Delfshaven Festival 2021 takes place from July 16 to August 8. With well-known partners such as jazz café Dizzy, Rotterdams Volkstheater and Ketels aan de Kade, podium Grounds presents an adventurous programme full of performances by local heroes. Brace yourself for four weeks of live music, tours, stories and fun for the whole family. Of course while enjoying a snack and drink from the varied multicultural kitchens of the district.  

 

Did you know that 178 nationalities live in Delfshaven? All those different cultures and special stories from the district come together during the first weekend of the festival. In cooperation with Rotterdams Volkstheater, there is a weekend of circus, music, dance, street theatre and poetry, presented by professionals, up-and-coming talents and enthusiastic amateurs. So you can make a cultural world trip in your own city!

 

The festival will start on Friday 16 July with music, drinks and worldly dishes from the kitchens of the neighbourhood. Test your knowledge of Delfshaven during the Grote Delfshaven Quiz, after which you can end the sultry summer evening with the Duygu Alkan Quartet featuring Ernst Reijseger, Bao Sissoko and Urvin Doornkamp. Singer Duygu comes from Izmir (Turkey) and sings traditional, classic lullabies from Anatolia in Greek, Sephardic, Kurdish and Armenian. 

 

The opening is also the kick-off of 'Te Land, ter zee en in Delfshaven'. Every Saturday and Sunday of the festival, between 12.00 and 14.00, you can take part in the pedal boat challenge on the Aelbrechtskolk. Race your opponent, answer all the questions and ring the bell as quickly as you can. You could win the title Winner of the Day or Final Boss of the Delfshaven Festival!

 

The Delfshaven Festival is all about the fusion of the rich cultural offerings from the district and the Rotterdam art scene. On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July Rotterdams Volkstheater and podium Grounds take you on a voyage of discovery with cultural, artistic and culinary highlights from all over the world. Sing along at the top of your lungs with the Delfshaven Smartlappenkoor, or dream away to the Cape Verdean sounds of Lena Evora. Meet district talent Jahniva and test your Bollywood dance skills with the Tanushri Dance Sensation. The day ends with Cuban music by Ysa Bermejo and afrobeat by the Liquid Sun Orchestra. On Sunday 18 July, 'Adios!' brings the special story of colourful Delfshaven to life with music, dance, spoken word and stories. Music groups from various cultures in the district sing the praises of identity and migration.

 

This weekend Jazzcafé Dizzy, Het Rotterdams Volkstheater and podium Grounds present an adventurous music programme full of local heroes. Like DJ Handy Tim, the avant-garde jazz/rock band AMAGUK, the funky gentlemen of Joey Blu & BlueZbone, singer-songwriter Danielle Gomes and the EPM Holanda quartet with their Brazilian sounds. On Sunday, there is the story festival 'Delfshaven Vertelt!' especially for children from 4 to 10 years old. There will also be workshops, guided tours, puppet theatre and much more all day long.

 

Echoes of a Pilgrim focuses on the other side of migration. Using universal languages such as music and dance, we reflect on sounds of sadness, homesickness, pride and sometimes even anger. Because homesickness and love for one's own culture are also universal, whether you live in New York, Sydney or Delfshaven. On Friday 30 July DJ Gea Russell and Babar Luck will talk to the audience about migration in Delfshaven (in collaboration with Stichting Gedeeld Verleden Gezamenlijke Toekomst). Grupo Pilon, together with Cape Verdian musicians from the Netherlands, will close the evening.

 

On Saturday 31 July, poetry gets a stage, with poet and artist Juan Heinsohn Huala reading together with befriended Rotterdam poets in the context of Echoes of a Pilgrim. In the evening, DJ Gea Russell spins tasty records and Rootz Lions present 'dub meets horns' with a special guest.

 

On Sunday you can enjoy Cape Verdean songs by Flores das Ilhas, Arabic music by Khorshid Dadbeh and bluegrass by the Switchbacks.

 

During the last weekend, we go back to the Delfshaven of old. On the Piet Heynsplein, you will find yourself in a medieval village festival in the middle of the modern city. Prepare yourself for special market stalls with noisy merchants, obscure troubadours and storytellers, an open-air inn, (beer) tastings and demonstrations of age-old crafts. 

 

Admission to all events is free. But please note: the maximum capacity is 100 persons per programme item. This number is based on the current corona rules and may change. Keep an eye on the website for the complete programme, locations and starting times.

 

 

 

Rotterdam, 8 April 2021 - Motel Mozaique has expanded the program of MOMO Create & Perform, its online festival that will be broadcasted on 23 and 24 April, with international acts: Black Country, New Road, Meskerem Mees with Spinvis, Prairie WWWW and Aida Gabriels alongside Amenra frontman Colin H. van Eeckhout, among others. Motel Mozaique had already announced that Eefje de Visser X Nick Verstand, Bear Valour, Anne-Fay, Lisette Ma Neza, Gino-Cochise, Mathieu Wijdeven and Szu-Yi Wang could be seen with special creations and performances during MOMO Create & Perform.

 

This year, Motel Mozaique puts the focus on creating, because unlike performing, creation is always possible. With MOMO Create & Perform, Motel Mozaique offers space to artists from all disciplines to create new work in the coming months. MOMO will show you this creation process extensively through their online channels. The organization aims to show that there is also enormous beauty in the pre-performance phase.Viewers can then experience a large part of these new works via a extensive online stream events on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 April 2021 from 19:00 to 22:00.

 

Tickets for the 6-hour broadcast are available via the Motel Mozaique website.

 

 

Stukafest (Studentenkamer Festival) started in 2001 in Nijmegen. Due to its great success, Stukafest in Nijmegen has grown into a popular and often sold out annual event. Since 2008 the festival is also annually held in Rotterdam. Enjoy performances between beer crates, study books and socks. Various artists perform in thirteen student rooms around West Rotterdam. The room occupants are your hosts and the artists are almost on top of you. It’s a great way to meet new artists, but also new neighbours.

 

Prior to the festival, you compile your own program. Each artist performs three times, but can sometimes quickly sell out. If one of your chosen gigs is already sold out, you can either go to another round or choose a different performance. There is always plenty of choice and the unknown acts often turn out to be unexpected highlights.

 

Between the rounds there is always a half-hour break, so you don’t have to go running to the next room like a madman. The rooms are easily accessible by bike or on foot. After the final round, both the audience and artists attend the afterparty.

 

Traditionally, Stukafest is a festival where attendees can create their own cultural route, choosing between different artists who perform in different student rooms across Rotterdam. The attendees go from one room to another on a three round basis.

 

Given the pandemic and the multiple restrictions in effect, Stukafest has decided to make the most out of this and is introducing StukafestTV, a digital concept of your favourite student festival.

 

This year, StukafestTV offers attendees the freedom of choosing their own digital path. Within StukafestTV, viewers can switch between the three cities to watch their most favourite acts in three rounds. In between performances, you can cycle through the cities and get to know their respective student atmospheres. On the 19th, you won’t only see Rotterdam, but also Utrecht and Leeuwarden. This way, Stukafest still guarantees the unique experience of a festival in student rooms, without having to leave your home.

 

In 2021, the festival is organized together with Utrecht and Leeuwarden on Friday, the 19th from 19:00 and ending at 23:00. StukafestTV tickets are sold on a ‘pay what you can’ basis. This system aims to support the cultural and events sector through these tough circumstances, whilst still offering an affordable experience for our viewers. Therefore, our ticket prices range from a minimum of €2.70 and a maximum of €50. To purchase your tickets, you can go to the Ticketshop. (be sure to use the Dutch translation of the site to be able to buy tickets).

 

Artists participating this year include:

 

 

For more information on Stukafest, visit the official Stukafest website. You can also follow Stukafest Rotterdam on Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

Do you have a student room or house in Rotterdam West and you’ve always wanted to participate in one of the cosiest and coolest festivals of Rotterdam? This is your chance! Stukafest is always looking for students who want to open up their room for a night and host one of the amazing performances. In exchange you will receive an unforgettable experience, afterparty included.

Stukafest Rotterdam 📷 Nikki Smits

 

Do you get excited about music, spoken word, comedy or dance and do you want to help out to realize an awesome student room festival? The organization is always looking for a number of enthusiastic location and board managers. As a volunteer, you get to enjoy the act, get to know the artists and join us at the afterparty. This way you will have a super fun evening and gain some experience at the same time. Interested? Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and who knows…

Stukafest Rotterdam 📷 Nikki SmitsStukafest Rotterdam 📷 Nikki SmitsStukafest Rotterdam 📷 Nikki Smits

 

Rotterdam-based  Mei architects and planners is an internationally operating and award-winning architectural firm. Mei's recently completed transformation of Fenix I on Katendrecht won numerous awards, including the Rotterdam Architecture Award 2019 (professional jury & public) and the ICONIC Award 2020 for innovative architecture.

 

The pre-war growth of the port and the rebuilding of the city have greatly determined the development of Rotterdam and its architecture. With their designs, Mei architects and planners are known to give renewed meaning to these defining periods in Rotterdam's history by realizing contemporary buildings that are true to the city's industrial heritage.

 

Mei and OMI made a selection of the Rotterdam projects that show the versatility of the work and the way the firm works; with models by Studio Faber, recent photographs by Ossip van Duivenbode and a timeline that places the projects in a historical context. Highlighted works include the redevelopment of the pre-war warehouse Jobsveem, the restoration of De Lijnbaan or the new construction of the Schiecentrale.

 

 

Fenix I has risen on the Rijnhaven, a 'gallery flat' on the monumental transshipment hangar in which restaurants and cultural institutions are now located. The transformation and expansion of the former St. Job warehouse and the power plant in the Lloyd Quarter are highlights of the Mei architects signature style.

 

Both are the result of renovation, redevelopment and renewal. The aesthetics, either expressive or restrained, depending on the project, location and history. One example of this approach is the Lijnbaan shopping promenade which will be restored with its wooden canopies and facades in original shades of gray. Another, is the McDonald's on the Coolsingel; here, a sixties' pavilion has been replaced by a variant of an American diner, dressed in glass and gold.

 

The exhibition can be visited free of charge at OMI. Registration is not necessary, but because of COVID-19 a maximum of six people can enter at the same time. The exhibition is open from Thursday to Saturday from 13:00 to 18:00, until 21 November.

For more information, I recommend you visit the OMI website.

 

Location: OMI