©Jeroen Roest - Weelde

Nightlife

Rotterdam’s nightlife has quite a reputation. In the 80s and 90s, people came from far and wide for the Rotterdam dance scene. Today, the focus is wider, and all trends are well represented. The most unique clubs – Perron, Annabel, Toffler, Now&Wow – can be found in interesting and unexpected locations throughout the city. And for those looking for a drink, you will find plenty of pubs, cocktail bars and tasting rooms on and around Witte de Withstraat.

From rooftop to underground

Like so much else in Rotterdam – the architecture, the people, their cultures and customs – the city’s nightlife is filled with contrasts. Hip and happening dance clubs and classic pubs, sunny terraces versus intimate concert venues. Head up to Op het Dak (means on the roof) and enjoy a glass of natural wine, a local beer or a gin and tonic with a view of the Rotterdam skyline and the Nieuwe Maas River at nhow’s rooftop bar. Looking for the underground scene? Here in Rotterdam, it’s literally underground: Toffler is a house and techno club situated in a former metro tunnel.

Witte de Withstraat

Is one of Rotterdam’s most popular nightlife areas. Besides the street’s many restaurants, cosy cafés and stylish wine and cocktail bars attract a varied crowd. Tourists, locals, students, intellectuals, creative professionals, colleagues: they all rub shoulders on a Friday or Saturday night, in an exuberant and cheerful atmosphere.

Read all about this street

Cosy side street

Duck into the side streets of the Witte de Withstraat to discover the city’s most enjoyable nightlife hotspots. The tropical charm of the Tiki Bar, for instance, or Café LaBru with its vintage New York interior. If you like experimental music, tasty beers and fritz-kolas.

Then visit WORM

Binnenweg

A similar vibe like ‘the Witte de With’ can be discovered at the Oude and Nieuwe Binnenweg, where several of the city’s most popular bars and clubs are located: Sijf (#1 bar of the Netherlands), Stalles, Club Vibes and Rotown. The last one is a café and restaurant during the day, but the chairs and tables are cleared away in the evening to make room for concerts and parties.

More about this street

Luchtsingel

Another interesting nightlife area has emerged around Rotterdam Central Station where both sides of the railway are connected by the Luchtsingel pedestrian bridge. Stroll from (jazz) club BIRD at the Hofbogen straight to the pop stage at Annabel, which organises popular party nights in the weekend.

Read all about it

Watch, laugh & swing

The cinema is always a good option in the Netherlands as English-language films are not dubbed but have Dutch subtitles. You can watch blockbusters at Pathé de Kuip and Schouwburgplein. KINO and Cinerama offer a mix of arthouse and Hollywood films. LantarenVenster only shows arthouse films and is also one of the most well-known jazz stages in the city, together with BIRD and de Doelen. For an evening of guaranteed laughter, drop in at Comedy Club Haug where English-speaking stand-up comedians often perform.

Pink Triangle

The best gay bars are concentrated in the centre of Rotterdam. If you draw a line from Churchillplein to Westblaak, and from Westblaak to Mauritsweg, you have Rotterdam’s ‘pink triangle’.

Check out the LGBTQ+ hotspots

Where you least expect it

Looking for a truly unique experience? Don’t get stuck on a single location. The best parties travel throughout the city, popping up at unexpected moments in old silos, hotel lobbies and unoccupied buildings. The pop concerts organised by Rotown or as part of the Motel Mozaïque concept are hosted in widely diverse locations. From grand locations such as the Rotterdamse Schouwburg, de Doelen and LantarenVenster to industrial locations such as the Maassilo, Annabel and the red lightship V11. At the beginning of 2020, Rotown was named the best pop venue in the Netherlands for its broad urban programming.

Parties & festivals

Rotterdam has all kinds of festivals happening throughout the year, especially in the summer months which bring extra dance and food festivals to outdoor venues. Big concerts and events take place at Rotterdam Ahoy, with a very special one in 2020: the Eurovision Song Contest! If you want to party into the early hours, there are many clubs to choose from in Rotterdam. Check DJ Guide or Partyflock for an extensive party event calendar.

Where to go

Complete calendar

Concert calendar

From rock to jazz

Festival calendar

From vega to hardstyle

Theatre calendar

From ballet to stand-up comedy