed

The diversity of disciplines allows participants to develop different skills.

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

This diversity promotes the discovery of individual abilities and encourages children to persevere.

The training sessions also help to develop social skills .

Participants learn to help each other, to communicate and to work together.

Preparing for the shows reinforces this collective dimension.

Each artist contributes to the success of the performance and learns to respect the work of others.

Regular practice of circus arts also helps to develop self-confidence .

Children gradually discover that they can succeed at exercises that initially seemed difficult to them.

This progression encourages perseverance and autonomy .

Performing acts in front of an audience is a particularly rewarding experience.

Young people learn to master their concentration and share their achievements.

A long cultural history in Assen

Jeugdcircus Bombari has a long history in the cultural life of Assen.

Since its creation in 1977, the association has supported several generations of young artists.

She regularly participates in local events and helps to promote circus arts in the region.

In October 2026, Bombari continues this activity with new performances, notably as part of the cultural programming of Podium Zuidhaege .

With nearly fifty years of existence, weekly training sessions and a significant performance activity, Jeugdcircus Bombari constitutes a historical structure for amateur circus arts education in the Netherlands.

The school allows children to start from the age of 7 , to discover different disciplines and to progress towards the creation of real acts.

His project combines technical learning , artistic expression , cooperation and community life .

Jeugdcircus Bombari thus offers children and teenagers an environment in which they can develop their skills, gain confidence and share the pleasure of practicing circus arts together.