In 2025, the Goudse Schouwburg presented a record number of Podium van de Stad activities.

Gouda's cultural meeting place continues to grow explosively. In 2025, the Goudse Schouwburg organized more Podium van de Stad activities than ever before, both inside and outside the building. This has strengthened the theater's position as the cultural hub of Gouda, where residents meet, inspire each other, and create together. As a result, the theater has once again managed to attract a large number of new visitors who would not normally go to the theater.

"The program expanded significantly this year with 10 new events in 2025," says Marcel Kamphuis, program maker at the Goudse Schouwburg. The Goudse Schouwburg encouraged young people to vote in the elections with First Time Voters and celebrated diversity with the World Food & Film Festival, held at GOUDasfalt and in the three meeting centers. Also new were the first Night of Wonder, a successful version of the multi-day Festival of Wonder, and Let Your Voice Be Heard, developed in collaboration with Theaterdelta Zuid-Holland. In addition, the theater celebrated the return of the Gouda Jazz Festival and the very first Gouda edition of PopMonument. The theater was also transformed into a bustling market square twice: during Gouda Pop Week and the Gouda Christmas Market. The theater also served as a polling station for the first time during the elections for the House of Representatives, and there were activities during Rainbow Month. The organization also presented a documentary screening with Docloc at the Fun4Two swingers club. The calendar year began energetically with Express Yourself, in which young people worked towards their own performance, followed by Up Next, where vocational students gained professional stage experience. Familiar projects also remained firmly in place, such as the National Theater Weekend, Theater Na de Dam, Agnietensessies, Orange the World, Youth and Seniors Programming Council, and the theater was a location during Popronde Gouda, Gluren bij de Buren, and Gouda bij Kaarslicht, and the famous theater cookies were ready for everyone at the annual Easter Breakfast on the Market Square.

Marcel adds: "We also increasingly have our own productions that tie in with existing events. For example, our youth project Theater Na de Dam was also featured at the Gouda Liberation Festival, Express Yourself at the Gouda New Year's Reception, and UpNext at Nacht van de Verwondering. Pop music also received an extra boost this year through the Pop Programming in collaboration with So What!. With this continued growth, we are demonstrating that culture is alive and well in Gouda and remains accessible to everyone."