September in Rotterdam is a month of contrasts. The summer holidays fade into the background, but the city remains lively with festival vibes, art openings and new transport schemes. While the days shorten, there is still time to explore markets, listen to world‑class musicians and enjoy pop‑up eateries before autumn settles in.
Cooler days and autumn breezes
September marks the transition from late summer to early autumn. Daytime temperatures often hover just above 20 °C, but evenings start to cool. Rotterdam’s waterfront location makes the city windier than inland areas; the North Sea and the flat polder landscape create an “open corridor” for breezes to sweep through the high‑rise skyline. This windiness means the weather can change quickly, with sunshine one moment and a rain shower the next. Locals usually carry a waterproof jacket or umbrella alongside sunglasses. Our previous August preview described how warm days can mix with rain due to passing fronts; September continues this pattern, though temperatures begin to dip. The city is greener after summer rainfall, and parks such as Trompenburg Arboretum and Het Park are good places to enjoy the last outdoor picnics of the year.
Celebrations on water and in gardens
The month begins with the 48th edition of World Port Days (5–7 September). Rotterdam’s maritime heritage is on show at multiple locations along the river. Visitors can board ships such as the emergency vessel Guardian and the supply vessel CSS Den Helder, watch crisis‑management demonstrations at the Safety Square and explore an Innovatiekade featuring sustainable technologies. The events extend to Rijnhaven, where there are SUP‑board rentals and cultural performances. On Saturday evening a grand show with fireworks illuminates the Erasmus Bridge.
A more intimate gathering happens on 5 September at Trompenburg Gardens when Bossame, a local ensemble, fills the botanical garden with samba and bossa nova. The seven‑piece band—featuring flute, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass and percussion—brings the atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro to Kralingen. Tickets include garden admission, and audiences can enjoy the exotic plants while listening to the music.
The annual Open Monuments Day (Open Monumentendag), the largest cultural event in the Netherlands, is set to return on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September. Over 200 monument in the Rotterdam area will open their doors for free, providing an opportunity to visit sites that are not usually accessible to the public. The event will feature nearly 1,000 monuments in Zuid-Holland alone.
On 20 September Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen celebrates a free public open day. The depot, usually accessible only by tour, opens its storage rooms from 11:00 to 17:00. Visitors can see how artworks are packed, attend guided tours and participate in family workshops. It is a rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes of one of Rotterdam’s most iconic buildings.
Mid‑month, the city paints itself in rainbow colours for Rotterdam Pride Week, running from 19 to 28 September. This annual celebration of sexual freedom and diversity includes art exhibitions, debates and over 130 parties and events. The highlight is the Pride March on Saturday 27 September: participants gather at Stationsplein at 10:30, hear speeches at 11:00 and set off on a peaceful 3.5‑kilometre walk through the city at 11:30, finishing at Willemsplein around 13:00. Later that day, the riverside Pride Festival at Willemsplein brings live music and performances under the theme Queertopia; early names on the line‑up include Joost van Bellen, Xtra Xceptit and The Rainbow Club. An indoor afterparty at the Now&Wow Club with DJs from Berlin’s queer scene keeps the celebrations going into the night.
At the end of the month, from 24–28 September, the Camera Japan Festival marks its 20th edition at LantarenVenster. The festival is dedicated to Japanese cinema and culture, with film screenings, Q&A sessions, workshops and a market selling Japanese snacks and crafts. Details of the film programme are usually announced a few weeks before the festival, but previous editions have included anime, independent dramas and retrospectives.
Art exhibitions celebrate architecture and fashion
From 13 September to 14 December, the Brutus art space hosts an installation by Iranian‑Dutch artist Narges Mohammadi. Her exhibition “Er kraait geen haan naar” explores themes of memory, poverty and resilience through sculptural pieces using sand and alabaster. The artist fills the gallery with miniature cities and long strips of glued sand, while family photographs embedded in the walls evoke memories of home. Mohammadi’s technique of hollowing alabaster blocks to create translucent forms invites viewers to question the fragility of personal history.
Architecture takes centre stage at the Nieuwe Instituut until 21 September with “Ma Yansong. Architectuur en emotie.” The exhibition surveys two decades of work by Ma Yansong and his firm MAD Architects, known for designs that merge natural landscapes with futuristic forms. Models, large‑scale installations and interactive displays reveal projects such as the Fenix Tornado staircase at the Fenix Museum of Migration in Katendrecht. Visitors can use an AI‑driven tool to generate sketches based on MAD’s data, demonstrating how algorithms influence architectural imagination.
Later in the month, from 27 September, Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses opens at Kunsthal. This retrospective assembles more than a hundred designs by the Dutch fashion innovator, renowned for merging art, science and haute couture. Van Herpen’s use of 3D printing and collaborations with architects and biologists blur the line between fashion and engineering. The exhibition includes garments worn by celebrities and interactive displays that explore natural phenomena and the creative process. Running through March, this exhibition will be a highlight for fashion and design enthusiasts.
Live music from gospel to funk
Rotterdam’s September calendar offers something for every music lover. On 6 September, California band Venice returns to the Oude Luxor Theatre. The four Lennon cousins have long been favourites in the Netherlands, earning Edison awards and Top 2000 hits with their harmonies and West Coast sound. Their Get What You Give Tour features new songs from the album Brunch Buffet Part 2 alongside classics.
Four days later, on 11 September, gospel pioneer Kirk Franklin brings his world tour to the RTM Stage. Franklin’s fusion of gospel, hip‑hop and R&B has influenced mainstream music, and hits like Revolution and Stomp often get audiences dancing. Doors open at 19:00 and the show starts at 20:00; tickets begin at around €51.
The sixteenth edition of Baroeg Open Air will take place on Saturday 13 September 2025 in Rotterdam’s Zuiderpark, running from 12.00 to 23.00. The complete line-up has now been announced, featuring 30 acts spread across four stages. This year’s edition continues to present a wide selection of genres, ranging from streetpunk and metal to drum & bass and industrial techno.
For something more experimental, head to LantarenVenster on 19 September for Y‑Otis: In the Round. Swedish saxophonist Otis Sandsjö and his Berlin‑based collective blend jazz with electronica and funk. The performance places musicians in the middle of the room, surrounded by the audience, and includes DJ sets before and after the concert. The immersive format invites listeners to move around and experience the music from multiple angles.
At month’s end, on 28 September, the Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes perform at the RTM Stage. Celebrating more than 25 years together, the flamenco‑rumba group will play hits like Bamboleo and Volare. Nicolas Reyes, one of the band’s founding members, leads a lineup that continues to popularise Rumba Gitano.
Pop‑ups and gastronomic explorations
Food lovers can look forward to a temporary concept called Bistronomique Fantastique. Running from 28 August to 12 September at Het Industriegebouw, this pop‑up is a collaboration between Fundamental restaurant and natural wine bar Lolo Vins. Diners can choose four‑ or six‑course menus featuring seasonal ingredients, complemented by natural wines selected by Lolo Vins. The organisers describe the event as a way to prolong the summer with wine and creative food.
On 6 September, the Euromast teams up with World Port Days for a special dinner. A four‑course menu includes dishes such as mackerel tartare, fried mussels, cod served with purple sweet potato, and cherry parfait. Guests enjoy panoramic views of the port and stay late for fireworks.
If you’re looking for ongoing culinary inspiration, the RotterdamStyle guide to the top foodie areas highlights seven districts. The Markthal is called the “Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam” for its colourful vaulted ceiling; inside you’ll find stalls selling Dutch cheeses, exotic spices, fresh stroopwafels and more. West‑Kruiskade offers Chinese dim sum, Japanese ramen, Surinamese roti and Thai curries, often in casual eateries. Witte de Withstraat transforms from a daytime gallery street to a nightlife hub with burger joints, sushi bars and cozy pubs. Across the river, the Kop van Zuid combines modern skyscrapers with maritime history and hosts Foodhallen, where you can sample everything from Vietnamese spring rolls to Neapolitan pizza. Katendrecht’s Deliplein square offers more than 20 restaurants and the recently relocated Fenix Food Factory, where you can taste artisanal bread, charcuterie and craft beers. Smaller areas such as MaHo Kwartier around Pannekoekstraat and Botersloot feature brunch cafés, Indonesian street food and local delis. In Rotterdam Noord, streets like Zwaanshals and Noordplein host markets, vegan cafés, mezze restaurants and craft beer bars amid vintage shops.
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Transport news and urban developments
While there are few new building projects announced recently, there are notable updates in mobility. From 5 September, public transport operator RET introduces weekend night buses. These routes connect Rotterdam Centraal with thirteen lines across the region, running hourly and linking with night trains. A single journey costs €6.30 (€7 if bought via the RET app), and passengers with an existing discount or subscription can buy a €0.01 transfer ticket. On 26 August, RET also launched discount subscriptions offering 20 % or 40 % off fares for €7.90 or €28.70 per month, and group tickets for up to five people priced from €19.
Learn to dance or get out and dance
September is also a good time to move your feet. The Typical Tropical dance studio offers trial lessons and courses in salsa, bachata and kizomba during the first week of the month; classes are taught at locations including Dansschool Meyer et Fils and Typical Tropical Studios, with sessions for both beginners and experienced dancers. On 6 September, the organisers collaborate with Podium Grounds for LatinXpress, a party with live music and DJs spinning bachata and salsa. Later in the month, on 17 September, Café Dox hosts a free Latin café where dancers can practise their steps and socialise. These events are informal and emphasise community, making them a good way to meet people and stay active.
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