Nieuwe Luxor launches campaign for 1,535 new theatre seats

ROTTERDAM, 14 April 2026 – Nieuwe Luxor is asking the public to help fund a major seat replacement project at the theatre on Wilhelminapier. The campaign aims to raise the final €50,000 needed to replace all 1,535 seats and improve comfort, accessibility and flexibility in the auditorium. 

After 25 years of heavy use, the current red seats have reached the end of their lifespan. More than 3 million visitors have used them over the years, and the theatre says the worn upholstery, loose armrests and sagging seats no longer match the standard it wants to offer. The plan goes beyond routine maintenance. Nieuwe Luxor wants to replace every seat in the auditorium and at the same time make the space more adaptable for future productions and events. That includes improved wheelchair spaces and a layout that can be adjusted more easily by removing the front rows when needed. The idea is to give the venue more room for different formats, including concerts and other special performances.

The theatre says it has already set aside funding and secured support from funds and companies. The public campaign is meant to close the remaining gap and get the project over the line.

Why the seat replacement matters

For regular visitors, the most obvious change will be comfort. Nieuwe Luxor is one of the biggest theatres in the Netherlands, and the venue wants the experience in the auditorium to match the scale of the productions on stage. There is also a longer-term goal here. By renewing the seating and updating the hall, the theatre is trying to prepare the building for the next 25 years rather than simply patching up what is already there.

That matters in Rotterdam, where Nieuwe Luxor has become one of the city’s best-known stages for musicals, large touring productions and major live performances. Keeping the venue in good shape is about comfort, but also about making sure Rotterdam keeps a theatre that can continue to host work at that level.

The campaign is running through a public donation page, where supporters can contribute directly to the project.

Public campaign for Nieuwe Luxor

The fundraising message is simple: help keep Nieuwe Luxor future-ready. Supporters are being asked to contribute towards the final stretch of the project so the theatre can replace the full set of seats and complete the planned adjustments to the auditorium.

You can find the campaign here: https://luxortheater.creativefunding.nl/project/stoelen

Luxor describes the project as an investment in comfort, accessibility and the long-term future of the theatre. In practical terms, that means better seating for audiences now, and a venue that can keep evolving with the city.

They also made a funny promo video (in Dutch)

How to get there

Nieuwe Luxor Theatre is on Wilhelminapier, one of the easiest cultural spots to reach from the city centre. If you are travelling by Metro, Wilhelminaplein station is the closest stop and is only a short walk away. From Rotterdam Centraal, you can also get there quickly by Metro, tram or bike, and the area around the theatre is well known for landmarks such as De Rotterdam, Hotel New York and the Erasmus Bridge.