HAPPENING 3–6 APR '26 | For four days, Rotterdam Ahoy is set to fill with the sounds, flavours and colours of Indonesia as Pasar Malam Istimewa XL returns to the city.

What is the Pasar Malam Istimewa XL?

If you want a weekend that feels like stepping into an Indonesian night market, this is it. Expect a vast indoor bazaar packed with shopping, street food and live entertainment. Recent editions have featured an Oriental speciality market with more than 200 stalls, spanning everything from sambal, spices and incense to clothing, jewellery and homeware.

The 2026 promo material points to a packed programme across the site, including:

• Four stages with live music, dance and performances
• Indonesian market plus an Eurasia market
• Cinema
• Live cooking shows
• Talks and lectures
• Workshops and exhibitions
• Kids entertainment
• Chill and lounge areas

The Pasar Malam Istimewa XL, recognised as one of the largest Pasar Malam events in the Netherlands. 

What’s new and what’s back for 2026

The big fresh headline for 2026 is Bali Beach, an outdoor lounge area inspired by Bali’s laid-back vibe. The organiser describes it as a place to grab drinks, catch a DJ set and reset between halls.

Meanwhile, the cultural programme continues with the Budaya Hall, developed in collaboration with Stichting Pasar Budaya, focusing on stories, heritage, and cultural programming linked to the shared Dutch East Indies history.

At this year's Pasar Malam XL, you can expect five distinct areas:

• Istimewa Hall
• Senang Hall
• Budaya Hall
• Kampung Anak (kids area)
• Bali Beach (outdoor lounge)

Opening hours (2026)

According to the organiser’s 2026 information:

• Friday: 13:00 to 23:00
• Saturday: 12:00 to 22:00
• Sunday: 12:00 to 22:00
• Monday: 12:00 to 20:00

Tickets (what we know right now)

Istimewa’s listings for Rotterdam 2026 show tickets from €10. The organiser has also promoted a €10 super early bird offer for the first 3,000 online tickets, with regular tickets referenced at €15 in at least one organiser post. Ticket pricing can shift as allocations sell out, so it’s worth checking before you travel. Children aged 0 to 3 are promoted as free entry.

For more information and ticket purchases, visit the official Istimewa Events website.

Location: Rotterdam Ahoy

Rotterdam Ahoy is well-connected by public transport, with bus and metro stations within a five-minute walk. Parking is available at a fixed daily rate, and facilities are accessible for individuals with mobility needs.

HAPPENING 16 JAN 2026 | Papagayo “In the Air” is coming back to AIR Offices Rotterdam at Beursplein for a second edition. You’ll get an open-level salsa workshop first, then a salsa and bachata party in a city-centre office setting.

The evening starts at 19:00 with an open-level salsa (on1) workshop led by Charissa, followed by DJ sets from DJ Sami and DJ Phily. The event runs until 00:00.

Papagayo “In the Air” Rotterdam returns to Beursplein at AIR Offices

Papagayo is placing the night right in the centre of Rotterdam at AIR Offices Rotterdam, on Rodezand 46 (Beursplein). The organiser describes it as a salsa and bachata night with “tropical Latin vibes”, staged inside a building you would normally associate with meetings, not dance floors.

It’s a familiar set-up if you like your socials with a twist: city-centre location, a clear programme, and a space that feels different from the usual studio or club layout.

Papagayo “In the Air” programme brings a salsa workshop and DJ sets to Rotterdam

The published programme starts with the 19:00 salsa workshop (on1), which is labelled as open level, so you can join whether you’re warming up after work or already dancing every week.

After the workshop, the night shifts into a dance party with DJ sets by DJ Sami and DJ Phily, covering salsa and bachata until midnight.

Ticket pricing is listed as €10 presale and €12.50 regular.

How to get to AIR Offices Rotterdam at Rodezand 46 near Beursplein

AIR Offices sits by Beursplein in the city centre, which makes public transport the obvious move if you’re going straight from work. Beurs is the closest major metro stop, and from there you’re in walking distance of Rodezand within minutes.

If you’re coming by bike, the Beursplein area has plenty of places to lock up nearby, and you can keep the late finish in mind when choosing your route home.

HAPPENING 21 & 25 JAN '26 | Fenix in Rotterdam is marking National Reading Days (Nationale Voorleesdagen) with Dutch-language story sessions on Plein and a small children’s book selection inside the Alle Richtingen exhibition. If your kids understand Dutch, you’ve got two easy dates to circle: a reading breakfast on 21 January and free read-aloud sessions on 25 January.

This month at Fenix, the focus is on reading aloud and how children’s stories have been used to talk about migration, from older titles to modern favourites like Prinses Arabella.

What are Nationale Voorleesdagen?

National Reading Days (Nationale Voorleesdagen) is a nationwide campaign that puts reading aloud at the centre, aimed at young children aged 0–6. The point is simple: reading aloud helps children pick up new words and follow stories more deeply, and it often turns into a habit you can actually keep going at home.

The Fenix Migration Museum is joining in with Dutch-language events on its indoor square, Plein, including a reading breakfast and an afternoon of author read-aloud sessions. Tickets for visiting Fenix are sold via: https://tickets.fenix.nl/nl/tickets

Alle Richtingen exhibition shows migration storybooks

Inside the Alle Richtingen exhibition, Fenix is showing a selection of international children’s (read-aloud) books that tell migration stories across time, ranging from Ludwig: De Kleine Landverhuizer (1834) to Prinses Arabella (2020).

Your kids do not need to recognise an 1834 title to enjoy this. Think of it as a visual, family-friendly stop where you can flip the conversation from “look at this picture” to “where do people come from, and why do they move”, in a way that suits their age.

Reading breakfast on 21 January offers Dutch storytime at Fenix

On Wednesday 21 January 2026, Fenix is hosting a National Reading Breakfast (Nationaal Voorleesontbijt) on Plein, with Henna Goudzand Nahar reading De Stem van Bever aloud. The session runs 10:30–11:30, with walk-in from 10:00.

Fenix lists this breakfast as suitable for children up to and including 4 years old, together with a parent or carer, and says the breakfast buffet is provided by Stichting Mano, including coffee and tea (free for children).

Tickets: https://tickets.fenix.nl/nl/hetnationalevoorleesontbijt/tickets

Sunday read-aloud sessions on 25 January

On Sunday 25 January, Plein at Fenix hosts free read-aloud sessions (voorleessessies) in the Plein theatre, with children’s book authors reading stories that touch on migration, being different, and celebrating diversity.

Programme (all sessions free):

• 13:00 – Henna Goudzand Nahar: Waarom Anansi de oceaan overstak (ages 6–12)
• 14:00 – Mylo Freeman: Prinses Arabella (ages 3–6)
• 15:00 – Henna Goudzand Nahar: Waarom Anansi de oceaan overstak (ages 6–12)
• 16:00 – Rigoberta Mejía Sian: Daarom heet ik zo (ages 4–7)
  More info: https://www.fenix.nl/nl/te-zien-en-doen/voorleessessies-op-plein/

How to get to Fenix on Paul Nijghkade in Rotterdam

Fenix is on Katendrecht, at Paul Nijghkade 5, right by the water. The easiest public transport route is metro to Wilhelminaplein, then a short walk towards the quays.

If you want to make it feel like a mini adventure, Fenix also points out the watertaxi as a great way to arrive, especially if you’re already near the river.

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.