HAPPENING 27 DEC 2025 | Rotterdam will be set up for an evening walking event as the Rotterdam Night Walk returns for its fifth edition. A 5 km and a 10 km route are being offered, with the walk linked to fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Sophia Rotterdam.
The walk is being presented as a winter evening outing that leans on atmosphere rather than speed, with participants encouraged to bring their own lights and decorations. For many locals, it is also being framed as a post-Christmas reset, sometimes described as a “Third Christmas Day” tradition (derde kerstdag), when the city heads outside again after the holidays.
What to expect on the route
Two distances are being scheduled, with staggered start waves from late afternoon into the evening. Earlier “family waves” are being offered on the 5 km route, which is being promoted as the more accessible option for children and mixed groups.
A walking card is being used for participation and is being collected on the day itself at the start and finish area on Plein 1940. It is not being posted in advance, and pick-up is being listed from 15:30, ahead of the first start wave at 16:30.
Why Ronald McDonald House Sophia is being supported
This year’s linked charity is Ronald McDonald House Sophia Rotterdam, which is known for offering families a place to stay close to their child at Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital. Donations are being built into the registration process as an optional add-on, while separate donations are also being accepted.
The organisers are positioning the benefit as practical rather than symbolic: families who are dealing with hospital stays are being supported by having somewhere nearby to sleep, rest and keep daily life going while their child is being treated.
Event details for listings
The start and finish are being set at Plein 1940, next to the Maritiem Museum, with the organiser listing the address as Leuvehaven 1. Start waves are being spread from 16:30 until 20:30, with the last finishers expected around 22:45.
Tickets are being listed at €20 for the 5 km and €24 for the 10 km for participants aged 12 and over. For ages 6–11, a €3.50 ticket is being listed for both distances, while ages 0–5 are being listed as free. Group registration is being offered from 10 people, and dogs are being allowed on a lead, with a note that not every location on the route may be dog-friendly.
For tickets and more information, visit the official website: https://rotterdamnightwalk.nl/
How to get there
Plein 1940 is being used as a familiar city-centre meeting point, a few minutes on foot from Beurs and the Leuvehaven area, and right beside the Maritiem Museum. The square sits on the edge of the Leuvehaven basin, in a part of town where wide pavements and water views make it easy to gather before heading off along the route. Cycling and public transport are being suggested as the simplest options for reaching the start area.
