HAPPENING 21–22 FEB '26 | Chinese New Year (Chinees nieuwjaar) lands in Rotterdam on 17 February, and Wereldmuseum Rotterdam is marking it with a packed weekend of activities on 21 and 22 February 2026. You can join workshops, family activities, a photobooth portrait session and more, with activities free once you’ve got museum entry.
On top of the museum weekend, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam will also pop up during the wider Chinese New Year Festival Rotterdam (Chinees Nieuwjaar Festival Rotterdam), including a street celebration on West-Kruiskade and children’s activities at Deliplein in Katendrecht.
Weekend programme at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam
The museum’s Chinese New Year weekend runs on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February, with drop-in activities across different rooms and floors. Participation is free, but you pay museum admission, unless you enter with a pass such as the Museumkaart or Rotterdampas.
The 2026 theme is the Year of the Horse, which the museum links to energy, freedom and forward motion. You’ll see that motif popping up in the creative workshops, especially in the kids programme.
Photobooth portraits with Tyler Chan
If you want a Rotterdam memento that is not another phone selfie, the museum is hosting a Chinese New Year photobooth where photographer Tyler Chan takes group portraits of you with friends or family.
It runs on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February, with sessions from 12:00–13:30 and 14:30–16:00, described as an open walk-in activity in the “Green room”. The festive set is made by artist Lee Teng Poh.
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Red envelope workshop and paper-cutting
On Saturday 21 February, you can design your own hóngbāo, the traditional red envelope linked to luck and a fresh start. The workshop is led by SEEYOUSIOE, with Sioe Jeng introducing the history and symbolism before you start drawing and designing your own envelope.
Time slots are 11:30–12:15, 13:30–14:15 and 15:30–16:15 in the Salon (first floor). Tickets are collected at the desk and numbers are capped, so it’s worth showing up with a bit of intention.
Calligraphy, prints and lucky knots
Across both weekend days, the museum runs an “Atelier” programme focused on good-luck makers (geluksbrengers), with artists including Lili Zhou and Sofie Xie. Expect calligraphy linked to New Year wishes, block printing with Chinese stamps, and a workshop on Chinese lucky knots, with step-by-step guidance and the meaning behind the designs.
There’s also an open paper-cutting activity (Chinese snijkunst), centred on red designs and luck symbols you can take home to decorate your place. This runs 12:00–16:00 on both days.
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Superstraat kids activities and story moments
If you’re bringing children, head towards Superstraat for the lantern-making activity “In volle galop”, where kids build a lantern with a galloping horse effect. It runs 11:00–16:30 on both Saturday and Sunday, with open walk-in participation.
There are also short story sessions in Superstraat, including the legend of Nian (12:45–13:00 and 14:45–15:00) and “De grote race”, the tale behind the Chinese zodiac (13:45–14:00 and 15:45–16:00).
Almond cookie baking sessions
Another hands-on option is the almond cookie baking workshop, framed as a Chinese New Year treat. These sessions run on both Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February in Winston’s Feestkeuken, with a maximum of 20 participants per session.
Time slots are 13:00–13:30, 14:00–14:30, 15:00–15:30 and 16:00–16:30, and it’s included with your entry ticket.
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Beyond the museum: West-Kruiskade and Deliplein
Wereldmuseum Rotterdam is also joining the street celebration on West-Kruiskade on Saturday 28 February, appearing “in a tram” as part of the festivities.
On Sunday 1 March, the museum will support children’s activities at the celebration on Deliplein in Katendrecht, which is a nice excuse to link a neighbourhood wander with the wider city programme.
Tickets and practical notes
You do not need to register for the activities, and you can join if there’s space. Activities are free, but museum entry applies. Entry is free with passes including Museumkaart, Rotterdampas and VriendenLoterij VIP-kaart.
Event page: https://rotterdam.wereldmuseum.nl/nl/zien-en-doen/activiteiten/chinees-nieuwjaar-2026
Tickets: https://tickets.wereldmuseumrotterdam.nl
How to get there
Wereldmuseum Rotterdam sits right on the river at Willemskade, an easy walk from the city centre if you fancy a pre-visit stroll along the Maas. If you’re coming by public transport, aim for the Leuvehaven area and continue on foot towards the Erasmus Bridge side of town, or cycle down the quayside and lock up nearby.
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