Tuschinski Theatre
A historic Amsterdam cinema renowned for its Art Deco, Jugendstil and Amsterdam School architecture, now operated by Pathé.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Tuschinski Theatre, officially Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski, is a landmark cinema near Rembrandtplein in central Amsterdam. It was established by Abraham Icek Tuschinski, a cinema entrepreneur who already operated four theatres in Rotterdam, together with his brothers-in-law Hermann Gerschtanowitz and Hermann Ehrlich. Their ambition was to create a technologically advanced and architecturally exceptional cinema in Amsterdam rather than a conventional film venue. Construction began on 18 June 1919. The building combined Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Jugendstil elements with the Amsterdam School style, producing an unusually eclectic exterior and interior. Its western facade is marked by two towers, ceramic ornament, leaded-glass windows and a mixture of geometric and theatrical decoration. Inside, the designers sought to create an illusion of entering another world. The building also incorporated Asian-influenced motifs and advanced electro-technical systems for its period, including a heating and ventilation installation intended to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the complex. The theatre opened on 28 October 1921. Tuschinski had hoped to open with the first theatre organ in the Netherlands, but a Wurlitzer organ could not be delivered in time. He therefore travelled to Brussels and obtained an organ from another cinema so that the opening would still feature live musical accompaniment. The main auditorium was designed for both film screenings and live performances, with a stage and organ in addition to the projection facilities. The history of the theatre is closely connected to the destruction and persecution of the Second World War. The bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940 destroyed Tuschinski's four Rotterdam cinemas. After the German occupation of the Netherlands, the occupying authorities removed Tuschinski, Gerschtanowitz and Ehrlich from their own company, which was taken over by the German film enterprise Tobis Film. The Amsterdam theatre was renamed Tivoli in November 1940. A fire in July 1941 destroyed murals by Pieter den Besten. Tuschinski and Gerschtanowitz were deported to Auschwitz, while Ehrlich was deported to Sobibor; all three were murdered in 1942. After liberation, the Tuschinski name was restored, although only a small number of members of the three families survived the war. The building was designated a national monument in 1967 in recognition of its architectural character. Its modern commercial history involved several changes of ownership and expansion. In 1983, the nearby Nöggerath Cinema was acquired and renamed Tuschinski 3. The enlarged site was sold to Cannon in 1985 and to MGM Cinemas in 1991. Pathé acquired MGM's Dutch cinema chain, including Tuschinski, in 1995. Pathé carried out a major restoration between 1998 and 2002, seeking to recover the original appearance while maintaining the site as a functioning cinema. A corridor was added to connect the original theatre with Tuschinski 3, bringing the complex to six auditoriums. Further work took place before the cinema's centenary in 2021. Auditorium 2 was restored, including a recreation of the lost Pieter den Besten murals, while the former Nöggerath auditoriums and their foyer were updated. The foyer also gained Bar Abraham, named in reference to the founder. Tuschinski remains an operating Pathé cinema and a prominent cultural and architectural destination in Amsterdam. Its identity rests on the combination of first-run film exhibition, historic preservation, live-performance capability and an immersive interior environment. In 2021, around its centenary, it received the royal predicate from King Willem-Alexander after the announcement by Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, becoming Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski. The same period brought international attention when Time Out described it as the world's most beautiful cinema.
History
Tuschinski Theatre was created by Abraham Icek Tuschinski, a Rotterdam cinema operator who sought to establish a world-class venue in Amsterdam. He developed the project with his brothers-in-law Hermann Gerschtanowitz and Hermann Ehrlich. Construction began on 18 June 1919, and the theatre opened on 28 October 1921. The project was conceived as more than a simple screening venue. Its architecture merged Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Jugendstil and the Amsterdam School, while the interior used decorative elements, lighting and spatial design to create an illusionary theatrical environment. The building also included advanced heating and ventilation equipment intended to provide stable conditions for visitors. The main auditorium was equipped for both cinema and live performance, with a stage and organ. Because the planned Wurlitzer organ could not be delivered before opening, Tuschinski obtained an existing organ from a Brussels cinema. The theatre's early history was interrupted by the Second World War. The bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940 destroyed Tuschinski's four cinemas in that city, while several cinemas outside Rotterdam survived. After the German occupation, the authorities dismissed Tuschinski, Gerschtanowitz and Ehrlich from their company. Tobis Film took control of the Amsterdam operation and renamed the building Tivoli on 1 November 1940. During the occupation, a fire in July 1941 destroyed murals by Pieter den Besten. The three former owners were deported to Nazi concentration and extermination camps and were murdered in 1942. The Tuschinski name returned after the liberation of the Netherlands, but the founding families had suffered devastating losses. In the postwar period, the cinema continued operating and later became protected as a national monument in 1967. Its expansion and ownership history reflected the consolidation of the cinema industry. The nearby Nöggerath Cinema was acquired in 1983 and renamed Tuschinski 3. The complex changed hands from Cannon in 1985 to MGM Cinemas in 1991. In 1995, Pathé acquired MGM's Dutch cinema chain, including Tuschinski. Pathé undertook a substantial restoration from 1998 to 2002. The work aimed to preserve and recover the building's original visual character while adapting it to contemporary cinema operations. A connecting corridor linked the original theatre to Tuschinski 3, producing a six-auditorium complex. Further restoration preceded the centenary in 2021. Auditorium 2 was returned closer to its former appearance, including a recreation of the murals lost in the wartime fire. The former Nöggerath auditoriums were also modernized, and Bar Abraham opened in the foyer. On 28 October 2021, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema announced that King Willem-Alexander had granted the cinema a royal predicate. The venue consequently became Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski. The centenary period also brought renewed international attention to its architecture and heritage. Tuschinski continues to function as a Pathé cinema, combining commercial film exhibition with a protected historic setting and occasional live-performance use.
- 2021
Centenary restoration and royal designation
[1]The cinema undergoes further restoration and receives the royal predicate Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski.
- 2002
Major restoration concludes
[1]Restoration work completed between 1998 and 2002 returns the complex toward its original style and connects its auditorium groups.
- 1995
Pathé becomes operator
[1]Pathé acquires MGM Cinemas' Dutch chain, including Tuschinski.
- 1983
Nöggerath Cinema joins the complex
[1]The nearby Nöggerath Cinema is acquired and renamed Tuschinski 3.
- 1967
Declared a national monument
[1]The building receives national-monument status because of its architectural distinctiveness.
- 1940
Occupation-era renaming
[1]Following the takeover by Tobis Film, the theatre is renamed Tivoli.
- 1921
Theatre opens
[1]Tuschinski opens to the public on 28 October with a cinema, stage and theatre organ.
- 1919
Construction begins
[1]Construction of the Amsterdam theatre begins on 18 June under the direction of Abraham Icek Tuschinski and his partners.
Products and positioning
A premium historic cinema and cultural entertainment venue combining first-run film exhibition with nationally protected architecture and heritage-led hospitality.
Cinema and live-performance auditorium · 1921
Main auditorium
The principal auditorium has supported both film screenings and live performances since the theatre opened. It retains a stage and organ alongside cinema projection facilities, making it central to the venue's identity as both a movie theatre and a theatrical entertainment space.
Multi-screen cinema · 1983
Tuschinski cinema complex
The historic theatre operates as part of a larger Pathé complex with six auditoriums. The expansion incorporated the former Nöggerath Cinema, later known as Tuschinski 3, and connected the buildings through a corridor while preserving the original theatre as the architectural centerpiece.
Cinema hospitality · 2021
Bar Abraham
Bar Abraham is a foyer hospitality venue introduced during the restoration work leading up to the cinema's centenary. Its name references founder Abraham Icek Tuschinski and reinforces the complex's heritage-oriented visitor experience.
Brand decisions
2021
Centenary restoration and heritage repositioningStrategyBackground
Work ahead of the theatre's centenary was intended to refresh the complex while emphasizing its original design and historical associations.
Action taken
Auditorium 2 was restored, lost Pieter den Besten murals were recreated, the former Nöggerath auditoriums were updated and Bar Abraham opened in the foyer.
Aftermath
The venue strengthened its position as a heritage destination and received the royal predicate Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski.
1998
Historic restoration programme beginsStrategyBackground
Pathé sought to maintain the cinema as a functioning commercial venue while recovering its historic architectural character.
Action taken
Restoration work began and continued through 2002, with a corridor added between the original theatre and Tuschinski 3.
Aftermath
The complex retained its heritage identity while expanding to six auditoriums.
1995
Pathé acquires the Dutch MGM Cinemas operationM&ABackground
MGM Cinemas owned and operated the Dutch cinema business that included Tuschinski.
Action taken
Pathé acquired MGM Cinemas' Dutch chain and added Tuschinski to its national cinema network.
Aftermath
Pathé became the long-term operator associated with the theatre and later undertook major restoration work.
1983
Acquisition of Nöggerath CinemaM&ABackground
The cinema expanded beyond the original theatre by acquiring the Nöggerath Cinema on the same block.
Action taken
The acquired venue was renamed Tuschinski 3 and later connected to the original building.
Aftermath
The site developed into a larger multi-auditorium cinema complex.
Sources2 sources
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