An estimated 20,000 people watched a modern-day performance of The Passion in Gouda’s historic centre on Thursday evening to mark Easter. The turnout for the free outdoor musical was twice as high as expected.

The musical told the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus with pop songs performed by well-known Dutch artists.  The live television broadcast attracted almost a million viewers, making it the fifth most popular programme on Thursday. It was the first time such a large production was organised in the Netherlands. However the concert was based on a BBC production.

The event was organised by various Christian television stations, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the Roman Catholic Church and the Dutch Bible Society and the city council of Gouda.

The Netherlands has a tradition of performing Bach's St Matthew Passion concerts to celebrate Easter. This evening Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other members of the cabinet will attend a Passion concert in the picturesque village of Naarden.

• Video in Dutch, courtesy of NOS.nl television