C O N C E P T | S T O R Y T E L L I N G | B R A N D I D E N T I T Y
One of the most dramatic, hidden histories in the Netherlands. In 1818 General Johannes van den Bosch wanted to solve the immense poverty with a large-scale re-education experiment. The poor and orphans from all over the Netherlands were transferred to the institutions in Veenhuizen, Drenthe. It started as an inspired plan to raise the poor and quickly turned into a major drama. About 100,000 people have suffered this fate; more than 1 million Dutch are descendants of these paupers.
Het Pauperparadijs performed in Veenhuizen, Drenthe and exactly on the spot where it all happened around the 19th century.
Also a indoor version was shown in Theater Carré, Amsterdam. In the summer of 2022, it will return to where it all started in Veenhuizen!
Photography: © Gerard Tonen
"The bestseller Het Pauperparadijs with more than 250,000 copies sold and written by Suzanna Jansen finally became a music theater performance created and directed by Tom de Ket. Based on the main character from the book and in the theater play, the identity of Teunis was born and represents all the paupers of the 19th century. Already 130,000 visitors and still counting...Until 2022!”
