News item | 18-11-2025 | 10:00
The Johannes Vermeer Prize 2025 has been awarded to Marco Gerris. Minister Gouke Moes (Education, Culture and Science) presented him with the prize last night in the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague, because of his groundbreaking work in which he brings together dance, theater and other disciplines. It is the first time that the Johannes Vermeer Prize has been awarded to an artist in the dance field.
Minister Moes: “You can see this prize as the Dutch Nobel Prize for art and culture. I think it is an honor to be able to award it as Minister of Education, Culture and Science. Our country has a lot of special artistic talent, and with this prize we recognize and honor that. It is also great that the artistic language of dance is now winning 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 merges the universal artistic language and energy of dance and movement into unexpected combinations, transforming the stage into a trail for everything and everyone,” said the jury.
Grand Prize
The Johannes Vermeer Prize is the Dutch state prize for the arts and consists of a cash prize of € 100,000. This amount of money is intended for a special project that the winner can set up within their own field of work. The prize has existed since 2008 and was established to honor and encourage exceptional artistic talent. The organization of the prize is in the hands of the six national culture funds, with the Mondriaan Fund acting as coordinator.
The prize was previously 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 the jury consists of Marise Voskens (chairman), Ted Brandsen, Margot Dijkgraaf, Natasja Kensmil and Bas Kosters.
Free exhibition at the ministry
On the occasion of the presentation of the Johannes Vermeer Prize, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science presents an impression of the prize winner’s work in the OCW window. The exhibition space is located directly next to the entrance of the ministry at Rijnstraat 50 in The Hague and is freely accessible. The exhibition was designed by set designer Ascon de Nijs and can be seen until the end of April 2026.