Highlights 2020

Festivals and events

As expected, iconic annual events such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam, NN Marathon Rotterdam, NN North Sea Jazz Festival and Rotterdam Unlimited feature on the festival calendar in 2020. Among the newcomers are I Love Urban (Oeverpark Nesselande), Parkzicht Outdoor (Park de Twee Heuvels) and Het Weelde Festival (Merwe-Vierhavens). Due to great success, the festivals POW!WOW! in the Rotterdam Street Culture Weekend (Afrikaanderwijk) and the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival (Pijnackerplein) will also be back in 2020.

The spectacular newcomer to the festival calendar, the Eurovision Song Contest, takes place on 12, 14 and 16 May in Rotterdam Ahoy. There will also be an extensive city programme with parties, public viewings and performances by artists and Rotterdam talent at numerous places in the city from 8 to 16 May. In addition to celebrating the 65th-anniversary edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, in 2020 we will also acknowledge the celebration of 75 years of freedom and the commemoration of 80 years since the bombardment.

Delfshaven400

In 2020 it will also be 400 years ago that the Pilgrim Fathers left from Delfshaven to go to their promised land. From 17 July to 9 August, under the name Delfshaven400, Rotterdam’s part in this chapter of world history will be highlighted with music, dance, stories, exhibitions and tours, and the arrival of the museum ship De Halve Maen (from May 2020) is expected to be one of the big crowd pullers.

Architecture

In 2020, the unique Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen will be completed at Museumpark. The design by MVRDV (by architect Winy Maas, also responsible for the Markthal) won the architect selection for the Depot building in 2014. The building has a round bowl shape that is covered with reflective material. The reflection of the Museumpark in the façade means the building becomes one with its surroundings. The ‘Silver Opening’ of the Depot is expected at the end of 2020. This will be followed by a drying period and a relocation. Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen will open to the public in 2021.

Fenixloods II

Renovation of the Fenixloods II will start in 2020. The Droom en Daad Foundation wants to portray the story of the emigrants on the first floor of the warehouse. An art collection to fit this theme is currently being put together. The ground floor of the Fenixloods II will offer a mix of creative, culinary and cultural activities for the neighbourhood, the city and visitors in the future. An architectural viewpoint will be placed on the roof with a 360-degree-view of Rotterdam. Because of the complexity of the building, the date DE FENIX will open its doors is not yet known.

Art & culture

The rich cultural life of Rotterdam will also be visible in 2020. Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, which closed in 2019 for a large-scale renovation, presents a number of special exhibitions at fellow institutions under the name ‘Boijmans Next Door’. And at the Kunsthal next year, you can see the exhibitions Ecstasy with coarse-grained erotic portraits from the sixties by Sanne Sannes, Extra Large, which shows an overview of imposing tapestries of designs by famous artists such as Picasso, Le Corbusier and Miró and the interactive Wonderland exhibition, which starts in the summer and shows Lewis Carroll’s classic story come to life. You can also expect new exhibitions in other museums including the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Maritime Museum and Het Nieuwe Instituut.

New hotspots

New stores, restaurants and other hip hotspots open every week in Rotterdam. On our page New in Rotterdam, we show a selection of these new locations such as Williams Canteen, Ohana: Poke & More and the Japanese-oriented Nishi Market. Surprising venues to try in the first quarter of 2020 include the cocktail bar and restaurant Botanero, the classic arcade hall Poing, the tasteful Jack Rotterdam and the Chinese Shanghai Papa.