Choreographer Hans van Manen dead at 93; Among “greatest artists,” Royal Family says

Hans van Manen, the renowned choreographer, has died at 93, the National Opera & Ballet confirmed to ANP. He passed away from natural causes on Wednesday evening at his Amsterdam home. Funeral arrangements will be shared at a later time.

For over six decades, Van Manen was the Netherlands’ most prominent choreographer and considered a master of contemporary ballet. During his career, he created more than 150 pieces.

Van Manen, born in 1932, began ballet lessons in the late 1940s. He debuted as a choreographer in 1955 with Olé, Olé, la Margarita, and his third work, Feestgericht, earned him the State Prize for Choreography. In 1992, he was made an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

In recognition of his outstanding impact on the arts, Van Manen was awarded numerous honors, including the Erasmus Prize, the Prix Benois de la Danse Life Achievement Award, the Grand Prix à la Carrière, and the VSCD Oeuvre Prize.

Van Manen had served as a resident choreographer at the Dutch National Ballet since 2005 and was named senior choreographer in 2025. Following the creation of the Hans van Manen Foundation in 2021, the Dutch National Ballet took over the management of his entire repertoire.

In a joint statement Wednesday evening, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Beatrix said that the Netherlands “has lost one of its greatest artists” with the passing of Van Manen.

“True mastery lies not in excess but in restraint. With playfulness, lightness, and clarity, he allowed us to experience perfection in his virtuosic ballets,” the royal family said. “We remember him with love, admiration, and gratitude, and will miss him dearly.”

Ted Brandsen, director of the Dutch National Ballet, described Van Manen as “one of the greatest artists our country has produced.”

“He played an unparalleled role in shaping dance in the Netherlands and internationally,” Brandsen said of Van Manen, describing him as “an incredibly inspiring friend to many.”

He noted that Van Manen left a profound impact on the Dutch National Ballet through his vision and long-standing commitment. “His friendship was one of the greatest gifts of my life. His art will continue to live on through the dancers who perform it and the audiences who witness it.”

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema responded to Van Manen’s death by calling him “an icon of dance.” Halsema wrote on Instagram: “From a boy on Marnixstraat who looked into the nearby Stadsschouwburg, he became a masterful choreographer, renowned in the Netherlands and internationally. In Amsterdam, audiences could particularly enjoy his work at the National Opera & Ballet. His talent for spotting potential allowed him to lift dancers to remarkable heights.”

Halsema extended her condolences to Van Manen’s family and loved ones, adding, “I hope it brings them comfort to know that his work will live on forever on the stage.”