Stijn Schoonderwoerd named director of Dutch National Opera and Ballet

Monday, January 4, 2021

Schoonderwoerd will succeed Els van der Plas as general director of Dutch National Opera & Ballet on 1 February.

Guido Benschot

Schoonderwoerd is described by his co-directors Ted Brandsen and Sophie de Lint as having 'extensive experience in successfully leading important cultural institutions and knows our organisation well'. 

He was previously business director of Dutch National Ballet and co-director of Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, which merged into Dutch National Opera & Ballet. He also held positions as director of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra/Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the permanent orchestra of the Dutch National Opera, and financial manager of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.