Rotterdam City Guide
Discover Rotterdam
Rotterdam has many amazing museums, performances and dance companies
that are spread throughout the city. Not only is their program amazing,
the city itself has a story to tell.
Download this map here to edit this map and add your own favourite spots!
1. Wilfried Lentz
One of the hidden secrets of Rotterdam. Another gallery with an excellent collection. This is a must for the true art lovers.
4. Poetry International
The Poetry International Festival was first held in 1970 and has grown to become one of the most authoritative poetry festivals in the world. For one whole week visitors
can attend programmes, lectures, interviews and debates with national
and international poets.
7. Shopper
SHPPR is a concept store in Rotterdam that sells a mix of products made by young talented designers.
10. Galerie Vivid
This gallery has an amazing collection of works on show and also participates in a number of art fairs every year. The building alone is striking.
Photo: Yves Krol
13. Stroom Hotel
Stroom Hotel is a trendy design hotel situated in the former electricity plant in the new Lloydkwartier area. The hotel offers 18 hotel studios that are equipped with all the comfort and mod-cons you might need, including a sumptuous
Coco Mat bed, large bath, two-person shower and beamer or flat screen.
16. Object Rotterdam
Art & Object Rotterdam are high-pitched and exciting contemporary art events where one will be presented with the most daring artists around. In addition to having the absolute best in Dutch art, this art fair presents an excellent set of foreign galleries, pop-up shows, interviews and lectures.
19. Van Nelle Ontwerpfabriek
The Van Nelle Design Factory
is an imposing building with international appeal. It is of
immeasurable cultural and historical value, having the status of a nationally protected monument and being included on the UNESCO World
Heritage list.
22. Atelier van Lieshout
Atelier Van Lieshout (AVL) is a multidisciplinary company that operates internationally in the field of contemporary art, design and architecture. The somewhat controversial installations will definitely be the topic during the drive home. Stunning and honest pieces.
2. De Doelen
De Doelen is a unique
combination of a renowned concert hall, as well as a state-of-the-art congress building. There is no other building with these two functions elsewhere in Holland. De Doelen organizes approximately 450 concerts a year; from chamber music to pop, everything is possible in De Doelen.
5. Rotterdam Danst
In 2005, Rotterdam dance companies Conny Janssen Danst, Dance Works Rotterdam / Andre Gingras, Meekers, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam and dance workshop Dansateliers joined forces for the organization of the Dance Event. Under the title Rotterdam Dances they present themselves collectively as the Rotterdam dance world.
8. Blaak 10
Since 2004, Rotterdam’s Art Academy, the Willem de Kooning Academy (WDKA), has its own art galley called Blaak 10. Art gallery Blaak 10 exhibits work by alumni and current students from the WDKA. The result is an innovative and lively exhibition of work made for the Academy, but also work they have created after leaving the Willem de Kooning Academy.
11. Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen has a dazzling collection of about 140,000 pieces of art. This amazing collection includes many great works of old masters, modern and contemporary art, drawings and prints, applied art and design, and a
city collection.
14. Kunsthal
The Kunsthal offers a
fascinating journey along old masters, forgotten cultures, captivating photographs, modern design and contemporary art. Presenting about 25 exhibitions each year, as well as fairs and numerous other activities, the exhibition hall continuously offers an adventurous journey through
different continents and various art movements.
17. Nederlands Fotomuseum
With a rich gradated exhibition programme of historical and contemporary Dutch and international photography treasures, the Nederlands Fotomuseum is the place to be for photography aficionados.
20. Architecture Biennale
The International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) is an international urban research biennale founded in 2001 on the conviction that architecture is a public concern. It is an international event of exhibitions, conferences, lectures and other activities devoted to themes in the field of architecture and urbanism.
23. Circus Stad Festival
Every year the Schouwburgplein and Rotterdam’s theatres are transformed into a spectacle of fun and fantasy for Circusstad festival. Rotterdam can revel with the best acts the international circus theatre world has to offer and marvel at the skills of local performers during this fabulous new festival.
3. IFFR
The International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) takes over and changes the Rotterdam landscape for 12 days each year. The city oozes film and all that surrounds it. For anyone who is passionate about cinema, whether it’s a career or just something to enjoy, the IFFR is an event that cannot be missed.
6. DANSnacht
From large groups to individual young talent, the whole danceworld participates in Rotterdam Dance night with dozens of shows, performances and workshops. Expect an evening of modern dance, jazz, hip hop and breakdance, so close that you can see, hear, smell and maybe even touch it!
9. Concept|NO|Store
Many designers have already presented their collections at this store. In addition to presenting collections and accessories there are regularly exhibitions that have a link with fashion. Concept|No|Store is open to everyone who has something to say about fashion and can rightly be called a 'talent shop'.
12. NAi
The Netherlands’ Architecture Institute (NAi) is more than just a museum of Dutch architecture. Above all it is a cultural institute which annually presents more than twenty exhibitions on architecture, urban design, interior design and landscape architecture.
15. Erasmusbrug Stadsdriehoek
The Erasmusbrug is a cable-stayed bridge across the Nieuwe Maas river, linking the northern and southern halves of the city of Rotterdam. The Erasmusbrug was designed by Ben van Berkel and completed in 1996. The 802-metre-long bridge has a 139-metre-high asymmetrical pylon, earning the bridge its nickname of 'The Swan'.
18. RAW Art Fair
With its fresh and different approach, Rotterdam's youngest art fair
RAW brings its visitors, gallerists, artists and collectors a completely revisited art fair experience. Next to the galleries segment and the individual artists program it offers a peripheral program of dance, music performances and more, making RAW a multifaceted event. Even better yet, it's right down the road from the established Art & Object Rotterdam!
21. Internationale Keuze
The international theatre festival ‘de Internationale Keuze’
(literally translated as the international choice) boasts an
extraordinary selection of national and international theatre producers to memorably kick off the theatre season. Due to the broad variety of performances, there’s something to tickle everyone’s fancy.
24. North Sea Jazz
North Sea Jazz is the biggest indoor jazz festival in the world and is internationally known for the many different areas of jazz from all eras. The annual festival has a strong reputation for showcasing the great diversity of jazz music ranging from traditional New Orleans jazz to swing, from free jazz to fusion, from soul to hip hop, and from blues to Latin.
