one of the best festival cities in the world
Rotterdam is one of the world’s best festival cities, and with good reason. Not only does the city host many different festivals (not just in sultry summer, but also in the icy winter months), Rotterdam’s festival organisers also demonstrate daring and a drive to innovate in the programmes they design.
Because of the coronavirus, there will be no festivals in Rotterdam until Tuesday 30 June 2020. It is not clear what will happen next. Stay at home as much as possible, which is safer for others and yourself. Read more about COVID-19 measures here.
Besides internationally acclaimed festivals like the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January and the North Sea Jazz Festival in July, the city hosts more and more small, intimate festivals as well. And these newcomers are increasingly held in exceptional corners of the city. Old warehouses and silos, rooftops, abandoned buildings and ‘secret gardens’ offer inspiration. The port is also popular; concerts are held regularly in factory halls, wharves, shipping containers and tucked-away corners of liminal space where electronic music and avant-garde art flourish surprisingly well.
Rotterdam was named one of the six best festival cities in the world during the 64th Annual International Festivals & Events Association Convention, Expo & Retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States on September 25, 2019.
Check out the comprehensive festival agenda for more details. Staying overnight after a day of festival? View the hotels.
