Lanseloet van Denemerken

Lanseloet van Denemerken is among the earliest non-ecclesiastical theatre texts found in Europe.

Often found as Lanseloet van Denemarken

The original text

The first known text of the work is one of the four famous Dutch abele spelen of the middle ages (i.e. something like "refined, plays", as opposed to the crude rural farces of the time) . It was found in handwritten versions by Van Hulthem (circa 1400-1405), along with Esmoreit, Gloriant and Vanden winter ende vanden somer.

The play has also been preserved in a number of print editions fromn the 15th to the 18th century, and it has for centuries been part of the Dutch theatre repertoire.

Translations and adaptations

Sometimes translated into modern Dutch as Lanseloet van Denemarken, the piece has also been adapted an opera by Renaat Veremans and for TV and stage by Dora van der Groen.

Translated into Afrikaans as Lanseloet van Denemarken by