HAPPENING 7 MAR 2026 | Holi-Phagwa, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu spring festival that is primarily celebrated in India and Nepal. However, it is also celebrated by Hindu communities around the world, including in Rotterdam.
What is Holi?
During the Holi festival, people throw brightly coloured powder at each other and apply it to each other. The differences between religion or origin are no longer visible (since everyone is coloured by all the colours of the powder); societal boundaries between social classes, young and old, rich or poor, disappear. On this one day, all people are equal. Cultural richness, joy, mutual respect, and tolerance make the Holi festival unforgettable every year.
Holi festival in Rotterdam
In Rotterdam, you need to be at the Zuiderpark for the APNA Holi Colour Sensation event. In addition to powder cannons and food trucks, there are all kinds of cool performances. The entire event is free to attend, and you do not need to arrange an entrance ticket in advance. Moreover, the coloured powder is sold on the festival grounds.
When is the next APNA Holi Colour Sensation festival?
Rotterdam’s biggest Holi festival is making a grand return with APNA Holi Colour Sensation, promising two days of vibrant celebrations, music, and cultural festivities.
Holi Schedule 2026 Rotterdam
23 January: Vasant Panchami, from 17:30, Shri Shiv Mandir Rotterdam
2 March: Holika Dahan, Spartapark Oost (near AmorFM), from 18:00
3 March: Dhur Oerawe, Spartapark Oost (near AmorFM), at 09:00
7 March: Holi Colour Sensation Rotterdam, Zuiderpark (next to Ahoy), from 15:00 to 21:00
The festival kicks off with the traditional Holika Dahan, followed by the main event, APNA Holi Colour Sensation with an exciting lineup of artists, Holi cannons, colour powder sales, delicious food, and special activities for children. The event welcomes visitors of all ages to join in the celebrations. Admission is free, and the organisers encourage everyone to bring their friends and family to experience the joy and colours of Holi.
APNA
For the most accurate information regarding the festival date, it is best to check out the APNA Facebook page. APNA is a social Hindu umbrella organization in the Rotterdam area. They have been committed for many decades to the preservation of social values and cultural diversity.
Festival location
The annual Holi Colour Sensation festival takes place at Zuiderpark in Rotterdam Zuid.
HAPPENING 7 – 15 February 2026 | The annual ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament is the biggest tournament of its kind in the Netherlands. Past winners include tennis greats such as Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Stan Wawrinka Tomáš Berdych and Juan Martín del Potro.
Rotterdam’s tennis week
Rotterdam does not do polite, distant sport. When the ABN AMRO Open arrives at Rotterdam Ahoy, the tennis is close enough to feel personal. The ball pops off the indoor hard court, the rallies speed up, and the crowd leans in, ready to be won over.
In 2026, the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament will be held in Rotterdam for the 53rd time. From its early days in the 1970s, the tournament has grown far beyond a sports fixture. Official figures show the event has been smashing attendance records in recent years, with 126,963 spectators in 2024 and 141,894 in 2025. If you are wondering whether the atmosphere is worth it, those numbers answer the question.
The 53rd edition takes place from 7 to 15 February 2026 at Rotterdam Ahoy. The weekend of 7 and 8 February is qualifying, with the main draw running through the week to finals day on Sunday 15 February. The location is Rotterdam Ahoy. Ticket sales started in May 2025.
Key information
When: 7 to 15 February 2026
Where: Rotterdam Ahoy (Zuidplein area)
Finals day: doubles final scheduled for 1:00 pm, singles final scheduled for 3:30 pm
Tickets: sold via the tournament’s official ticket route through Ticketmaster, with qualifying sessions typically the cheapest entry point
Men’s singles: the names you will hear about
The ABN AMRO Open is an ATP Tour 500 stop, which means the entry list tends to arrive heavy with elite talent and sharp ambitions. Carlos Alcaraz returns in 2026 as the defending champion after winning the 2025 title in Rotterdam.
The tournament’s announced player list also includes established crowd pullers and returning contenders such as Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Félix Auger Aliassime and Tallon Griekspoor. Entry lists can shift with form and fitness, so we recommend you check the official players page as the tournament approaches.
Past men's singles results of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
The Rotterdam Open has been around since 1976 and has had many of tennis' greatest players grace its court. Past winners include tennis legends such as Arthur Ashe (1972, 1975, 1976) and Boris Becker (1992). In 1979 Björn Borg defeated John McEnroe 6-4 6-2 to win the tournament final.
Recent tournament winners include Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Stan Wawrinka Tomáš Berdych and Juan Martín del Potro. Roger Federer is tied with Arhur Ashe for the most singles tournament wins at three a piece.
2025 — Carlos Alcaraz def. Alex de Minaur (6–4, 3–6, 6–2)
2024 — Jannik Sinner def. Alex de Minaur (7-5, 6-4)
Félix Auger Aliassime wins the 2022 ABN AMRO world tennis tournament in Rotterdam
The doubles tournament: the best seats for speed and chaos
If singles is about control, doubles is about reactions, nerve, and teamwork under pressure. Points are shorter, the angles are wilder, and you can watch entire games turn on a single volley. It is also where you often get closer to the tactics because doubles players communicate constantly, and you can read the chess match in real time.
Finals day is designed so you can make a full afternoon of it: the doubles final is scheduled for 1:00 pm, followed by the singles final at 3:30 pm.
Recent editions show how high the standard is. In 2025, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori won the Rotterdam doubles title, beating Sander Gillé and Jan Zieliński in the final. The 2026 doubles field is typically confirmed closer to tournament week, so treat early rumours with caution and follow the official updates.
What to look for when you are watching doubles at Ahoy:
The net battle: points can end in two shots once a team gets on top of the net
Serve and first volley patterns: doubles is built on set plays, not improvisation
The match tie-break: many ATP doubles matches use a deciding match tie-break instead of a full third set, which turns the end of matches into a sprint
Wheelchair tennis: not a sideshow, a centrepiece
The ABN AMRO Open is unusual because wheelchair tennis is integrated into the same week, in the same arena, with the same expectation of quality. The tournament has hosted wheelchair tennis since 2009 and has grown into the largest indoor wheelchair tennis tournament in Europe, featuring singles and doubles.
A women’s wheelchair event was added in 2025, widening the spotlight and giving you more top-level matches to catch between ATP sessions.
If you want a sense of what this looks like at its sharpest, last year’s champions tell the story:
Wheelchair men’s singles (2025): Martin de la Puente
Wheelchair women’s singles (2025): Diede de Groot
Wheelchair women’s doubles (2025): Diede de Groot and Lucy Shuker
The tournament also streams wheelchair matches, so even if you cannot make it to Ahoy, you can still follow along online through the official coverage.
Wheelchair tennis legend Alfie Hewett is coming back to the ABN AMRO Open in 2026. He is the first male wheelchair player confirmed for the wheelchair tournament, and he already made history in Rotterdam with five straight titles from 2020 to 2024.
Tickets, sessions, and theme days
Tickets are sold through the tournament’s official ticket pathway and Ticketmaster, and you should be wary of unofficial resale listings.
If you want the best value and the most tennis in a single hit, the qualifying weekend is usually the sweet spot, with daytime sessions starting at relatively low prices compared with later rounds.
During the week, the tournament also runs themed days including Tasty Tuesday (10 February), Kidsday (11 February) and #NextGen Day (12 February), alongside the broader Ahoy experience around food, shops, and activities.
Location: Rotterdam Ahoy
Rotterdam Ahoy sits in the Zuidplein area, around 6 km from Rotterdam Centraal. Metro lines D and E take you to Zuidplein, with a short walk from the station to the arena.
HAPPENING 24–25 July 2026 | Every summer the streets of Rotterdam are privy to a spectacle which has no equal anywhere else in The Netherlands: the Rotterdam Summer carnival and more specifically, the street parade.
What is Rotterdam Summer Carnival?
In a nutshell, it's the largest Caribbean street party in the Netherlands. The Summer Carnival in Rotterdam is also part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Netherlands. It is of great importance to the cultural identity and social cohesion of the country. The Rotterdam summer carnival street parade first took place in 1984.
Sure, there's carnival in other parts of the country. Such as the carnival celebrations in Brabant and Limburg. However, the Rotterdam summer carnival has a Caribbean flair. It includes many elements from Dutch-Caribbean carnival traditions and could best be compared to the Nottingham Carnival in Britain.
When is the next Rotterdam Summer Carnival?
Rotterdam Unlimited Carnival 2026 will take place on 24 and 25 July in different locations across the city. The festival is mostly free, with after-parties being the only events you need tickets for at the summer carnival.
Rotterdam Unlimited’s programme currently lists these key dates:
Friday 24 July 2026
Battle of Drums (Coolsingel, time to be announced)
Saturday 25 July 2026
Mercado festival market (Coolsingel, 12:00 to 20:30)
Rueda de Casino (Stationsplein, 12:00 to 16:00)
Zomercarnaval Street Parade (Rotterdam city centre, 12:00 to 19:00)
Expect more timetable updates as the weekend approaches.
Friday 24 July 2026: Battle of Drums on Coolsingel
Battle of Drums is the opening roar. Brass bands gather the city’s attention and pull it towards Coolsingel for a night built around rhythm, rivalry and pure volume. The organiser lists the date and place, with more programme details still to come.
Saturday 25 July 2026: Mercado on Coolsingel
Mercado is the edible heart of the weekend. Along Coolsingel you will find stalls serving dishes from Suriname, the Dutch Caribbean and beyond, plus merchandise and small goods that match the carnival mood. If you are coming hungry, this is your moment.
Saturday 25 July 2026: Rueda de Casino at Stationsplein
If you want to do more than watch, head to Stationsplein by Rotterdam Centraal. Rueda de Casino is a group dance in a circle, rooted in Cuban salsa and built on switching partners on cue. You do not need to register, and it is free. Turn up, follow the calls, and you will pick it up faster than you think.
Saturday 25 July 2026: the Street Parade through the city centre
The main event is the Street Parade: dancers, music trucks, drum bands and costumes that look like they were designed to outshine the sun. It runs through central Rotterdam and brings the city to a standstill in the best possible way.
Route details can shift year to year because Rotterdam is always rebuilding something. We recommend checking the organiser’s latest route map and travel advice before you set out, especially if you are meeting friends at a specific point along the parade.
Rotterdam Unlimited Summer Carnival route
Practical tips before you go
Come by public transport or bike if you can. Roads and some stops change during the event.
Pick your viewing spot early if you want space, shade, or an easy exit route.
Bring water, sunscreen and patience. It gets crowded, loud and joyful all at once.
P.S. Still not sure if you should attend? Have a look at the Rotterdam Unlimited 2024 recap movie:
And here's the Battle of the Drums recap movie from 2024:
HAPPENING 6 FEB 2026 | Audio Obscura is bringing Amelie Lens to the Van Nelle Factory (Van Nelle Fabriek) for a late-night event on Friday 6 February. The night runs from 21:00 to 04:00, with support from Anetha, DJ Hyperdrive and VE/RA.
It’s a rare chance to hear a full club line-up inside one of Rotterdam’s best-known industrial buildings, with the organiser framing the night around the site’s architecture and atmosphere.
Audio Obscura brings Amelie Lens to Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam
The event is listed as Audio Obscura x Amelie Lens, taking place at the Van Nelle Factory (Van Nelle Fabriek) in Rotterdam on Friday 6 February 2026. Opening hours are shown as 21:00 to 04:00, running into Saturday morning.
Line-up includes Anetha, DJ Hyperdrive and VE/RA
Alongside Amelie Lens, the line-up shown by the organiser includes Anetha, DJ Hyperdrive, and VE/RA.
If you know Audio Obscura’s style, you can expect a night built around techno in a non-club setting, with the building itself doing a lot of the work.
Tickets for Audio Obscura x Amelie
On the ticket page, the first, second, and third release tiers are shown as sold out. A final release tier is listed at €69.45 plus a €5.50 fee, with lockers shown separately at €11 (standard) and €14 (large). Ticket availability can change quickly, so it’s worth checking the live page before you commit.
How to get there to Van Nelleweg 1 in Rotterdam for Van Nelle Factory nights
The venue address is Van Nelleweg 1, 3044 BC Rotterdam. If you’re coming by public transport, the Van Nelle Factory says buses run from Rotterdam Centraal and Schiedam Centrum to the stop Beukelsbrug / Van Nelle Fabriek, followed by a short walk.
HAPPENING 10–14 JUN 2026 | The Arab Film Festival in Rotterdam (AFF) highlights the Arab world from all sides: daily life and politics, but especially the beauty, art, culture and zest for life of the people who live there.
Rotterdam Arab Film Festival (RAFF) returns to LantarenVenster from 10 to 14 June 2026, with Syria as the central focus of this edition. Expect a packed week of screenings plus conversations that put personal stories, diaspora, and cultural identity at the centre.
RAFF is promising a varied programme of film screenings, masterclasses, debates, and meetings with filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa, right here in Rotterdam.
If you like your film festivals with a strong sense of place, this one fits Rotterdam well: it treats cinema as a way to meet each other, not just as something you watch in the dark.
Syria takes centre stage in the 2026 programme
This year’s focus is Syria, with a special programme exploring the country, the diaspora, and the impact of war, migration, and resilience through film and conversation.
RAFF describes the theme as an invitation to stories that inspire, challenge, and open up dialogue, which is exactly what you want when a topic carries real weight and real lives.
Masterclasses and Q&As bring filmmakers to Rotterdam
Alongside short films, documentaries, and feature films, RAFF is building the week around masterclasses, debates, and Q&A moments where you can hear directly from makers and dig into context together.
The festival positions itself as a fixed part of Rotterdam’s cultural calendar, a place where cinema, culture, and society meet without needing you to be an expert to join in.
Faces of Syria adds personal stories to the festival week
RAFF is also linking the edition to Faces of Syria, a project that brings personal stories into the festival mix, connecting lived experience to what you are seeing on screen.
More details on titles and the full schedule are still to come, but the dates are set, the location is set, and the Syria focus gives this edition a clear heartbeat.
Arab Film Festival Rotterdam
Directions to the festival venue
LantarenVenster
LantarenVenster is situated in the Kop van Zuid neighbourhood, near Hotel New York and the Erasmus Bridge. It can be reached by metro (Wilhelminaplein station), tram, and water taxi.
