Rich cultural scene
Rotterdam has a rich cultural scene centred largely around the cultural axis between Museumpark and Witte de Withstraat. The area includes acclaimed museums like Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, The New Institute and the Kunsthal, presenting a widely varied range of art exhibitions. TENT and Witte de With guarantee a relevant, innovative, experimental programme, and the numerous galleries around Witte de Withstraat and outside the city centre are also well worth your time.
Street art
You don’t necessarily have to head indoors to see art in Rotterdam, though. Pablo Picasso, Joep van Lieshout, Henry Moore, Paul McCartney, Elmgreen & Dragset: masterpieces by the world’s most famous artists can simply be viewed in public in Rotterdam. These displays of public art belong to the Sculpture International Rotterdam collection and can be viewed every day completely free of charge. The Rotterdam Tourist Information Coolsingel office provides a walking route that leads visitors past the sculptures and offers commentary on the artists and their context. If you love street art, feast your eyes on the beauties around the Luchtsingel pedestrian bridge and the Hofbogen arches, where huge and impressive wall paintings by local artists are progressively covering the walls.
And…
Rotterdam also boasts many theatres, concert halls and arthouse cinemas that lots of locals describe as their ‘home away from home’. The Rotterdamse Schouwburg is one of those venues, as are De Doelen concert hall, the Witte de With theatre, or the charming old Cinerama cinema with its red velvet chairs. These places are where you go to be inspired and moved, but also to mingle with others and enjoy a nice glass of wine. Don’t skip the Kop van Zuid, worth a visit for the Nederlands Fotomuseum, the LantarenVenster cinema and the Luxor Theater.
