HAPPENING 27–29 June and 4–6 July 2025 | Rotterdam marks fifty years of women’s emancipation with the Luxor Zomerfestival, a two-weekend event featuring music, art and performance. The festival includes yoga, spoken word, documentaries and concerts led by women from diverse backgrounds.
Luxor Zomerfestival explores 50 years of women’s emancipation
Rotterdam will commemorate fifty years of women’s emancipation with the Luxor Zomerfestival, a multidisciplinary programme running across two weekends: 27–29 June and 4–6 July. Hosted at Café Dox, the festival offers a varied line-up, including spoken word, live music, documentaries and theatre, all focusing on women's contributions to culture and society.
The programme has been curated to reflect themes such as identity, mental health, heritage and feminist perspectives, and features a combination of local and national artists and collectives. Activities range from live concerts to yoga sessions, a creative market, and a feminist late-night theatre experience.
Music and spoken word open the festival
The festival opens on Friday 27 June in collaboration with North Sea Round Town, the city edition of the well-known jazz event. The evening will begin with spoken word by Sabina Lukovic, who will present a specially written piece addressing inequality, activism and mental well-being.
The programme continues with Vivecka & Art Band Collective, who combine soul, Latin and jazz elements in a fluid musical performance. Closing the night is Las Hienas, a Rotterdam-based all-female band that blends Afro-Cuban rhythms, salsa, Caribbean sounds and jazz. The group, active since 2023, is currently working on its debut EP expected in 2026. Admission for this night follows a ‘Pay What You Can’ model.
Late-night theatre and creative markets
On Saturday 28 June, a creative market led by women will take place from 12:00 to 18:00. That evening, Elfie Tromp will host The Late Night Show, an experimental night of burlesque and music theatre. Performers include punk band Bombstrap, drag poet Ma’Ma Queen, and choreographer Connor Schumacher. The theme, “Cunt makes the world go round”, frames femininity as both a creative force and a form of poetic resistance.
Movement and music on Sunday
Sunday 29 June offers a slower pace with R&B yoga led by Nathalie Cijntje and Julia van Santbrink, followed by a Zumba session. In the afternoon, musician Tallulah Rose, alongside Deborah Slijkhuis and Chelsea Laverne, will present a reflective musical set shaped through collaborative processes.
Second weekend spotlights Caribbean heritage
The second weekend begins on Friday 4 July with an event recognising 50 years of Cape Verdean independence. Organised with Hey Sista You Got This!, the evening will feature music and storytelling celebrating Black women’s resilience and shared heritage.
Feminist theatre, documentary and self-care
Saturday 5 July continues with a daytime creative market and a feminist pop concert by Danielle Deddens, titled NORA. The evening spotlights the documentary Bubbling Baby by Sharine Rijsenburg, exploring the Caribbean-Dutch music genre of bubbling. A discussion with the filmmakers will follow.
The concert NORA returns later that evening, and visitors may also take part in an interactive session of the card game Weerwolven (Werewolves), hosted by Yanira.
A calming close to the festival
The festival concludes on Sunday 6 July with a longer R&B yoga session followed by the Selfcare APK mini – a short guided check-in session designed to help participants reflect on their mental and physical wellbeing. This final day requires advance ticket purchase.
Location and directions
All events will take place at Café Dox, part of the Nieuwe Luxor Theatre, situated at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam’s Kop van Zuid district. The venue is easily accessible by metro, tram and water taxi. The area is known for its striking architecture and cultural institutions, making it a suitable backdrop for a festival rooted in social reflection.
-blogmedia.jpg)
