ROTTERDAM, 25 September 2024 – The Rotterdam municipal government has approved the 2025-2028 Culture Plan, which aims to enhance cultural outreach and spread artistic engagement across the city. This decision comes after extensive assessments by an advisory committee.

Rotterdam adopts new culture plan for 2025-2028

The Rotterdam municipal council has largely embraced the recommendations from the advisory committee’s report, titled “Verandering Verankerd” (Change Anchored), in the formation of its Culture Plan for 2025-2028. Councillor Said Kasmi, responsible for Education, Culture, and Events, commented on the goals set out in the framework: “In our policy document ‘Van onschatbare waarde; Uitgangspuntennota voor het Rotterdamse cultuurbeleid 2025-2028’, we committed to bringing art and culture to all Rotterdammers. This Culture Plan is the detailed implementation of that ambition.”

Between 1 December 2023 and 1 February 2024, cultural institutions were invited to submit funding applications under the new Culture Plan. A total of 140 organisations applied for grants, including 46 new applicants. An advisory committee, led by chairwoman Mei Li Vos, evaluated the proposals over several months. The final advisory report, titled “Verandering Verankerd”, was submitted to the city council in June 2024 following hearings with the applicants.

The Rotterdam Cultural Foundation

In addition to applications for the broader 2025-2028 Culture Plan, eight major cultural institutions that form the Rotterdamse Culturele Basis (Rotterdam Cultural Foundation, RCB) submitted multi-year funding requests. While the committee reviewed their proposals, no advice was given on the actual subsidy amounts.

Advisory guidelines

The advisory committee’s recommendations, as well as the council’s decisions, followed core principles established by the municipal council. These principles focused on maintaining continuity where possible and making necessary adjustments where required. Each application was assessed based on its artistic and cultural value to the city, as well as its adherence to key codes, including the Fair Practice Code, the Code of Diversity & Inclusion, and the Governance Code Culture. Operational quality and budget feasibility were also closely examined.

City council decision

The Rotterdam municipal government has adopted both the positive and negative recommendations of the advisory committee. However, in four instances, the council deviated from the advice to make necessary technical adjustments in favour of applicants. The council acknowledged the changes the committee sought to bring about and agreed that the proposed measures would foster a more inclusive and diverse cultural sector, with increased outreach across Rotterdam. The new plan also emphasises a broad understanding of culture that recognises its social value.

Expanding the cultural sector

Councillor Kasmi expressed his satisfaction with the adopted plan, stating: “By following this advice, we will see the expansion of the sector, increased reach and distribution of cultural activities, and the continuation of policies we are pleased with. Over the coming years, we will work alongside institutions to ensure a resilient and future-proof cultural sector that contributes to an inclusive and innovative city.”

Challenges in cultural transition

Despite the approval, the council recognises the challenges faced by the cultural sector. The number of institutions seeking financial support has steadily increased with each new cultural plan, while the total available budget has not grown proportionately. Councillor Kasmi acknowledged the difficulties this presents, stating: “We see this struggle not only in Rotterdam but also in other cities and at the national level. We need to move towards a more inclusive and resilient cultural sector, with room for research and development.”

In Rotterdam, a think tank has been established to provide advice, both solicited and unsolicited, on these challenges. In 2025, international experts from the IABx are expected to convene and deliver further advice to the municipal council on the cultural transition goals.

Key figures from the Culture Plan 2025-2028

The total annual budget for the Culture Plan 2025-2028 is set at €101.25 million, with €52.75 million allocated to the eight RCB institutions, including the Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Theater Rotterdam, and Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. In total, 107 cultural institutions, including the RCB, are included in the plan, with a total of 140 applying for support.

Newcomers to the plan account for 46 of the applications, collectively requesting nearly €8.4 million. Of these, 23 institutions are receiving support from the Culture Plan for the first time. Nine organisations that received subsidies under the current plan will no longer receive funding.

ROTTERDAM, 16 September 2024 – More than 10,000 visitors attended Baroeg Open Air at Rotterdam’s Zuiderpark this year. Volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth event, which combined a mix of local, national, and international music acts.

Record number of visitors attend Baroeg Open Air

The 15th edition of Baroeg Open Air took place on Saturday, 14 September, at Zuiderpark in Rotterdam. The event, which showcases alternative and heavy music, saw a record attendance of over 10,000 people. The audience was treated to a wide variety of performances, ranging from guitar-based bands to electronic acts, creating a diverse and dynamic atmosphere.

Despite unpredictable weather conditions leading up to the event, the mood remained positive, supported by a large team of over 300 volunteers. These volunteers played a crucial role in both setting up and running the festival. Their efforts ensured that attendees were promptly served at the various stands, with most areas operating smoothly, although some delays were noted at the food stalls.

Volunteers essential to event success

With more than 300 volunteers involved this year, a record number for the festival, Baroeg Open Air relied heavily on their contribution. These volunteers spent the week leading up to the event setting up the necessary infrastructure, often working through unfavourable weather. On the day itself, they were responsible for handling logistics, ticketing, and customer service at all points of sale.

After the festival, volunteers began the process of dismantling the event, which will take several days to complete. Without their help, the event could not have been held on such a scale, especially given the low ticket and drink prices that the festival aims to maintain.

A diverse musical lineup

This year’s lineup offered a range of performances across multiple stages, including the ‘Jupiler Stage,’ ‘Puppi’s Playground,’ the ‘Electronic Stage,’ and ‘Stroomstoot.’ The inclusion of both guitar-focused bands and alternative electronic acts is a distinctive feature of the festival, and one that attracted a broad audience, each enjoying their preferred style of music.

Leon van Rijnsbergen, director and programmer of Baroeg Open Air, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout and atmosphere, saying, “We are pleased with the high attendance and the enthusiastic responses. Although we managed to avoid long queues at the entrance, token machines, and bars, the lines at the food stalls were longer than expected, and we will address this issue next year. The festival has evolved over the years, with improvements in facilities and an increased budget for programming.”

Looking ahead to 2025

Baroeg Open Air is already planning its next edition, which is scheduled for Saturday, 13 September 2025. The festival will once again be held in Zuiderpark, with tickets going on sale soon. The first 1,000 Early Bird tickets will be available via the official website.

Location and directions

Baroeg Open Air is held at Zuiderpark, a large green space in the southern part of Rotterdam. The park is easily accessible by public transport, with nearby metro stations and bus stops. Visitors can also cycle to the park, with several bike racks available at the entrances. Parking is limited in the area, so public transport is recommended.

ROTTERDAM, 27 August – A pocket watch with a remarkable wartime story has been donated to Museum Rotterdam by the grandchildren of Jewish Rotterdammer Alfred Overstrijd. The watch, made in 1910, is now on display at Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU.

Pocket watch with wartime history donated to Museum Rotterdam

The grandchildren of Alfred Overstrijd, a Jewish Rotterdam-born watchmaker, have donated a pocket watch he crafted in 1910 to Museum Rotterdam. The watch, created for Alfred's brother, Louis, is connected to a dramatic wartime story. Both brothers were arrested, deported, and murdered by the Nazis, and the watch disappeared during this time. After more than 80 years, it found its way back to the family. Now, the engraved pocket watch can be viewed at Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU, located at Coolhaven 375.

The journey of the pocket watch

Alfred and Louis's father, André David Overstrijd (1857-1938), founded a watch shop on Hoogstraat in Rotterdam. The brothers were expected to continue in the family business. During his studies to become a watchmaker in Switzerland, Alfred André (1887-1943) crafted the pocket watch as a final project. He gifted this watch to his brother, Louis David (1892-1944), on his 18th birthday on 13 January 1910.

During World War II, both brothers were arrested, deported, and killed, and the watch vanished. In 1944, Belgian farmer Gustave Janssens (1888-1976) discovered the watch in his field in Molenstede-Diest. It is believed that a German soldier, quartered with him, lost it while in the field. Recognising the inscription and suspecting the watch was stolen, Janssens decided to hide it.

Gustave was never able to trace the original owner. Decades later, his grandson, Pieter Janssens, rediscovered the watch and used the internet to search for the name Overstrijd. This search led him to the Jewish Heritage Rotterdam (Joods Erfgoed Rotterdam) website. With the help of historian Rob Snijders from the site, the descendants were found, and the watch was returned to the family in 2022.

Richard (1954), Joyce (1951), and Monique (1949), the grandchildren of Alfred Overstrijd, were unaware of the watch's existence and were emotionally moved when they received their late grandfather's watch.

Rob Noordhoek of Museum Rotterdam receives the pocket watch from the family.

Donation to Museum Rotterdam

In autumn 2023, Alfred Overstrijd's grandchildren decided together to donate the pocket watch to a museum dedicated to World War II history, freedom, and education. “The choice fell on Museum Rotterdam because of the evident expertise and enthusiasm, combined with a personal touch,” explained Richard van Ameijden. “The fact that Alfred and Louis were from Rotterdam makes the connection even deeper.”

Rob Noordhoek, a curator at Museum Rotterdam, expressed his gratitude for the family's donation: “At Museum Rotterdam, we have Rotterdam timepieces from all eras in our collection, including pieces from the Overstrijd family. The personal, dramatic story and the extraordinary journey of this pocket watch add an emotional layer. It holds cultural and historical significance and tells a family story and bears witness to the inhumane persecution of the Jewish community in Rotterdam. It also shows how ordinary people, like the Belgian farmer and his grandson, try to do what is right.”

The watch

The pocket watch was crafted 114 years ago by Alfred during his studies at the watchmaking school in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, as a gift for his brother Louis's 18th birthday. It is a 'montre-école,' a high-quality ‘school’ pocket watch traditionally made as a demonstration of skill. The inscription reads: “Neufchâteau 1910, A.A. Overstrijd, pour mon frère Louis”.

The discovery and return of the pocket watch to Rotterdam is a remarkable wartime story. It was a pleasant surprise for all involved that the watch, after 114 years, still functions correctly.

Museum Rotterdam also holds other Overstrijd timepieces in its collection, including a clock on a green marble base from around 1900 and a silver pocket watch from 1910-1930. The enamel dial of the pocket watch bears the initials A.D. Overstrijd, referring to Alfred and Louis’s father, the founder of the watch shop on Hoogstraat in Rotterdam. “It is very special to us that there will soon be three timepieces from our family in the Museum Rotterdam collection, reunited in the birthplace of our parents and the brothers Alfred and Louis,” said grandson Richard van Ameijden.

Inside view of Alfred Overstrijd's pocket watch. Credit: Inez Smit

Visiting Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU

Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU is currently the public and educational venue for the museum, located at Coolhaven. The focus is on the Second World War and the May 1940 bombing. The museum also aims to increase its visibility in the city through activities such as lending items from its collection, educational programmes, lectures, city walks, and presentations.

The museum is also working on developing a new city museum, a place where Rotterdam's heritage is preserved, shared, and brought to life, inspiring and connecting people. Together with the municipality of Rotterdam, a permanent location is being sought for the new museum.

Directions to Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU

Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU is located at Coolhaven 375, easily accessible by metro and tram. The Coolhaven area, named after the nearby harbour, is in the Delfshaven district, known for its historic character and canals.