Who are you and what do you do exactly?
My name is Rosalinda Lourens and I have been working at Dutch National Opera & Ballet for 25 years, in the costume department’s dye workshop. We make sure that fabrics and costumes have exactly the right colour and look – sometimes new, sometimes worn, weathered or “lived in.” We work down to the smallest details: for example, we dye the shoes of a costume in exactly the same shade as the dress, so everything forms one cohesive whole.
What gives you energy in your work?
I get the most energy when a new production arrives and we get to figure out together: “How are we going to make this?” Every opera or ballet has its own designer and its own world. We translate that vision into fabrics, costumes and details. The most rewarding moment is when a drawing ultimately appears on stage exactly as imagined.
Do you attend rehearsals or the dress rehearsal as well?
Absolutely. That’s when you see the work under stage lighting and in context. Sometimes the designer asks for adjustments – darker tones, a different shade, more rust or wear. We keep refining until the final dress rehearsal.
What is something local residents might not know, but would enjoy learning?
You wouldn’t expect there to be a dye workshop on the fourth floor! All wigs, hats and costumes are made by hand here. When you see how much time, care and craftsmanship goes into them, you better understand where the ticket price goes.
Are the stage sets made here as well?
Everything related to costumes and props happens here, but the sets are far too large. For that, we have a large workshop in Amsterdam Zuidoost, which is also where costumes are stored. Every few years, some costumes are sold. That’s done with a heavy heart, but it’s also wonderful to see how happy people are with them. During Pride, I once saw an entire boat filled with outfits I had worked on.
What makes this work special after all these years?
It keeps renewing itself: new productions, new designers, new worlds. You create something from start to finish and later see it come alive on stage. That never stops being special.
What is a hidden gem in the Plantage neighbourhood?
The Jan Wolkers monument in the Wertheimpark. I find it poetic and powerful – a place that always moves me.
Is there a particular Amsterdam resident you would like to meet there?
Femke Halsema. She was here recently to personally congratulate MBO students. She came across as sincere and deeply involved. I have great respect for her as a woman.
Which performance should we absolutely see in 2026?
I find Tristan und Isolde beautiful and intense. And I’m very curious about Theory of Flames, a new opera about two people who become entangled in conspiracy theories.
Who do you pass the baton to, and with which question?
I pass the baton to KIT, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
My question: What does KIT stand for, and why was the name changed?