Weekend of Science Rotterdam

HAPPENING 4–5 October 2025 | Weekend van de Wetenschap, a national science festival will return this autumn with hundreds of organizations opening their doors. Visitors will be offered a rare look behind the scenes of the world of science.

Weekend of science returns in October 2025

The annual Weekend van de Wetenschap (Weekend of Science) is set to take place across the Netherlands on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2025. The event, which is designed to make science and technology more accessible to the general public, will involve hundreds of organisations offering hands-on experiences and guided tours.

In Rotterdam, local institutions including museums, universities, and tech organisations are expected to participate once again. Past editions have included interactive experiments, lectures, and demonstrations that explored various scientific questions in everyday life, such as how smartphones function or the mechanics behind emotions and natural phenomena like icebergs.

 

Netherlands Science Weekend animals

 

Access to hidden scientific spaces

Throughout the weekend, locations that are typically closed to the public — including laboratories, datacentres, and innovation hubs — will open their doors. In 2024, over 140,000 people took part in the festival, engaging with more than 300 participating organizations nationwide.

This year, similar numbers are expected, with activities ranging from experimenting with space-related tasks and building AI versions of oneself, to trying robotics-based games. Large institutions such as Maastricht UMC+, Nouryon, and NEMO Science Museum will again take part, and organizations in Rotterdam are preparing to follow suit.

Answers to curious questions

The theme of the weekend focuses on the question: “How does it work?” Visitors of all ages will be encouraged to explore answers to questions such as how phones operate, how love develops, and how icebergs form.

Netherlands Science Weekend ambassadors

Programme and practical details

Rotterdam joins the national Weekend van de Wetenschap with activities across the city on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2025. Many local museums and organizations offer hands‑on workshops, behind‑the‑scenes tours and demonstrations. Below are some highlights you can add to your diary:

Belasting & Douane Museum – customs and tax behind the scenes

The national tax and customs museum on Parklaan opens its doors free of charge for the science weekend. On Saturday visitors can explore the work of Dutch customs officers and forensic investigators. Activities include demonstrations by customs dogs, tours of the Scanbus (a mobile X‑ray unit) and interactions with the Douane Dive Team. The museum’s KidLab lets children conduct simple chemistry experiments, while the GeldLab shows how your spending habits shape your finances. According to the official programme, the “Ontdek en doe mee met de Douane en FIOD” event runs on Sunday 5 October from 11:00 to 17:00, but the demonstrations and workshops described above take place on the Saturday.

Portlantis – science in the harbour

Portlantis, the port‑experience centre on Maasvlakte 2, participates for the first time this year. Their “Proefjes in een echt lab” workshop invites children aged 6–14 to put on a lab coat and discover how chemistry and the port industry go hand in hand. Under supervision, participants mix colourful reactions and learn how various substances behave. The workshop is offered on both days at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00; each session lasts about 30 minutes, accommodates up to 15 children and can’t be reserved in advance. Admission to the workshop is free with a valid Portlantis ticket. Outside the lab, Portlantis visitors can explore the wider exhibition with augmented reality, VR‑games and the Helios Experience and climb the red stairs for panoramic harbour views.

Natural History Museum – catch the water life

On Sunday 5 October at 14:00, the Natural History Museum (Het Natuurhistorisch) hosts “Vang het waterleven”. Ecologist Wouter Moerland explains how clear water and aquatic plants support animals in ditches and ponds; then he takes participants outside with nets to sample the museum’s water features. The session is suitable for everyone aged six and up and is included with museum admission.

Updates and details will be published on www.weekendvandewetenschap.nl.

Locations and directions

Events will take place in various locations across Rotterdam, including museums, libraries, and technical institutes. Many of these are situated within the city centre or accessible via public transport. Locations will be added to the event website as they are confirmed.