WHY ROTTERDAM IS OUR MUST VISIT CITY OF 2020

We’ve missed it for a couple of years but glad to say that we were back for ART ROTTERDAM in February. Not only is it one of our favourite events on the global culture calendar it is just another thing to add to our list as to why the Dutch city is a must-visit on your travel calendar. Here are 16 reasons why Rotterdam is our must visit city of 2020.

WHY MAKE A VISIT IN FEBRUARY…

Art Rotterdam Week (early February)
The busy annual event takes place every first weekend of February turning the entire city into a creative force of culture. The main art fair, Art Rotterdam, (hub of the Art Rotterdam Week) is held in the stunning UNESCO-listed Van Nelle Factory which forms the backdrop for the latest developments in the visual arts. Focusing on young art, with many national and international galleries and a dedicated film and video art section, the event is split down and curated into both mixed gallery displays and solo focused stands.
What to expect: a mix of challenging works and easy on the eye pieces that will take you a good day to explore. (Address – Van Nelleweg 1)

Haute Photographie is a photography art fair (in its fifth year) that takes the form of a group exhibition. You’ll find work displayed by well-known and celebrated photographers from history alongside the newest talents of the moment.
What to expect: a busy crowd of over 5,000 collectors here as the prices start pretty reasonably and there’s plenty of beautiful pieces to choose from. (Address – Wilhelminakade 326)

For something completely different TEC ART takes place in contemporary art spaces WORM and V2_ in the lively Witte de Withstraat area. Here a twisted post-truth-apocalyptic-big-tech Disneyland comes alive after sunset with the public outdoor space transformed into a cyberpunk arena with robotics, laser shows, video projections and performances.
What to expect: an 80’s era Mad Max vibe and a wonderfully blatant disregard for health & safety and you’re getting close. (Address – Boomgaarsstraat 69-71).

More than 150 hand-picked designers present a mix of striking designs in the fields of product, furniture, fashion, jewellery, graphic design and architecture in the monumental 7 floor HAKA building. OBJECT Rotterdam is the contemporary design fair that provides a platform for the latest limited editions and one-offs from well-known and upcoming designers with the opportunity to meet the people behind the work and buy direct.
What to expect: a lot of ready to chat, ready to sell, from a well informed and friendly design community.  (Address – Vierhavensstraat 38-42)

CAN’T WAIT UNTIL FEB TO VISIT? No problem… there is plenty to see and do the rest of the year.

Nederlands Fotomuseum (year-round exhibitions)
The photo museum has a huge archive of Dutch photographers (it only collects the complete archives or photo series of photographers rather than individual prints) which it uses to theme works and exhibitions throughout the year. Consistently great quality the exhibitions are beautifully curated which includes its current exhibition: Tall Stories (until 17th May) – a mix of historical and contemporary photography told in 10 chapters featuring different types of photography; themes and subjects; of both professional and amateur photographers.
What to expect: a great mix of contemporary works blended beautifully with older collections that take visitors on a journey of life in the Netherlands.

Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art (year-round exhibitions)
Sitting within the bars and restaurants of the central Witte de Withstraat the Contemporary art space houses several spaces for exhibitions. Every Friday evening is Kunstavond when the centre is open until 9pm (from 6-9pm there is no entrance fee) and proves a bustling space with regular events. One of the current exhibitions (until 19 July) features eleven artists from various backgrounds who explore the role of art in creating national identities. Their contemporary pieces reflect on Delft Blue and how it has become a cultural symbol in different parts of the world.
What to expect: a well-curated space with diverse exhibits (Address – Witte de Withstraat 50).

Kunsthal Rotterdam
One of the leading cultural institutes in the city Kunsthal never fails when it comes to great exhibitions and Spring 2020 is no different. From 18 April to 20 September music rules in ‘Black Album / White Cube’ with 35 internationally renowned artists and musicians presenting almost 200 works of contemporary art – multimedia installations, sculptures, videos, and paintings. The exhibition reveals what happens when the worlds of art and pop music meet. Modern classics – including the seminal painting by Emil Schult that became the cover of Kraftwerk’s groundbreaking album ‘Autobahn’ in 1974 – will be exhibited alongside photographs by Wolfgang Tillmans and Anton Corbijn, paintings by Kim Gordon and Albert Oehlen, as well as video installations by Arthur Jafa and Cyprien Gaillard. ‘Black Album / White Cube’ is a surprising journey beyond art from the 1990s until now, inspired and fueled by music from The Beatles and Joy Division to Britney Spears and Rotterdam’s own gabber techno.
What to expect: an institution that values the craft of fashion design as it does fine art and happily displays it next to each other. (Address – Museumpark, Westzeedijk 341)

MAKING A CHANGE – who are the movers and shakers to look out for from afar

Rotganzen
Rotganzen is the design collective of Robin Stam, Joerie Horstink and Erik Schilp who are successfully bridging art and design, daily life and popular culture with a talent in finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. By changing the appearance and context of everyday objects (their famous discoballs look like they melt over furniture, stands and even buildings), and products, they create work full of contrast and surprise, visually as well as conceptually. Rotganzen always offers a cheerful but questioning approach to life and the world around us – you just have to take a seat on their ‘Bouncy’ spring chairs to see that.

Studio Roosegaarde
Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde and his team of designers and engineers connect people and technology in artworks that improve daily life in urban environments. Internationally acclaimed works include SMOG FREE PROJECT (pictured above) – the world’s first largest outdoor air purifier which turns smog into jewellery; SMART HIGHWAY – roads that charge throughout the day and glow at night; and the SPACE WASTE LAB – an innovative way to visualise and upcycle space waste.

MVRDV
MVRDV was founded in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries and has been busy providing solutions to contemporary architectural and urban issues in all regions of the world. In the Rotterdam, they are responsible for the world-famous Markthal and the soon to be completed Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen but their work can be seen across the globe.

WHAT’S NEW TO SEE

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen
How to solve a problem like an ever-growing art collection? Well, the answer is in the MVRDV designed Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen – the first art storage facility of its kind in the world that will offer access to the museum’s 151,000 pieces of work. While there are no formal exhibitions, you can browse the artworks with a guide in the temperature-controlled rooms, and get behind-the-scenes glimpses of – among other things – conservation and restoration. Each piece will be stored in the Depot with a precise map and while not all pieces will be taken out of their boxes and wrapping, many will be hung on racks and stored on shelving meaning that for those that request access to a particular piece it will be ‘easy’ to find.  The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen will open fully in 2021. (Address – Melkkoppad 15)

A STYLISH PLACE TO STAY or have cocktails

Taking us back to the fifties The Slaak Rotterdam may look unremarkable from the outside but the inside tells a different story. This new design boutique (74 rooms) hotel, which opened its doors in October 2019, is located in a former newspaper pressroom and has taken its design stylings from the heyday era of the socialist newspaper Het Vrije Volk. Rooms combine Parque-tiled walls above the bed, subtly gold-flecked concrete-esque partitions and exposed ceilings. Day beds and a leather easy chair are the perfect lounging partners after a day exploring. Gold accessories run throughout the rooms from the curved floor and table lamps, chair legs and taps to coordinate just the right amount. A modernist palette pops colour with deep mustard on the bathroom wall, olive green chairs, tans, greys, and browns. And just look out for the beautiful geometric rugs across the hotel communal spaces. (Address – Slaak 34)

AN ALTERNATIVE PLACE TO STAY

If you’re a little bit more adventurous then how about a night or two at the Culture Campsite? Upcycled materials have turned unusual little spaces into mini sleeping vessels. A brick house assembled with glass instead of concreate, strange containers and cute architectural forms are now available for your sleeping pleasure. Think glamping but then turn it on its head, shake it around and throw in a dialogue of art, architecture and sustainability and you’ve got an idea of the unique offering. (Address – Schiehavenweg)

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Aloha Bar
Aloha bar is a restaurant, bar, city park, coffee roastery and terrace situated in the old city public swimming pool that has a fun, gathering vibe. Go there with a friend to traverse the (now empty) pool slide to share plates of roasted cod, crispy red cabbage and BBQ cauliflower, as well as our favourite the fried dumplings of cheese, kohlrabi and kimchi. (Address – Maasboulevard 100)

Ayla
At Ayla you are surrounded by the scents, colors, atmospheres and flavors of Spain, Italy, Greece, North Africa and Eastern Europe. A melting pot of cultures, both on the table and in the interior, it perfectly suits the metropolis of Rotterdam. Ordering off the tapas menu is a sure-fire way to get the best choices – try the burrata, grilled chicken thighs, Iberico pork and patatas bravas to leave you more than fulfilled.  (Address – Kruisplein 153)

Héroine
If you like your food beautifully presented while seated in a pastel-soft 70’s Wes Anderson-styled setting then you are going to love Héroine. Here you can enjoy deliciously intricate and stunningly displayed dishes, tasting wines and a high-level of service. Choose between a 4, 5 or 7-courses dinner and enjoy the chef’s eye for special techniques and taste combinations. While the menu changes the 62-degree egg with kohlrabi, hazelnut and truffle is certainly one that should stay as is the crunchy oyster/kale sensation. (Address – Kipstraat 12)