Theaterschool De Trap, a 40-year-old acting school located on Zeeburgerdijk in Amsterdam Oost, is facing closure due to severe financial difficulties, primarily attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school, which relies heavily on tuition fees from its students, experienced a significant drop in new enrollments in recent years, preventing some courses from starting and leading to a lack of funds for essential operations, including paying external directors. To secure its future and allow current students to complete their education, De Trap has launched a crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise €150,000 for investments in organization, facilities, and marketing. Without this funding, the school, which is structured as a BV and thus ineligible for certain subsidies, risks ceasing operations, a prospect met with dismay by its students.