ROTTERDAM, 9 July 2025 – Popronde Rotterdam will join forces with Club Uniek during this year’s Eendracht Festival, highlighting local talent on 17 July. The collaboration forms a preview of Popronde’s main event, set to return this November.

Popronde Rotterdam to co-host stage at Club Uniek during Eendracht Festival

Popronde Rotterdam has been announced as a co-host of the VOS stage at Club Uniek during Eendracht Festival, taking place on Thursday 17 July. The collaboration includes Motel Mozaïque, venue Annabel, and music platform 3voor12 Rotterdam. Together, these local cultural organisations have curated a line-up of five emerging Rotterdam-based acts.

The VOS stage will be located in Club Uniek on Mauritsweg 34, previously known as De Unie. The programme will feature Romy Liz Rose (20:30), Hana Fatur (21:30), BERBER (22:30), Newark (23:30), and FLORA (00:30). Entrance is free.

A celebration of Rotterdam’s music scene

Organised by Stichting De Nieuwe Lichting, Eendracht Festival has evolved into a platform showcasing the diversity of Rotterdam’s music culture. Taking place around Eendrachtsplein, the festival includes thirteen free stages, curated in collaboration with various local music initiatives.

The festival places the spotlight on Rotterdam-based musicians, particularly from non-mainstream genres, and aims to present a broad reflection of the city’s evolving creative landscape. An estimated 13,500 visitors are expected, including both music fans and industry professionals interested in discovering new talent. In addition to live music, the festival programme also includes spoken word, theatre, stand-up comedy, street art, and visual art.

Popronde Rotterdam returns in November

Popronde Rotterdam, part of the nationwide travelling festival Popronde, is scheduled for Saturday 8 November. The event is known for transforming both expected and unconventional city locations into live music venues. Previous editions included performances in bookshops, cafés, hostels, galleries, and even a military museum.

While the complete line-up and venue list will be released later in the year, the 2024 edition featured 91 free performances across 41 different locations. The event is regarded as one of the more extensive editions in the country. In 2021, Popronde Rotterdam received the Rotterdam Music Award for ‘Best Festival’.

Popronde offers audiences a chance to experience live sets from emerging artists before they break through to wider national recognition. Past alumni include Froukje, Meau, Rondé, Chef’Special and Kensington.

For more information, visit popronde.nl/steden/rotterdam.

Club Uniek – location and directions

Club Uniek is located at Mauritsweg 34, near Eendrachtsplein in the city centre. The area is well-connected by tram and metro, with Eendrachtsplein station only a few minutes' walk away. The venue is surrounded by other cultural spaces and eateries, making it a convenient stop during the festival.

ROTTERDAM, 8 July 2025 – Despite persistent rain, thousands gathered in Rotterdam for a weekend of bluegrass, storytelling, and spontaneous dance at Noordplein. Artists and audiences mingled freely, turning the wet weather into part of the experience.

Bluegrass festival draws over 11,000 visitors to Noordplein

Over 11,000 people attended the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival 2025 across three days from 4 to 6 July, braving rain showers on Saturday and Sunday to take part in the annual celebration. The event was held at Noordplein, where visitors enjoyed a wide range of international, national, and local performances.

The festival maintained a strong sense of community. A group of 113 volunteers assisted in delivering the event. Attendees and artists were seen wearing official festival gear, while some even visited the on-site tattoo stand to mark the occasion with bluegrass-themed designs, including banjos and autographs.

Performances continued despite rain

The event began under clear skies on Friday but was soon met with heavy rain. Crowds remained on-site, equipped with free ponchos distributed by organisers. By Sunday, a large tarp was installed near the main stage, allowing people to continue dancing in dry conditions.

Over 11,000 attend rainy but festive Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival. Photographer: Deniece Brouwer

Live acts from around the world

Musicians from several countries contributed to a diverse programme. The Brothers Comatose energised the square with their folk and bluegrass blend. Nick Shoulders captivated audiences and was considered by many a standout of the weekend. Jake Blount delivered an Afrofuturist folk set, while Taff Rapids presented bluegrass tunes sung in Welsh. Even in heavy rain, Bab L’ Bluz attracted attention with psychedelic sounds drawn from French and Moroccan influences.

Other notable performances included Creekbed Carter Hogan, whose emotional set moved many to tears. Angry Zeta, an Argentine punkgrass band, brought chaotic energy to both the stage and their dance workshops. The festival also featured public workshops in gabbergrass and square dancing, with spontaneous dancing breaking out at several points across the site.

Food and family activities

Food trucks lined the area, offering a wide selection of dishes. Among them was a bicycle cart serving freshly shucked oysters, which proved unexpectedly popular. Children were kept entertained by hands-on creative activities. In the Museum for a Little Bit of Modern Art (a tongue-in-cheek reference to modern museums), children could express themselves through painting or take part in guided tours led by the fictional museum guard Gerard.

Next edition confirmed for 2026

The next Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for 3 to 5 July 2026. Early bird passes are currently available.

Directions to Noordplein

Noordplein is located in Rotterdam’s Oude Noorden neighbourhood, a short walk from the city centre. The area is known for its cultural mix and lively cafés. Visitors can easily reach the square via tram or by cycling. Parking is limited in the surrounding streets.

ROTTERDAM, 9 July 2025 – A new artwork on Coolsingel confronts Rotterdam with questions of waste, decay and renewal. Discarded leather takes centre stage in an evolving installation by textile artist Phlox van Oppen.

Activist art on Coolsingel explores waste and change

An evolving public artwork made from discarded leather has been unveiled in the third round of the EDGE Coolsingel Artist Competition, titled Show me your heart. The work, created by Rotterdam-based artist Phlox van Oppen, highlights themes of overconsumption, sustainability and transformation through an installation that is intentionally temporary and subject to decay.

Van Oppen, currently pursuing her master’s degree at the Swedish School of Textiles, developed the piece using surplus leather from the furniture industry—material that would otherwise have been discarded. Through this medium, she draws a symbolic red line, questioning the societal urge for constant renewal.

A red thread through urban change

The artwork, installed opposite Rotterdam's city hall, has not been designed to remain pristine. Instead, it has been constructed to react to its environment, with sunlight, rain and human interaction slowly altering its form and colour. According to Van Oppen, this gradual degradation is a central part of the message: “You do not always need to buy something new. Decay is value.”

From student housing to Swedish weaving labs

Van Oppen’s focus on materials can be traced back to her student days, when she shared a home with 36 others. That chaotic yet intimate environment shaped her attention to the textures of daily life. Now based in Sweden, she continues to explore new textile techniques and circular ecosystems in her academic and artistic work.

Phlox van Oppen’s new work on Coolsingel explores waste and decay through discarded leather in the EDGE Show Me Your (He)art competition.

EDGE and the competition

The Show me your (he)art competition is organised by EDGE, a developer of office buildings in several European cities. With the EDGE Coolsingel project, the firm is integrating contemporary art into the urban space during the building’s construction phase. The initiative offers local artists a platform to engage with the city.

Previous participants include visual artists Melissa Moria and Tjado Astrando Boerleider, who were the first to transform the construction fencing into an artistic canvas. Winners are selected through a combination of public votes and jury input from the EDGE Coolsingel project team.

About EDGE Coolsingel

EDGE Coolsingel, located at number 75 on the avenue, is set to provide approximately 21,500 square metres of office space. The building has been designed to achieve Net Zero Carbon status and aims to receive the highest level of WELL certification. Smart technology is being incorporated to support the health and comfort of future occupants.

How to visit

Directions and location

The artwork is located at Coolsingel 75, directly opposite the Stadhuis (Rotterdam City Hall). This central part of Rotterdam is easily accessible by public transport, bike or on foot. The Coolsingel itself is a prominent boulevard that connects Hofplein with Erasmusbrug and regularly hosts events and public installations.

ROTTERDAM, 7 July 2025 – Rotterdam’s newest public experience was launched in bright colour and high spirits at the foot of the Euromast. The opening drew a diverse crowd and marked a moment of shared pride in the city’s identity.

Grand opening of 'The Rise of Rotterdam' celebrated at the Euromast

The official opening of The Rise of Rotterdam was marked by a festive gathering on 7 July at the Euromast. The event drew more than 100 invited guests, including partners, press, artists and other stakeholders from across the city’s cultural spectrum.

Held on the lawn beneath the Euromast, the opening featured music, dance, spoken word and a series of visual statements. Attendees were greeted by bright parasols, summer colours, and a sense of collective anticipation.

Leonie Staat, director of the Euromast, welcomed the guests with a short address. “Rotterdam has always risen – in character, in strength, in energy,” she said, before inviting guests to reflect on the city’s journey and future.

Rotterdam gathered at the Euromast for the colourful launch of The Rise of Rotterdam, a new city experience now open to the public.

Rotterdam gathered at the Euromast for the colourful launch of The Rise of Rotterdam, a new city experience now open to the public.

Smoke, sound and spoken word

The ceremony’s highlight came when a large red button was pressed to symbolise the launch of the experience. In response, a coordinated smoke show erupted behind the Euromast, releasing plumes of colour into the sky. The rainbow display visually underscored the day’s message of unity, visibility and transformation.

Spoken word artist Amara Gabriëla delivered a performance centred on belonging, identity and the layered experiences that shape the city. Music and dance acts contributed to the festive mood, while food and drinks were served throughout the afternoon.

The audience, representing a mix of generations and backgrounds, applauded the moment with enthusiasm. “It felt like something really new had been given to the city,” one attendee remarked. “It was not just about seeing something, but being part of it.”

Rotterdam gathered at the Euromast for the colourful launch of The Rise of Rotterdam, a new city experience now open to the public.

City lit up as part of #samenkleurenwedestad

The opening also kicked off a citywide campaign titled #samenkleurenwedestad (together we colour the city). As part of this initiative, several of Rotterdam’s landmarks were illuminated in bold colours.

On 3 and 4 July, buildings including the Zalmhaventoren, the Erasmus MC tower and the SS Rotterdam were lit in synchronised shades. The Euromast itself and the KPN LED-wall will continue to be lit throughout the launch week. The lighting initiative aims to reflect the city’s collective energy, resilience and openness.

How to get there

The Euromast is situated in Het Park, close to the Maas and a short walk from tram lines 8 and 23. The location is accessible by bike, public transport, or car, with parking available in the immediate area.