Night Swimming
Thu 8.10.
20:30
Rotown, Rotterdam
€ 17
Night Swimming takes the stage at Rotown in Rotterdam for an evening of live music.
Thu, 8 Oct 2026 in Rotterdam
Starting today
Accessibility Week / 20 - 23 / 40 persons
Thu 8.10. – Fri 9.10.
(2 days)
Jazzpodium BIRD, Rotterdam
Jazzpodium BIRD hosts a four-day accessibility-focused event with space for up to 40 participants.
Blauwe Vinkjes - Poeha
Thu 8.10.
20:30
Kantine Walhalla, Rotterdam
Cabaret duo Blauwe Vinkjes present their second show 'Poeha', a revue-style performance full of relatable sketches about everyday absurdities and topical themes.
Mike Vitale
Thu 8.10.
19:00
Nieuw Statendam - Holland America Line, Rotterdam
Mike Vitale performs aboard the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship docked in Rotterdam.
Peter Flanagan
Thu 8.10.
19:30
Comedy Club Haug, Rotterdam
Irish comedian Peter Flanagan brings his debut tour 'Fresh Prince of Kildare' to Rotterdam. A witty hour of personal storytelling about growing up in Kildare, moving to London, and a transformative year of misadventures.
The Solution to Crises with Hans Stegeman
Thu 8.10.
20:00
Arminius, Rotterdam
Hans Stegeman analyzes the root causes of societal crises and presents alternatives for a more sustainable economy.
Hamnet
Thu 8.10.
20:00
Studio de Bakkerij, Rotterdam
Chloe Zhao's drama about William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, who lose their son Hamnet to plague in 16th-century England. An intimate portrait of grief and creativity.
Opening AFFR: (Un)Authorised. Alternative Records of the Built Environment
Thu 8.10.
14:25
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
AFFR and Nieuwe Instituut present (Un)Authorised, an immersive media programme exploring alternative perspectives on the built environment.
CrowdCafe Rotterdam
Thu 8.10.
19:30
KeileCollectief, Rotterdam
An evening of live music and conviviality at KeileCollectief, where audience and musicians come together.
Film Cult: The Substance
Thu 8.10.
19:00
Podium Islemunda, Rotterdam
Podium Islemunda screens 'The Substance', a curated film from the Film Cult series for cinema enthusiasts.
Building Truth. Designing Justice
Thu 8.10.
15:27
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
Experts and people with lived experience discuss how justice is designed and the systems that shape freedom and unfreedom in society.
Wina Ricardo - Wina's Wereld (try-out)
Thu 8.10.
20:30
Kleine Walhalla, Rotterdam
Wina Ricardo's debut full-length cabaret show combines sharp social commentary with personal stories rooted in her Moluccan and Curaçaoan heritage, delivering both wit and heart.
Best of Stand-Up
Thu 8.10.
20:30
Comedy Club Haug, Rotterdam
Regular Dutch-language stand-up show at Comedy Club Haug with rotating headliners, club regulars, and new talent. Sharp, live-tested material in about two hours.
lab (un)plugged: Socks;SportsSocks & Tzara the Machine
Thu 8.10.
20:00
Lab Grounds, Rotterdam
Lab (un)plugged brings together three acts - Socks, SportsSocks and Tzara the Machine - for an evening at Lab Grounds Rotterdam.
ZEIKSTUK
Thu 8.10.
20:00
Podium Islemunda, Rotterdam
ZEIKSTUK is a stand-up comedy show at Podium Islemunda in Rotterdam.
Swamp Aan het Water
Thu 8.10.
18:00
Aan het Water, Rotterdam
Swamp plays an outdoor concert by the water in Rotterdam on 27 August.
The Ambassador - Toneelgroep Altstadt
Thu 8.10.
20:00
Altstadt Rotterdam, Rotterdam
Toneelgroep Altstadt opens the season with an absurdist black comedy about power and scarcity, performed by Jordy Vogelzang and Délano van den Berg.
Creati-Vi-Taali-Tijd Workshop
Thu 8.10.
19:00
Dokhuis, Rotterdam
Creative workshop series for adults to improve Dutch through writing, drawing and conversation. Connect with others while developing language skills in a welcoming neighbourhood setting.
The Art of Storytelling (Pt. 1)
Thu 8.10.
19:30
The Writer's Guide (to the Galaxy), Rotterdam
An evening exploring the craft of storytelling at The Writer's Guide (to the Galaxy) in Rotterdam, kicking off a multi-part series.
Also running
Multi-day exhibitions and festivals still on today.
Live Surrealism
Fri 18.9. – Sun 29.8.
in progress
Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, Rotterdam
Exhibition exploring surrealism as a global artistic movement and creative mindset, beyond its European origins.
A Chair and You
Sat 26.9. – Sun 31.1.
in progress
Kunsthal Rotterdam, Rotterdam
A performance where chairs become the protagonists in an unexpected setting. An exploration of ordinary objects on stage.
Benedikte Bjerre | When the Wind Blows
Sat 30.5. – Sun 1.11.
last day
Kunsthal Rotterdam, Rotterdam
Over a hundred floating baby penguin balloons drift through the Kunsthal Rotterdam in this playful installation by Danish artist Benedikte Bjerre.
50 Years of North Sea Jazz Photography
Sat 5.9. – Sun 11.10.
(37 days)
Kunsthal Rotterdam, Rotterdam
A photography exhibition at Kunsthal Rotterdam celebrating five decades of the North Sea Jazz festival, showcasing images by three renowned photographers.
Plastic Sea, Plastic Storm
Sat 3.10. – Sun 7.3.
in progress
Kunsthal Rotterdam, Rotterdam
Photographer Rob Hornstra and writer Arnold van Bruggen document the lives of undocumented migrants in Europe's largest greenhouse complex, where they labour under harsh conditions to produce our food.
DEATH & MONEY
Sun 20.9. – Sun 20.12.
in progress
Brutus, Rotterdam
Santiago Sierra's largest solo exhibition ever shown in the Netherlands examines the intersection of war and economic profit in DEATH & MONEY.
Toekomstmakers!
Sat 14.12. – Sun 27.12.
in progress
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
Interactive exhibition for children exploring the future, with hands-on activities and creative making opportunities.
Maritime Women
Fri 3.10. – Tue 31.8.
in progress
Maritiem Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam
The Maritime Museum Rotterdam celebrates the women who have shaped maritime history and continue to make their mark on the industry today.
Dots, Stripes & Spirals
Sat 18.10. – Mon 29.3.
in progress
Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam
Family exhibition exploring nature's patterns: why zebras have stripes, ladybirds have spots, and snail shells have spirals.
Toeslagen Tragedie
Fri 28.11. – Sun 1.11.
last day
Belasting & Douane Museum, Rotterdam
An exhibition at the Belasting & Douane Museum exploring the Dutch childcare benefits scandal and the experiences of those affected.
Another Island
Fri 5.12. – Sun 7.2.
in progress
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
Janilda Bartolomeu's film installation examines the dreams and aspirations of the Cape Verdean diaspora at Rotterdam's Nieuwe Instituut.
Floating Heritage at Maritiem Museum Haven
Mon 13.4. – Sat 31.10.
(202 days)
Maritiem Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam
The Maritiem Museum Rotterdam showcases historic ships and cranes in working order. In spring and summer, visitors can take sailing trips aboard some of the vessels.
Investigation on the Rails - Van Gogh's Poplar Lane
Thu 23.4. – Sun 7.2.
in progress
Depot Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Three years of restoration work on Van Gogh's "The Poplar Lane near Nuenen" in the studio of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
Collection Gallery
Thu 21.5. – Sun 27.5.
in progress
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
The Collection Gallery at the Nieuwe Instituut displays over 150 years of design history in a permanent exhibition.
Good Food
Fri 12.6. – Sun 1.11.
last day
Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam
Exhibition exploring sustainable food production through portraits of farmers, growers, researchers and pastry chefs from around the world.
Unfortunate Mice
Tue 14.7. – Sun 25.10.
(104 days)
Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam
The Natural History Museum Rotterdam displays twelve remarkable mice from its collection in a compact exhibition.
Quickscan 3
Tue 14.7. – Sun 22.11.
in progress
Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam
Twenty Dutch photographers and visual artists present their work in this exhibition exploring how photography has developed over the past decade.
Complex Individuality - Lichens by Suzette Bousema and Ingeborg Klarenberg
Sun 19.7. – Sun 25.10.
(99 days)
Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam
An exhibition exploring the fascinating miniature world of lichens, featuring works by artists Suzette Bousema and Ingeborg Klarenberg at the Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam.
Building in Motion. From Sketch to Treasure
Tue 25.8. – Thu 22.10.
(59 days)
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
Photo exhibition exploring the design history of the Nieuwe Instituut through architect Jo Coenen's original sketches and drawings from the 1980s.
New Acquisitions #2 Work in Progress
Wed 26.8. – Sun 8.11.
in progress
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
An exhibition of thirteen recent acquisitions from the National Collection for Dutch Architecture and Urban Planning.
Birds Between Decor and Reality - Installations by Hans van Asch
Sun 4.10. – Sun 3.1.
in progress
Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam
Photographer Hans van Asch presents his striking bird still lifes at the Natural History Museum Rotterdam, exploring how birds behave in artificially constructed settings.
Autumn Symphony - guided garden walk
Thu 27.8. – Sun 25.10.
(60 days)
Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, Rotterdam
Guided walk through Trompenburg Gardens where a guide reveals the garden's autumn splendour. Each walk is unique as nature constantly transforms.
SIDELINED. Space for Different Ways of Being Together
Fri 10.7. – Sun 31.1.
in progress
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
SIDELINED turns the Nieuwe Instituut's Deck into an alternative sports bar where you can play, ask questions, and feel part of the community.
Membership
Thu 1.1. – Sun 31.12.
in progress
De Dependance, Rotterdam
Membership is an event on 1 January 2026 at De Dependance in Rotterdam.