that he it could be seen all the way from The Hague, Utrecht and on the island of Texel. The rubble became valuable due to the gold and the jewels in it, and the site was sold by its owners after the fire. Leidseplein The city theatre moved to the Leidseplein and opened on 13 September 1789 with the première of Lucretia Wilhelmina van Merken's tragedy Jacob Simonszoon de Ryk. The building had a wooden structure behind a stone facade. It burnt down in 1890. The present theatre replaced its burned-down predecessor. It was built between 1892 and 1894 to a design of Jan L. Springer (1850–1915), with the cooperation of his father J. B. Springer and Adolf Leonard van Gendt. The rebuilding was supported closely by prominent banker, philanthropist and senator A.C. Wertheim. In 1982 it became a Rijksmonument. From the end Second World War, until the opening of the Stopera in 1986, the Dutch National Opera was based in the Stadsschouwburg. Culture and theatre Whenever AFC Ajax has a major win, they often go to the steps of the cities theater to be publicly applauded. The normal programme of events encompasses all sorts of theatrical forms, mostly by Dutch writers. The Boekenbal (book ball) is traditionally held in the Stadsschouwburg and it marks the beginning of the annual Boekenweek (book week). Notes Bibliography Worp, J.A.: Geschiedenis van den Amsterdamschen Schouwburg 1496-1772. Amsterdam: S.L. van Looy, 1920. See also Polly Cuninghame - Maria Gartman - Johanna Wattier External links Official website (Internationaal Theater Amsterdam) Monument report Stadsschouwburg Theatres in the Netherlands Rijksmonuments in Amsterdam