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It is literally and figuratively the Dutch Circus Oscar, the Oscar Carré Trophy. The Netherlands’ most important circus award will be presented on May 8, 2025 to Maurice Veldkamp, director of the Magic Circus. The award ceremony will be held by Youp van ‘t Hek in the theater tent of Magic Circus on the Amstelveld in Amsterdam-Centrum.
The prestigious circus award has only been presented 26 times in the last 44 years. Director Veldkamp was chosen, among other things, for his services to circus culture and the joy he has brought to several generations of highly esteemed audiences. Particularly in the neighborhoods of the big cities, Magic Circus (the Dutch City Circus) ensures connection and inclusion with innovative modern performances.
Historic circus location
For the first time, the trophy, an initiative of the Club of Circus Friends Netherlands, will be presented at the location where the Carré family gave its very first performances in Amsterdam in 1864. At the time, Oscar Carré was ‘only’ a juggler on horseback in his father’s circus. Four years later, he was the director and built his first own Amsterdam (wooden) circus building on the Amstelveld. Only later would his stone circus palace rise on the Amstel.
Maurice Veldkamp
Maurice Veldkamp is the nestor of the Dutch circus world. As a ringmaster, he was associated with Kerstcircus Ahoy in Rotterdam for 32 years, the largest Christmas circus in Europe. His presentation talent could also be seen at the French circus Bouglione and Holiday on Ice. Since 1987, Veldkamp has been racing through the country with his own circus. Even during Corona, he managed to give performances, completely within the guidelines. This season he equaled a circus record. Only one other circus management managed to tour with its own tent circus every year for 38 years. This Circus van Bever closed in 1959 due to the age of the management.
“You don’t make a circus alone,” says Maurice Veldkamp. “It is a team sport and I am lucky that a ‘Magic Team’ has been created. Dedicated employees without whom I would never have been able to keep going for so long. On to 40 years of my own circus. If I ever stop, it will certainly not be due to a lack of audience. Magic Circus is more popular and successful than ever.”
Club of Circus Friends Netherlands
The Club of Circus Friends Netherlands is a dynamic association for lovers of all facets of the circus arts. Circus, Artist Collectives and Variety, it is all covered in its own Circus magazine De Piste.
The Oscar Carré trophy is a bronze sculpture made by the famous artist Bep Sturm-Van den Bergh. Her unique circus sculptures are internationally coveted art objects.