HAPPENING 13-14 MARCH 2026 | Wijn Festijn is heading to Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, bringing more than 100 wines, food pairings and music to one of the city’s best-known waterfront venues. For Rotterdam, it means a full weekend of tasting by the Maas, in a setting that already feels half event, half postcard. 

The festival will take over the Cruise Terminal at Wilhelminakade 699, turning the former departure hall into what the organisers describe as an intimate wine festival. Wijn Festijn says visitors can expect wines from around the world, alongside cheese boards, charcuterie, vegetarian dishes and music throughout the event. 

More than 100 wines by the Maas

Wijn Festijn confirms that this edition will feature more than 100 different wines. The format is built around casual tasting rather than formal wine classes, so the appeal is just as much about wandering, trying something new and staying longer than planned. The wider festival concept, used across multiple cities in the Netherlands, combines wine tasting with a relaxed social set-up. On the main Wijn Festijn site, Rotterdam is listed as one of the spring 2026 editions. 

Food, music and a broad crowd

Alongside the wine, the organisers highlight generous food pairings including cheese boards, charcuterie and vegetarian dishes. The festival also promises music throughout the weekend, leaning into a warm, social atmosphere rather than a specialist trade fair vibe. Wijn Festijn also presents itself as accessible for mixed groups. The main festival site explicitly says there is something for everyone, whether you come with friends, colleagues or children.

Opening times and tickets

Wijn Festijn's Rotterdam edition runs on Friday 13 March from 16:00 to 23:00 and Saturday 14 March from 13:00 to 23:00. Tickets are available through the festival’s official ticket page. (Het Wijn Festijn)

At the time of writing, the official Rotterdam event page confirms the dates, venue, opening hours, wine offer, food concept and music, but does not yet list a more detailed programme of named performers or vendor-by-vendor participants. 

How to get there

Cruise Terminal Rotterdam is on the Wilhelminapier, one of the easiest waterfront areas in the city to reach by metro, tram, bike or water taxi. If you are coming by public transport, Wilhelminaplein is the obvious metro stop, and Cruise Port Rotterdam notes that public transport is just a one-minute walk away from the terminal. If the weather behaves, this is also one of those rare Rotterdam event locations where arriving a little early actually pays off, because the riverfront around the venue is half the mood.

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 a big day 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 to 22:00
• 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
• 10 March: Bhurwa Mangar, Shri Shiv Mandir Rotterdam

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 14 MAR–12 APR 2026 | Music on Mars brings a VR concert experience to Rotterdam that asks a strange and fascinating question: what would live music sound like on Mars? Using a virtual environment built from real images and video of the red planet, DoelenEnsemble turns this into one of the more unusual music experiences you’ll find in the city this month.

This is not a regular concert with a futuristic theme pasted on top. During the session, you wear a VR headset and experience the music inside a Mars-inspired setting, where sound, space and perspective are meant to feel radically different from Earth.

Music on Mars (Muziek op Mars)

That shift matters more than it may seem at first. The whole idea is built around how sound changes with environment, perspective and physical context. Instead of sitting in a regular concert hall, you enter a VR setting where space and time feel altered, and where the music becomes part of a wider sensory experience.

The programme features Die Zeit by Rabinovitch and Between Tides by Takemitsu. Performed inside this Mars-inspired setting, the works are framed less as a standard recital and more as an immersive encounter with sound itself. The emphasis is on what happens when music is detached from the concert hall and placed somewhere your body knows is impossible, but your senses still accept for a while.

This is also not the kind of event where you can just stroll in late and settle down. The organisers stress that you need to arrive exactly five minutes before your slot, with earlier arrival not possible because each session is carefully set up and guided. You remain seated during the experience, and because it involves a VR headset, it may be less suitable for visitors with balance issues, strong sensitivity to visual stimuli, serious claustrophobia, or difficulty wearing VR equipment.

In other words, this is one for people who enjoy the edges of what a concert can be. Rotterdam does this kind of thing well: taking music out of its usual frame and giving it a strange new setting that changes how you listen.

Event details

Event: Muziek op Mars
Date shown: 14 March through 12 April 2026
Time: 11:00–22:00
Location: HBS, ’s-Gravendijkwal 58, 3014 EE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Format: VR concert experience
Programme: Rabinovitch – Die Zeit; Takemitsu – Between Tides
Credits: Maarten van Veen (piano), Shannon Lee (violin), Maya Fridman (cello), Laurens de Boer (celesta)

Practical information

Please arrive exactly five minutes before the start of your session.
Wear comfortable clothing and avoid overly warm outfits.
The experience takes place in a seated setting.
Visitors with certain health concerns, including balance problems, severe claustrophobia or strong sensitivity to visual stimuli, are advised to contact the organisers in advance.
The event may be less suitable for people who struggle with wearing a VR headset.

Ticket note

The event page mentions these discount codes:

DUOMARS20 – 20% off when buying 2 tickets
SOLOMARS50 – 50% off for visitors up to age 30

How to get there

HBS is on ’s-Gravendijkwal, close to the city centre and within easy reach from Rotterdam Centraal and the Museumpark side of town. If you are coming by public transport, this part of Rotterdam is straightforward by tram, metro and a short walk. Cycling is also an easy option, especially if you are already in the centre or Rotterdam-West.

Rotterdam has a large Muslim community, and Ramadan is a visible part of city life each year, from busy evening streets just before sunset to packed prayer halls at night. Whether you are fasting or simply curious, Ramadan can be a month when you are invited in, literally, to share food and learn how your neighbours mark the season.

When is Ramadan in Rotterdam in 2026?

Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so the start depends on moon sighting or on pre-set calculations, depending on the community.

In the Netherlands, many Muslims began Ramadan on Tuesday evening 17 February 2026, making Wednesday 18 February the first fasting day. At the same time, a large group of Dutch Muslims is started the fast on Thursday 19 February 2026 because they follow a different method for determining the beginning of the month.

That difference matters at the end of the month too. Ramadan is expected to finish around 19 or 20 March 2026, and Eid al-Fitr is therefore expected to fall on 19 or 20 March 2026, depending on which start date your community followed.

Practical timing note: Rotterdam’s fasting days start shorter and then stretch longer as sunset shifts later. One widely used timetable puts Maghrib around 18:02 on 18 February, and around 18:53 on 19 March.

Helpful references:

• Ramadan start and Eid date (NL)
• Rotterdam Ramadan prayer times (timetable)

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, and many people also increase prayer, Quran recitation, reflection, and charitable giving.

The fast includes food and drink, and for many people it also means trying to slow down, be more intentional, and show up for others. Nights often include Taraweeh prayers, which are held after the evening prayer in many mosques.

The month ends with Eid al-Fitr, marked by special prayers, family visits, new clothes for some, and plenty of sweet things on the table.

What food is eaten during Ramadan?

Rotterdam’s iftar tables reflect the city. What you see depends on family roots, neighbourhood, and habit, but a few classics turn up again and again:

• Dates, often the first bite at iftar
• Harira, a tomato and lentil soup common in North African households
• Sambousek or samosas, savoury pastries and parcels
• Kibbeh and other fried bites made for sharing
• Falafel and tahini-based dishes
• Baklava and other syrupy pastries
• Qatayef, a Ramadan favourite in many Arab households

You will also find Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, Indonesian, Pakistani and many other influences across the city’s kitchens during the month.

How can you take part in Ramadan in Rotterdam?

You do not need to be Muslim to participate respectfully. In Rotterdam, Ramadan often becomes a month of open doors and long tables.

Join an open iftar event

A number of Rotterdam organisations host public iftars where you can learn, meet people, and break the fast together. A few listings for 2026 include (in random order):

• Habibi’s World x OASE presents… Iftar (Delfshaven)
  Wed 25 Feb 2026, 17:30 to 21:00 at OASE (Schiehaven 15A). Tickets listed at €2.50 to €7.50.
  https://oase.stager.co/shop/default/events/111625514
• Open iftar at Hogeschool Rotterdam (Academieplein)
  Thu 26 February 2026, 16:45–21:30, free entry (registration required).
  https://www.aanmelder.nl/iftar-ap-2026
• BEITNA’s first Iftar Event (Noord, MONO)
  Sun 1 Mar 2026, 18:00 to 20:30 at MONO (Vijverhofstraat 15). Dinner included, and the listing explicitly says everyone is invited, religious or not.
  https://mono.stager.co/shop/default/events/111622428
• Ramadan met Hasan #2 (iftar + culture night) at Theater Rotterdam (TR25 Schouwburg)
  Thu 12 March, 18:15–21:30, ticket includes dinner (meat or veg option).
  https://www.theaterrotterdam.nl/agenda/ramadan-met-hasan-2-s65n
• Dadels Delen (family-friendly iftar) at Studio de Bakkerij
  Sat 14 March 2026, 17:00, tickets from €5 (Pay What You Can).
  https://www.studiodebakkerij.nl/productie/dadels-delen-een-iftar-voor-alle-leeftijden/
• Iftar met verborgen culturen (Sister’s Kitchen | With the FAM) at Theater Zuidplein
  Sat 14 March, 18:00, ticketed dinner event.
  https://www.theaterzuidplein.nl/agenda/iftar-met-verborgen-culturen-51my
• Iftar Boot 2026 (boat iftar)
  Sat 7 March 2026, ticketed event.
  https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/tickets-iftar-boot-2026-1978615086988
• Centrum de Middenweg (free walk-in community iftar evenings, Rotterdam-Noord)
  This is set up as walk-in community iftar nights with no ticket barrier (check their updates before you go).
  https://openrotterdam.nl/geldinzameling-voor-iftarmaaltijden-niks-zo-verbroederend-als-samen-eten/
• Rotterdam iftar dinner for entrepreneurs (Wereldmuseum)
  Tue 3 March 2026, 18:00–22:00, listed as for members and partners, registration required.
  https://mkb-rotterdam.nl/community_event/rotterdam-iftar-diner-voor-ondernemers-2/
• Het Grote Iftar Buurtdiner (Fenix, Katendrecht area)
  Tue 10 Mar 2026, 18:00 to 20:30 at Fenix (Paul Nijghkade 5). A neighbourhood dinner edition hosted with Alien Mag, centred on meeting your neighbours.
  https://www.fenix.nl/nl/te-zien-en-doen/het-grote-iftar-buurtdiner/ 

Give to charity or volunteer locally

Charity is a core part of Ramadan. Some people give zakat and zakat al-fitr, others volunteer time or donate meals. If you want a Netherlands-based reference point, Nationaal Zakat Fonds publishes Ramadan and Eid guidance: https://nationaalzakatfonds.nl/ramadan-2026/

Visit a mosque or community iftar

Many mosques host Ramadan activities such as communal prayers and iftars. Some events are open to visitors, some are aimed at regular worshippers, and some require registration because of capacity. If you want to join, check a mosque’s website or social channels first and follow any visitor guidance.

Ramadan and Christmas: what feels familiar, and what does not

Ramadan and Christmas belong to different faiths, but both can be seasons of community, generosity, and family meals. The rhythm is different. Ramadan is a month-long practice anchored by fasting and nightly gatherings, while Christmas concentrates many traditions into a shorter stretch of days. In Rotterdam, the overlap is less about theology and more about the same simple idea: people making time for each other.

If you are invited to iftar, arrive on time, dress modestly, and ask questions with genuine curiosity. “Ramadan Kareem” is a common greeting, and “Eid Mubarak” is used when the month ends.