National Ballet

Ted Brandsen's lively version of Coppelia is this year's Christmas ballet. The colourful sets for this story of the doll's doctor and his living doll are by artist and children's book author Sieb Posthuma and the retro costumes by designer Francois-Noël Cherpin.

Muziektheater, Amsterdam, December 11, 12 (matinee and evening), 13, 18, 19 (matinee and evening), 21, 22, 24, 25, 27 (matinee and evening), 29, 30 (matinee and evening), 31 and January 1.

www.het-nationale-ballet.nl

Nederlands Dans Theater

The programme 50 Years of Challenging Dance consists of world premieres by Jirí Kylián, Johan Inger and the duo Lightfoot León.

Theater aan de Parade, Den Bosch, December 8; Danstheater, The Hague, December 10, 11, 12 and 13 (matinee); Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht, December 12; Muziektheater, Amsterdam, December 15 and 16; Parktheater, Eindhoven, December 18.

www.ndt.nl

Riverdance

The stiff bodies and flying feet of the Irish dancers are currently on a Farewell Tour. Since they burst onto the scene as a filler at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 they have maintained the quality of the dancing and this time there is back projection of images to enhance the atmosphere.

Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, December 15 to 20.

www.mojo.nl

The Nutcracker

This large-scale production of the popular Christmas ballet with music by Tchaikovsky features children, teenagers and older people, professional dancers and dance students. The story of Clara and her toys which come to life has been adapted by Thom Stuart and Rinus Sprong to reflect life in the city of The Hague.

Grote Kerk, The Hague, December 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and January 1\

Festivals

International Circus Festival

With international circus acts competing for the Golden Artist award, this is an opportunity to see a wide range of artists, ranging from clowns, feats of strength and fire-eating to aerial acts and tightrope walking. It is also the place to see young, promising talent show what they can do. Among the animals performing are dogs, elephants, camels and llamas.

Volkspark, Enschede, December 18 to 27.

www.circusfestival.nl

Sport

Friday Night Skate

A series of group skates through Amsterdam and its surroundings with a different route and a different theme each time. The idea is that you dress appropriately.

Santa Skate, December 18.

www.fridaynightskate.com