HAPPENING 18 October 2024 | Nieuw Rotterdams Café (NRC) on Witte de Withstraat will unveil a major renovation on 18 October, celebrating with an event combining art, film, and music. Visitors can expect a reimagined space with a new global sharing menu and a night filled with cultural experiences.
Nieuw Rotterdams Café set to reveal a new era
The iconic Nieuw Rotterdams Café, commonly known as NRC, has been a mainstay of Rotterdam's social scene for years. Located on Witte de Withstraat, NRC has long attracted food enthusiasts, night owls, and creatives. After 12 years, the beloved café has undergone significant changes. The renovation includes a refreshed interior, complete with deep red walls and curtains, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. Alongside the redesign, NRC will launch a brand-new menu featuring a variety of global sharing dishes.
Chef Damian Elvers shared insights into the new menu, stating, “Our dishes are inspired by street food flavours from across the world, reflecting the lively and informal vibe of NRC. Street food is accessible, surprising, and made to be enjoyed together – just like the experience we offer our guests.” The menu will retain some familiar items like the Old School Margherita and the NRC-burger, but new offerings include dishes such as sea bass ceviche with leche de tigre, pulpo a la gallega, and steak tartare with teriyaki rib fingers.
A night of art and culture
NRC’s reopening event, scheduled for 18 October, promises a night rich in art and culture. Visitors will be able to view the latest exhibition on NRC’s Cultuurmuur, featuring work by Rotterdam-based artist Labrie and photographer Sud. Labrie’s distinctive style will be on display with a series of graffiti body-painted women, captured through Sud’s photography. These works will be unveiled on the evening of the event by the models themselves. From 19 October, the exhibition will be open to the general public.
Film lovers will also be catered to, with a screening of Lions of the Skeleton Coast in collaboration with the Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam (WFFR). Tickets for the film, which begins at 16:00, are priced at €5, and the screening will be introduced by Laura Smit.
Evening festivities with music
From 21:00, NRC will host its signature lively celebration, ‘De Wereld van NRC,’ where DJs Ted Langebach and Bootsy Paul will take to the decks. Visitors can expect a night of dancing and music, in line with NRC’s reputation for hosting some of the best nightlife events in the city.
A cultural cornerstone of Rotterdam
For many Rotterdammers, NRC has become an essential part of the city’s social and cultural life. Nestled in the ever-vibrant Witte de Withstraat, the café offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks, with the added option to enjoy a party in the Atrium or Next during weekends. NRC’s roots go back to the building’s original occupant, the editorial offices of Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant. Following a merger with Algemeen Handelsblad and the newspaper’s subsequent relocation, the building was home to the Nederlands Fotomuseum for a brief period before being transformed into its current role as a popular hospitality venue.
How to get to Nieuw Rotterdams Café
Nieuw Rotterdams Café is located at Witte de Withstraat, a central and bustling street known for its art galleries, restaurants, and nightlife. The area is easily accessible by public transport, with tram and metro stations nearby. Visitors can also reach the café by foot from the city centre or nearby parking facilities.