In 1866 the German circus director Oscar Carré finally got permission to build his first stone theatre, replacing the Rooseboom windmill at the city locks of the river Amstel.

The shows became very successful, thus changing the circus building to a theatre for all forms of popular entertainment.

Carré turned from a circus into a variété theatre (Dutch version of a music hall).

So, throughout the early 20th century the building was mainly used for vaudeville and revue shows, occasionally Italian operas and operettas.

Dutch stars like Lou Bandy and Louis Davids and international celebrities like Josephine Baker and the clown Grock performed here.

however, owing to the razias (police raids) in 1944, people started to stay away; the doors were closed from 1944 till 1945.

In 1987, at the centenary, the Royal Predicate was granted and the name was changed to Koninklijk Theater Carré.

On occasion, when famous Dutch performers have died, their bodies are laid in repose in the theatre so that members of the public can pay their respect (e.g., Ramses Shaffy, Jos Brink).

On the top floor of the theatre there is a restaurant named Oscar's, after the famous founder of Carré.