HAPPENING 4 March 2026 | Het Industriegebouw will host a public election debate on Wednesday 4 March, in the run-up to Rotterdam’s municipal elections (gemeenteraadsverkiezingen) on 18 March 2026. You can come along to listen, ask questions, and speak directly with candidates.
Rotterdam votes on Wednesday 18 March 2026 for the municipal council (gemeenteraad) as well as neighbourhood and village councils (wijk- en dorpsraden). If you want to compare parties and candidates before you vote, an evening like this can be a practical way to hear what is being prioritised. And if you are going, bring your questions. The entire point of a public debate is that the room is not passive, and Rotterdam works best when people actually speak up. The debate brings together candidates from parties including BIJ1, CDA, D66, DENK, GroenLinks/PvdA, JOU, Leefbaar Rotterdam, Partij voor de Dieren, SP, Volt and VVD, with Carrie Jansen moderating the evening. Of course, the language spoken will be Dutch.
Who will be on stage at the debate
The organisers say the format is built around direct interaction, so you are not only watching politicians speak at each other. You can put questions to the candidates and join the conversation in the room.
“It has always been a place where ideas and perspectives come together,” say directors Eva Sharo and Desiree van den Wittenboer. “With this debate, we want to extend that role to the city and offer an open stage for conversation, especially at a time when it matters.”
Topics Rotterdam is debating right now
The programme is structured around statements and discussion on issues the organisers say are shaping Rotterdam at the moment. They list safety and tackling drug nuisance (drugsoverlast), the affordability of housing, neighbourhood livability, and the city’s economic future.
“Precisely at the local level, choices are made that you notice every day,” says moderator Carrie Jansen. “By bringing people and politics into direct conversation, there is room for nuance, understanding and new insights. That is exactly what a city like Rotterdam needs.”
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Why Het Industriegebouw is hosting this
The organisers frame the night as a way to boost engagement in local democracy, pointing to Rotterdam’s traditionally relatively low turnout in municipal elections, even though local decisions affect daily life. They also place the debate within a wider shift in what Het Industriegebouw is becoming: beyond a work base for entrepreneurs and makers, it is increasingly positioning itself as a place where Rotterdammers meet for talks, cultural events, and public conversations, including initiatives like BIG TALKS.
Practical information for 4 March
The election debate takes place on Wednesday 4 March, 20.00 to 22.00, at Het Industriegebouw, Goudsesingel 66, Rotterdam. Entry is free and open to anyone who wants to join.
Registration is available via this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaNVXS730VGw9DYDnRjs7WH6gSlBxmFM57SMfRzCFFmyjeUQ/viewform
How to get there
Het Industriegebouw is on Goudsesingel, right on the edge of the city centre, so it is an easy cycle from most central neighbourhoods. If you are coming by public transport, you are well-placed with Rotterdam Blaak and Beurs in the wider area for metro and tram connections, then it is a short walk to the building. If you are making an evening of it, the area also works well for arriving a bit early and grabbing something nearby, then walking in without the stress of last-minute travel.
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