Special Events - RotterdamStyle.com

Meet Bing and Flop at Rotterdam Zoo

Bryan van Putten Special Events 26 March 2024

Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam Zoo) welcomes beloved characters Bing and Flop in a special event tailored for young children this spring. Explore a unique route, engage in storytelling sessions, and meet the characters face-to-face.

Bing and Flop visit Diergaarde Blijdorp

From 3 April to 12 May 2024, Diergaarde Blijdorp will host an interactive experience featuring Bing and Flop, characters well-known among toddlers and preschoolers. The event is designed to provide an educational and enjoyable day out for the youngest zoo visitors.

The zoo will set up a Bing-themed route where special boards are placed at six different animal exhibits, including bison and prairie dogs. These boards will offer fun facts and engaging questions about the animals, helping children learn about nature and wildlife. The route culminates in a photo opportunity with characters from the popular children's series.

Educational activities and character meet

The newly opened NatuurPodium, featuring outdoor seating, will serve as the venue for storytelling sessions held on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Bing and Flop will share stories about their favourite zoo animals, such as lions, flamingos, and snakes. The sessions are interactive, encouraging children to mimic animal movements and sounds.

Following the storytelling, children will have the opportunity to meet Bing and Flop and take photos with them. To make the visit memorable, children will receive a Bing and Flop souvenir, and there will also be exclusive merchandise available for purchase.

Promoting a love for nature

Through this event, Diergaarde Blijdorp aims to introduce children aged 1 to 5 to the animal kingdom and instil a love for nature from an early age. The activities are included with zoo admission, although reservations are required for the storytelling and meet-and-greet sessions.

Directions to Diergaarde Blijdorp

Diergaarde Blijdorp is located in the heart of Rotterdam, easily accessible by public transport or car. For visitors travelling by tram, line 12 leads directly to the zoo entrance. The area around the zoo is well-signposted and features several amenities, including cafes and picnic areas.

RUNEXPECTED Rotterdam charity run - event details

Bryan van Putten Special Events 26 March 2024

An innovative charity run, RUNEXPECTED, makes its debut in Rotterdam this May, offering a unique course filled with surprises to support neurofibromatosis research.

RUNEXPECTED debuts in Rotterdam

On 26 May 2024, Rotterdam will host the inaugural RUNEXPECTED event, a charity run designed to support neurofibromatosis research through an unpredictable and engaging course. Participants can expect a mix of challenges and unexpected obstacles across approximately 5 or 10 kilometres of the cityscape.

Supporting neurofibromatosis research

Founded by Hubert van Wensen, chair of the LET’S BEAT NF foundation, RUNEXPECTED aims to fund research into neurofibromatosis, a neurological condition characterized by the uncontrolled growth of tumours on the skin or within the body. This event not only raises funds but also awareness about the disease's unpredictable nature, mirroring the unexpected elements of the run itself.

Neurofibromatosis is primarily a skin and nerve disease, causing severe health issues such as cancer, spinal cord injuries, suffocation, and intense pain. The condition affects one in every 3000 children in the Netherlands, making it a significant but relatively unknown disease.

Unpredictable challenges along the way

The course, set in central Rotterdam, promises no ordinary running experience. Participants might encounter misleading turns, blockades by a marching band, or even a staged abduction. Such elements ensure that this event is more about the experience and the cause than setting personal bests.

Impact of past events

Previous editions of the event have raised nearly 200,000 euros, supporting significant advancements in immune therapy research at the Erasmus Medical Centre. With the route passing by the NF Centre of Excellence at Erasmus MC, the organisers aim to exceed past fundraising totals and further aid in combating neurofibromatosis.

For more information about how to join the run or how to make a contribution, visit the official RUNEXPECTED website.

De Maaltuin at Trompenburg Gardens: Rotterdam's culinary delight

Bryan van Putten Special Events 22 March 2024

Every spring, the pop-up restaurant experience De Maaltuin is hosted at Rotterdam's Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum. De Maaltuin is a travelling restaurant that opens at special locations such as castles, palaces, museums or botanical gardens. While dining, visitors are introduced to the stories of these locations through specially prepared culinary dishes.

From March 22nd until May 12th 2024, visitors can discover idyllic locations while enjoying a unique five-course dinner with pleasant company. The event embraces the season by delving into rituals from various cultures, all of which draw inspiration from nature. Guests will be treated to a culinary journey through different areas of the botanical garden, acquainting themselves with a diverse array of exotic flowers, plants, and trees.

Culinary Stroll through the Gardens

The unique pop-up restaurant The Maaltuin returns this spring for a new edition at Trompenburg Gardens. During this so-called carousel edition, guests will dine at various locations in the Rotterdam botanical garden. The Kapschuur, Perenhof, and Zwanenmeer are all featured on the route. The event is ideal for those who appreciate nature and enjoy exploring amidst thousands of stunning flowers, trees, and plants. Love for nature goes hand in hand with culinary enjoyment, as Chef Paul Oldemenger, formerly of Michelin-starred restaurants, has developed a special menu inspired by the garden's beauty. This broad palette of flavours is further enhanced by a wine or mocktail pairing tailored to the menu. Visitors will learn about fascinating myths and legends, as well as various forms of art, such as Elsbeth van Noppen's stunning photo series, “Nocturnal Garden.”

Discover Inspiring Cultures

This exceptional evening focuses on rituals from diverse cultures. For instance, guests will be introduced to the Japanese Wishing Tree tradition. By hanging coloured wish cards on a tree, the Japanese ask the gods for no rain during their celebration of the Tanabata festival. The Maaltuin will feature its own Wishing Tree, where guests can write their wishes and hang them on the tree. Additionally, a museum piece, the Peyote cactus, will be displayed in a glass case. According to indigenous Mexican tribes, Peyote enables them to connect with the gods of earth and nature.

De Maaltuin at Trompenburg Gardens: Rotterdam's culinary delight

An Exceptional Night Out

The event promises a memorable evening. Upon arrival, guests will find themselves in an idyllic green oasis. With a refreshing welcome drink in hand, they will explore the gardens, taking in the stunning flowers, trees, and plants in bloom. Through podcasts and creative experiences, guests will learn about the stories behind this beautiful place. The inspiring route through the greenhouse, Perenhof, and Zwanenmeer will also feature dishes served in a walking dinner format, inspired by the garden and prepared with local, sustainable ingredients. Guests will even have the opportunity to taste a piece of the garden itself, as the menu includes wild garlic, an herb that grows abundantly in Trompenburg Gardens.

About De Maaltuin

The Maaltuin offers a unique way to experience special locations through delicious dining, dishes with a story, and live music. Each edition of The Maaltuin is distinctive and provides a surprising experience worth revisiting time and time again.

About Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum

Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum is a beautiful botanical garden with a large collection of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and tubers. The garden covers 8 hectares and is located in the Kralingen district of Rotterdam, on the edge of the city centre. The garden is open to visitors in every season. The first construction took place about 200 years ago. Trompenburg is of great value in terms of biodiversity and natural history. It has also been a registered museum, a Rotterdam Monument, and is therefore the green museum of Rotterdam.

Batavierhuis presents Batafest - dates, location, information

Bryan van Putten Special Events 25 March 2024

Batafest is an annual 2-day festival that takes place at Batavierhuis, a monumental building, where budding creative artists are given room to experiment and inspire. A new mini-concert begins at regular intervals in a different location, and ongoing performances can be found throughout the house.

The theme

On Saturday and Sunday, 6-7 April 2024, the Batavierhuis will host its annual two-day mini-festival Batafest. This year, the festival is themed around HOT & WET: the overwhelming four seasons. Hot&Wet was once a 'spicy' term used for the porn cinema around the corner. Now, these terms threaten to dominate the weather forecasts for the coming decades: Extremely Hot, Extremely Wet, Extremely Dry!

Tickets & What to expect

A passe-partout ticket costs €5 and grants you access to wander around the house from 14:00 to 01:00 on Saturday, 6 April, and from 10:00 to 14:00 on Sunday, 7 April.

Every half hour, a new mini-concert begins in a different location, and ongoing performances can be found throughout the house. Experience jazz, world music, folk, techno, electronic music, classical, and pop while enjoying snacks and drinks.

About Batavierhuis

Batavierhuis is an independent makerspace and breeding ground for (young) enterprising artists with the aim of further developing Rotterdam's talent and enriching its cultural (music) life. Since its opening in 2019, the Batavierhuis has been home to some eighty Batavians, including many musicians and composers, as well as playwrights, writers, filmmakers, animators, performers, dancers, photographers, producers, and other professionals working within music. With the Batavierhuis, the Rotterdam public has gained an intimate stage for music: programmed, played and supported by the Batavians themselves. The Batavierhuis is an initiative of Stichting Droom en Daad.

Flowering season in Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum

Bryan van Putten Special Events 07 March 2024

Spring kicks off festively at Trompenburg with a spring festival for young and old. All spring long, Trompenburg is the place to be for anyone who is cheered by colourful spring blooms. Besides the many spring activities Trompenburg hosts, the gardens are a very nice place to retreat from the busy city every day.

Spring Festival at Trompenburg

The start of the flowering season will be kicked off on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Trompenburg with the Spring Festival. Together with all visitors, the park is happy to welcome spring while enjoying festive activities. For example, there is a living exhibition of plants and animals. In it, park visitors can follow the growth of flower bulbs, as well as marvel at colourful walking branches and leaves. The terraces are open for coffee or tea, cake and lunch and there are stalls of local entrepreneurs and growers where fresh spring plants and beautiful bouquets can be scored. There is also plenty for children to do. They can earn their gardener's diploma by completing a course.

The festival takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 17:00, and everyone is welcome at the normal garden admission prices.

Flowering season in Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum

Adopt special plants

Every year in February, the Trompenburg Seed Association starts growing special annual plants. The volunteers have sown over 60 different varieties of flowers and edible plants and spent months nurturing, transplanting and repotting them. This hard work and long wait is being rewarded: from the end of April, the plants are ready to be adopted by a nice owner, as traditionally, Trompenburg sells all these unique, annual plants. The sale of annuals will take place on April 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 17:00.

Visit the Plant Market

On May 4th and 5th, Trompenburg is organizing a plant market: the most fun and largest in Rotterdam! There is a stall route through part of the garden where several, specialized growers offer their special (and often organic) plants. There is everything for sale here: from perennials to shrubs and from bulbs to cacti. There is something for every plant lover. Of course, the growers are also on hand with advice on plants, maintenance and other tips for planting in your own garden. In addition, the market sells quality garden tools, garden decorations, honey and other gift items. After shopping, visitors can join the terraces for coffee/tea, cake and lunches while enjoying live music. There is also plenty of entertainment for children during these days. Various, fun activities will be organized. Normal entrance fees also apply to the Plant Market.

Cactus weekend

A stimulating weekend dedicated entirely to cacti and related species such as carnivorous plants. These fascinating plants boast a unique and enchanting appearance. At a mini-market, you can discover special specimens, purchase delightful gift items, and receive tips on keeping your cacti healthy and happy. Workshops will be available for everyone to learn more about (propagating) cacti and to share interesting facts. Cactus weekend is on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June from 10:00 to 17:00. Don't miss the exhibition of the Trichocereus Bridgesii Monstrose (the penis cactus).

Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum Rotterdam

Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum is a beautiful botanical garden with a large collection of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and tubers. The garden covers 8 acres and is located in Rotterdam's Kralingen district, on the edge of the city center. Trompenburg is especially interesting to visit in spring. Because starting in April, more than 700 species of rhododendrons are in full bloom in all colours, types, and sizes. A unique experience that you can only match at Trompenburg. A colourful alternative to the Keukenhof if you want to experience spring as a Rotterdam resident closer to home.