The Johannes Vermeer Award 2025 was awarded yesterday to choreographer and dance theater director Marco Gerris. Minister Gouke Moes (Education, Culture and Science) presented him with the award at the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague for his groundbreaking work, which combines dance, theater, and other disciplines. This is the first time the Johannes Vermeer Award has been presented to an artist in the dance field.
Minister Moes: “You could consider this award the Dutch Nobel Prize for arts and culture. I consider it an honor to present it as Minister of Education, Culture and Science. Our country boasts a wealth of exceptional artistic talent, and with this award, we recognize and honor that. It’s also wonderful that the artistic language of dance has now won the prize for the first time.”
Innovative
The jury, chaired by Marise Voskens, calls Gerris an absolute innovator at the intersection of dance, movement, theater, and music. “He fuses the universal artistic language and energy of dance and movement into unexpected combinations, transforming the stage into a journey for everything and everyone,” the jury stated.
Grand Prize
The Johannes Vermeer Award is the Dutch state prize for the arts and consists of a sum of €100,000. This sum is intended for a special project that the winner can develop within their own field. Established in 2008, the prize was established to honor and encourage exceptional artistic talent. The prize is organized by the six national cultural funds, with the Mondriaan Fund acting as coordinator.
The prize has previously been awarded to Marit Törnqvist, Tania Kross, Arnon Grunberg, Natasja Kensmil, Rineke Dijkstra, Ivo van Hove, Janine Jansen, Iris van Herpen, Steve McQueen, Michel van der Aa, Irma Boom, Rem Koolhaas, Marlene Dumas, Erwin Olaf (†), Alex van Warmerdam, and Pierre Audi (†).
This year’s jury consists of Marise Voskens (chair), Ted Brandsen, Margot Dijkgraaf, Natasja Kensmil and Bas Kosters.
Free exhibition at the Ministry
To mark the presentation of the Johannes Vermeer Prize, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is presenting a showcase of the award winner’s work in the Ministry’s display window. The exhibition space is located directly next to the Ministry’s entrance at Rijnstraat 50 in The Hague and is freely accessible. The exhibition is designed by set designer Ascon de Nijs and will be on view from November 17, 2025, to the end of April 2026.