HAPPENING 13–14 September 2025 | Join the celebration of living heritage at the annual Open Monuments Day (Open Monumentendag) in Rotterdam. Discover monuments, traditions, and artisan skills that define the city's legacy.
The annual Open Monuments Day (Open Monumentendag), the largest cultural event in the Netherlands, is set to return on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September. Thousands of monuments across the country will open their doors for free, providing an opportunity to visit sites that are not usually accessible to the public. The event will feature nearly 1,000 monuments in Zuid-Holland alone, including several in Rotterdam.
This year marks the 39th edition of Open Monument Day, with a special focus on the theme 'Routes, Networks, and Connections' ('Routes, netwerken en verbindingen'). The theme will be explored through various exhibitions, guided tours, cycling routes, walks, and music performances at different heritage sites.
Rotterdam: 70 buildings open and a programme built to last
On 13–14 September, Rotterdam throws open the doors of around 70 monuments. The programme is broad – from atomic bomb shelters, freerunning courses and digital graffiti to guided tours in iconic buildings – reflecting the idea that these structures are built to last. Highlights include:
- Hotel New York, Arminiuskerk and Museumwoning Tuindorp Vreewijk – guided tours introduce visitors to the stories behind these landmarks.
- Korenmolen De Zandweg and the Rotterdamsche Zeilvereniging – step inside a working windmill and the yacht club designed by architect Willem van Tijen.
- Belastingkantoor Puntegale with its paternoster lift and the Dokhuis op Zuid – normally closed to the public.
- Free‑running and Eendeëi – as part of a collaboration with Rotterdam Street Culture Week, freerunners create a course on the historic Koningspoort shipyard and graffiti artists experiment with digital graffiti in the Katoenhuis. The Eendeëi garage in the M4H district celebrates the classic Citroën 2CV; the cars shuttle visitors between the Van Nellefabriek, Justus van Effencomplex and the garage.
- Rotterdamse Jaar van de Vrouw – monuments highlight stories about women. At Hotel Schoevers (Morgan & Mees) visitors learn about Mies Lanen, who commissioned the building; Pelgrimvaderskerk examines the lives of pilgrim women; and the RVS‑flat (nicknamed the Hunkerbunker) designed by architect Wil Jansen shows how modernist housing served single women.
Schiedam: national opening and a record number of monuments
Schiedam celebrates its 750th anniversary in 2025 and will host the national opening of Open Monuments Day on Friday 12 September. The opening ceremony takes place in the Havenkerk (Lange Haven 72) with a pre‑programme from 20:00 to 20:30, a formal opening by mayor Harald Bergmann and television personality Janny van der Heijden from 20:30 to 21:00, followed by a discovery tour with live music and performances from 21:00 to 23:00. The programme is free of charge and visitors can wander through various monuments in the city centre.
During the weekend, Schiedam opens more monuments than ever. The city has about 200 national monuments and 300 municipal monuments; roughly fifty buildings take part each year. Highlights include:
- Huis te Riviere – ruins of a 13th‑century castle built for Aleida van Holland.
- The former glass factory – an industrial site closed in 2017.
- Religious heritage – the Liduinabasiliek, Havenkerk with its neo‑Baroque interior, a historic Catholic cemetery, and lesser‑known sites like the prayer room of the Hersteld Hervormde gemeente and the Oud‑Katholieke Huis te Poort.
- Industrial heritage – Zakkendragershuis, various branderijen and distilleries, the soda factory and the towering windmills that recall Schiedam’s gin‑distilling past.
Because most sites lie close together, visitors can explore many locations on foot.
Vlaardingen: more than twenty sites and cultural festivities
Vlaardingen participates under the national theme “Architecture and heritage – built to last”. Over twenty monuments open their doors and visitors can combine tours with cultural events. The Stadskaravaan comes to the Veerplein (13:00–17:00) with theatre, music, dance, food and drink. Around the Stadskraan historic crane, Kraanconcerten take place. Organised walks are provided by Vlaardingen Doen. Highlighted monuments and activities:
- Pakhuis N.V. Visscherijmaatschappij (KW Haven NZ 11A) – a 1900 haring (herring) warehouse restored as a modern office building (open Saturday 11:00–14:00).
- Vulcaanbrouwerij (Oosthavenkade 90) – a 19th‑century steam brewery where visitors hear plans for preserving the complex (Sat 12:00–16:00).
- De Bolder (Columbusstraat 5) – a brutalist 1984 flat; its under‑croft hosts coffee, lunch and a neighbourhood festival (Sat 12:00–16:00).
- Museum Vlaardingen (Westhavenkade 54) – a building combining an 18th‑century house, former post office and modern extension; classical concerts are planned (Sat 10:00–17:00).
- KADE40 (Westhavenkade 40) – once a post office, now the city’s cultural centre (Sat 09:00–14:00).
- Concordia (Westhavenkade 28) – an Amsterdam School‑style building that houses the city’s oldest pub (Sat 09:00–02:00).
- De Grote Kerk (Markt 63) – visitors can see the Van Peteghem organ, hear an organ concert at 16:00 and climb the tower at 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00.
- Distilleerderij Van Toor (Maassluissedijk 32) – historic gin distillery; part of the pub crawl through the town (Sat 11:30–16:30).
- Sionkerk (Westnieuwland 56) – a church opened to the public for the first time; plain on the outside but luminous inside (Sat 10:00–13:00).
- Molen Aeolus (Kortedijk 14) – a working grain mill from 1790; expect tours and pancakes (Sat 11:00–16:00).
- Masamuda – an educational archaeological site in the Broekpolder, where visitors can experience Stone‑Age and medieval life through activities like archery, rope‑making and bread baking (Sat and Sun 12:00–16:00).
- Other sites include the Watertoren (open Sunday only), Cuyperstoren, Waag, Kapel St. Willibrordus, Begraafplaats Emaus and the Streekmuseum Jan Anderson.
Most monuments are free; however, opening times vary, so visitors should consult the official programme.
Lansingerland (Berkel en Rodenrijs and neighbouring villages)
The municipality of Lansingerland (formed from Berkel en Rodenrijs, Bergschenhoek and Bleiswijk) has 16 national monuments and 43 municipal monuments. The local committee comprises representatives from historical societies and churches. A limited number of sites will be open, including several churches:
- Onze Lieve Vrouwe Geboorte in Berkel en Rodenrijs (Noordeindseweg 100) – open on Saturday 13 September from 11:00 to 16:00 with guided tours and organ performances by four organists.
- Sint Willibrord in Bergschenhoek – open Saturday 10:00–16:00; the programme features a concert by the Caeciliakoor and Helicon clarinet group at 10:30, screenings of a historical film about Bergschenhoek, an organ‑playing opportunity, a market and a cycling tour.
- H. Joannes de Dooperkerk in Pijnacker – open Saturday 11:00–16:00 with a concert at 11:30 and a lecture on architect Adrianus Bleijs at 13:30; children’s scavenger hunt and displays of church artefacts are also offered.
- H. Bartholomeuskerk in Nootdorp – open on Saturday 11:00–16:00 and Sunday 13:00–16:00, with guided tours throughout the day.
Capelle aan den IJssel: small museums and musical programmes
Capelle aan den IJssel returns to Open Monuments Day with a brochure and a cycling route linking participating monuments. Stand‑out sites include:
- Dief‑ en Duifhuisje – this tiny 17th‑century prison is the only remnant of Capelle’s 17th‑century castle. It could hold two prisoners; pigeons were kept on a loft above them. Outside stood a gallows. After restoration the building reopened in 2011 as the smallest museum in the Netherlands. During Open Monuments Day it is open on Saturday 13 September from 10:00 to 16:00, with an exhibition on “Capelle in wartime” covering topics such as conscripted soldiers, emergency money and wartime rationing.
- Van Cappellenhuis – a stately mansion with one of the most beautiful regents’ rooms in the Netherlands. On Saturday 13 September it hosts an open‑house programme: the doors open at 10:00, a performance by choir Singing Souls at 11:00, a set of Dutch and English songs by Ad Vermeer at 12:30, African stories narrated by Jan de Grauw with music by Ad Vermeer at 13:30, followed by the opening of a new exhibition at 14:30.
- Stormvloedkering Hollandsche IJssel (Algera Bridge) – the storm surge barrier between Capelle and Krimpen is an engineering monument. On Saturday 13 September visitors can join guided tours between 10:00 and 15:00, climb the tower and explore the bridge’s control rooms. No reservation is required, but the site is best reached on foot or by bicycle.
Plan your visit
Open Monuments Day offers a unique opportunity to explore heritage sites that are usually closed to the public. With nearly 70 buildings in Rotterdam, a record number in Schiedam, over twenty in Vlaardingen, and fascinating sites in Lansingerland and Capelle aan den IJssel, there is something for everyone. Many events are free, though some require advance booking or have limited capacity, so visitors should check specific opening times and reservation requirements.
To explore the full programme and plan your own route, visit the Open Monumentendag website. The national site lists all participating monuments and activities, while local sites provide detailed programmes for Rotterdam and the surrounding towns.
Additional event details
OMD app
To facilitate easy access to all the monuments and activities, a dedicated Open Monument Day app (OMDapp) has been launched. The app allows users to search for monuments by name, city, or province, and provides a list or map view. It also offers navigation options using Google Maps and allows users to create personalised routes. The app is available for free on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
For a more complete list, have a look at the official Open Monuments Day website for Rotterdam.
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