The first orange leaves spiral onto Rotterdam’s streets, but what does October really hold for the city beyond sweaters and hot drinks? Will the month’s festivals bring warmth as the weather cools? From light shows in Kralingse Bos to live punk, this guide explores the experiences waiting for residents and newcomers alike.
Weather and seasonal changes
October marks Rotterdam’s shift into autumn. Temperatures slide from late‑summer highs to crisp daytime highs around 13–15 °C, and evenings often feel much cooler. Breezy conditions persist because the city lies close to the North Sea and is surrounded by flat countryside. You might wake to brilliant sunshine and then be caught in a rain shower an hour later. To enjoy the harbour walks and parks, layer up and carry a waterproof jacket. By mid‑month daylight hours shorten noticeably; sunset comes well before 19:00, reminding residents that winter is approaching.
Festivals and special events brighten the month
Rotterdam kicks off October with the Weekend of Science on 4–5 October. The national festival transforms institutions across the city into open laboratories. Families can watch demonstrations at the Belasting & Douane Museum, take behind‑the‑scenes tours at Portlantis and even catch aquatic creatures during a water‑life catch event at the Natural History Museum. Previous editions have featured experiments about emotions and smartphone addiction, and organisers promise similarly interactive programmes; participating venues offer activities free of charge or at reduced admission.
On 5 October the Harbour Run returns. This obstacle race invites participants to tackle either a 6 km route with 18 obstacles or a 10 km course with 34 obstacles through normally closed port areas. The start and finish are at the RDM Onderzeebootloods, and twenty start waves accommodate more than 7,000 runners. Teams of colleagues and friends often sign up together, transforming the course into a team‑building exercise with cargo nets, shipping containers and water obstacles. Spectators can wander around the industrial backdrop and get a rare look at the heart of Europe’s largest port.
From 8–12 October the city celebrates the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam (AFFR). This 25th edition showcases more than 80 films exploring the relationship between architecture, urban planning and society. It will open with the documentary The Great Arch, and organisers emphasise that the programme’s breadth reflects the festival’s 25‑year history. Tickets go on sale in mid‑September, and screenings take place in various city cinemas. Whether you are an architect, film buff or simply curious about the built environment, the festival offers discussion panels, Q&A sessions and chances to view the city through new lenses.
Later in the month, the Magical Forest Light Show – De Grote Schijn transforms the Kralingse Bos into a dreamlike world of sound and light. Running from 16 October to 2 November, the two‑kilometre evening walk leads visitors past interactive installations, a mirror‑lined underwater world lit by 800 light cords and scent machines that respond to your steps. A special “Samen Schijnen” time slot invites solo visitors to walk together and connect during the national Week against Loneliness. Ticket prices range from €15.25 for children and seniors to €20.25 for adults; a family ticket costs €64.40. Time slots begin at sunset and run until 23:00, allowing you to experience the forest at different moods.
Art and exhibitions
Rotterdam’s museums and independent spaces offer an eclectic mix of exhibitions this October. Marlou Fernanda: A time for everything opens on 10 October at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam. The show covers a decade of work by the Rotterdam‑born multidisciplinary artist, who divides the exhibition into the four seasons and explores themes of self‑expression and the right to claim space. Large canvases, sketchbooks and installations reveal her alter ego Nu‑Nu, and a documentary titled Los van Nu‑Nu will premiere later in November. Visitors can expect bright colours, playful references to popular culture and personal narratives that encourage reflection on identity.
At Kunsthal Rotterdam, Homo Mobilis (27 September 2025 – 1 March 2026) presents portraits of people alongside their means of transport. Photographer Martin Roemers travelled through the Netherlands, Germany, China, Ukraine, India, Senegal and the United States, inviting locals to pose with cars, scooters and trucks. The images emphasise how vehicles embody personal aspirations and reveal differences in mobility culture. A photo book accompanying the exhibition launches on 7 October, and the show encourages visitors to consider how their own daily journeys shape their identity.
On the west side of the city, the industrial art space Brutus hosts Good over Evil – OVERGROW (3 October – 14 December). Artist Eveline Visser imagines Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte transformed into a series of fungi‑based settlements. Her large dioramas feature mycelium villages rising above disused industrial structures, illustrating how microorganisms could filter air and water and repurpose barren land. Lectures and guided tours accompany the exhibition, making it both a visual spectacle and a prompt to think about regenerative futures.
Live music and stage performances
October’s gig calendar caters to diverse tastes. On 1 October, Tokyo trio The Let’s Go’s bring punk energy and surf‑tinged melodies to V11. Their sound combines 1970s and 1980s influences with psychedelic flourishes, and tickets cost around €14. The same evening at De Doelen, contrabassist James Oesi and pianist Djuwa Mroivili perform repertoire by composers of colour such as George Gershwin, Florence Price and Antonín Dvořák. The duo’s concert highlights how African American musical traditions have influenced classical music.
On 2 October, singer‑songwriter Suzanne Vega returns to the Nieuwe Luxor Theater with her Flying with Angels Tour. Celebrated for narrative hits like Tom’s Diner, she will present songs from her May 2025 album Flying with Angels alongside classic material. Vega is joined by guitarist Gerry Leonard and cellist Stephanie Winters, lending the performance a rich texture that accentuates her storytelling.
Later in the month on 21 October, Boston band Magic Shoppe plays V11. Known for distortion‑drenched shoegaze and swirling guitars, the band draws inspiration from My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth. Their songs have featured in Netflix’s series Outer Banks, and the show promises an evening of reverb and dreamlike soundscapes. Doors open at 21:00 and the concert starts at 21:30.
Food and drink news
Rotterdam’s culinary scene evolves with new openings and revamped menus. Eurobrouwers, previously a pop‑up at the Glasfabriek, has moved to a permanent site at Middellandplein and reopened as Café de Wilde Mossel. Chef Milan Gataric has devised a bistro‑style menu featuring pork shoulder croquettes, smoked mushroom with kimchi, marinated mussel brioche and fries cooked in beef fat. The venue serves Eurobrouwers’ beers and natural wines, and it is raising funds through a crowdfunding campaign that offers participants interest and perks.
At Café Dox near the Luxor Theatres, a partnership with Mama’s Koelkast introduces family recipes from around the world. Lunch brings couscous bowls, Turkish pide or masala rotorol; snacks include mezze platters, samosas, Moroccan briwats and fishcakes; dinners feature jerk chicken, nasi goreng, couscous with chicken or vegetables, bolognese and vegan burgers. Desserts range from baklava and Moroccan almond cookies to pastel de nata and speculaas boterkoek. This collaboration celebrates Rotterdam’s multicultural community and offers affordable, home‑style meals.
Another newcomer stands at the Leuvehaven. Following renovations, the DoubleTree by Hilton and Haven Hotel have reopened with a dō deli bar bistro serving European‑inspired dishes such as quinoa bowls, chickpea focaccia and classic Negronis. In October, the Haven Hotel will debut Calan Restaurant & Bar, led by chef Michael Verhagen. The menu draws on Surinamese, Indonesian and Moroccan flavours to reflect Rotterdam’s diverse heritage. Alongside new spa and wellness facilities, the hotels aim to revitalise this waterfront corner of the city.
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City updates and urban developments
Several city initiatives highlight Rotterdam’s commitment to quality of life and sustainability. A new study commissioned by the municipality shows that weekly sport and daily exercise significantly reduce healthcare costs. If just one percent of currently inactive residents start exercising weekly, the city could save about €11 million a year. Programmes such as Sportregie and Schoolsportvereniging already make sport accessible in neighbourhoods and at schools. The authors urge national government support so cities can strengthen prevention efforts.
To support climate‑friendly construction, the municipality has allocated €2 million for the second round of sustainable housing projects. New social housing funded through this scheme must contain at least 30 percent biobased materials, reducing emissions and encouraging expertise in biobased construction. The city continues to collaborate with housing corporations that completed similar projects earlier this year.
Traffic safety remains a priority. From October through November, the city will introduce 30 km/h speed limits on 115 streets in districts including Centrum, Charlois, Delfshaven, Feijenoord, Hoek van Holland and Hoogvliet‑Noord. Residents were involved in selecting streets, and the city organised a drawing contest to engage children. Lower speeds should reduce accidents and make neighbourhoods more livable.
Infrastructure is also evolving. The new A16 motorway and energy‑neutral Rottemerentunnel open in October, providing an 11‑kilometre connection between the A20 at Terbregseplein and the A16 near Dordrecht. Solar panels power the tunnel, while sound barriers and wildlife corridors mitigate environmental impacts. The project includes improved cycling routes and will relieve congestion on the A13 and A20.
Smaller projects signal a move towards circularity. At Eudokiaplein, the Droppie recycling point now accepts plastics and drink cartons. Residents earn digital coins for properly sorting their waste, and the collected materials will be turned into high‑quality plastic feedstock. The initiative aims to support local recycling companies and encourage neighbourhood engagement.
Finally, the city council has presented a 2026 budget projecting stable finances. Municipal charges will not rise beyond inflation, and investments are planned in neighbourhood infrastructure such as the renovation of metro station Zuidplein, the redevelopment of Pernisser Park and the construction of a new bridge connecting Zuidplein with Kralingse Zoom. Programmes to reduce inequality include expanding preschool childcare, helping residents with digital skills and improving safety in vulnerable neighbourhoods. These measures suggest that residents can expect both physical and social improvements in the coming years.
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Learn to dance or get out and dance
If the shorter days make you crave movement, Rotterdam’s Latin dance community offers plenty of options. On 4 October, LatinXpress takes over Podium Grounds with separate salsa and bachata rooms and a roster of local DJs; presale tickets range from €10 to €18.50. Starting 6 October, Typical Tropical launches five‑week fast‑track courses in salsa and bachata at two venues, allowing beginners and experienced dancers to polish their skills. And on 15 October, Latin Café Dox offers a cosy, free social dance night at Café Dox near the Nieuwe Luxor Theatres.
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