Nederlands Dans Theater originated in 1959 when 22 people broke free from the Nederlands Ballet. These rebels were impassioned by dance and the desire to give it a style all their own. Under the direction of Carel Birnie and Benjamin Harkarvy they steadily built a different repertoire of modern dance. Fifty years later Nederlands Dans Theater has become one of the leading dance companies in the world. A rich repertoire has been built up with works from master choreographers Jiří Kylián and Hans van Manen, as well as from resident choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot, associate choreographers Crystal Pite and Johan Inger and many other guest choreographers like Ohad Naharin, Nacho Duato and William Forsythe. Under the direction of artistic director Paul Lightfoot,  Nederlands Dans Theater attracts full houses world-wide.
   
Through the years, but particularly in its hey-day under former artistic director Jiří Kylián, Nederlands Dans Theater has done pioneering work in contemporary dance. Ballets originally made for Nederlands Dans Theater are still danced all over the world. Numerous dancers and choreographers that once started with the company have set up their own dance companies world-wide. This is how Nederlands Dans Theater’s influence spreads further and further.
 
Nederlands Dans Theater has two companies, with two generations of dancers.

Nederlands Dans Theater 2
The company was founded in 1978 for young upcoming talent with an astonishing technique and endless energy and currently consists of sixteen dancers up to the age of 23. Nederlands Dans Theater 2 is a revolutionary breeding ground of talent and dances repertoire of established choreographers and new creations by upcoming choreography talents. The artistic director of Nederlands Dans Theater 2 is Gerald Tibbs.