The monumental building of the former Gymnastic Hall in the centre of Amsterdam where De Krakeling is located was transformed in a youth theatre in 1978. This was thanks to the efforts of a woman with a mission, Hans Snoek, also founder of the Scapino Ballet. There was no place in Amsterdam yet where performances for children could take place on a regular base. Hans Snoek persuaded the city counsil to put this building to the disposal of this initiative. This was the start of a development that could not be stopped. Thanks to the excellent state of the Dutch youth theatre every year more activities take place in De Krakeling. De Krakeling has celebrated its 30ths anniversary in march 2008. The building where De Krakeling is located is more than a hundred years old and owes its name to the nearby Koekjesbrug (cookie-bridge). A krakeling is a sort of cracknel or pretzel. De Krakeling has an auditorium with a maximum of 200 seats on wooden benches.