FROM 1 MARCH 2025 | Wereldmuseum Rotterdam expands its Kruispunt Rotterdam exhibition with a new section, Crafting New Narratives, opening on 1 March. The expansion introduces four contemporary artists whose works explore identity, heritage, and craftsmanship in a changing world.

_{Photo credit: Roel van Tour}

New gallery Crafting New Narratives opens at Wereldmuseum

From 1 March, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam will expand its ongoing exhibition Kruispunt Rotterdam with the addition of Crafting New Narratives, a newly created gallery featuring four contemporary artists. The exhibition highlights new perspectives on heritage, craftsmanship, and migration, demonstrating how historical narratives continue to evolve.

The new works by artists Amy Suo Wu, Hatutamelen, Chequita Nahar, and Funda Baysal are presented as part of Kruispunt Rotterdam, a collection that explores craftsmanship across time and geography. The exhibition aims to show how objects, materials, and artistic traditions are connected across cultures. Each artist’s work engages with themes of identity, cultural legacy, and the reinterpretation of traditional crafts.

Contemporary artists bring new perspectives

Each of the featured artists in Crafting New Narratives merges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary art forms to tell stories rooted in cultural heritage and personal experience.

• Amy Suo Wu incorporates textiles and traditional handcraft techniques to explore intergenerational trauma and healing.
• Hatutamelen revisits Moluccan wood carving, giving traditional motifs a contemporary interpretation.
• Chequita Nahar works with Surinamese crafting traditions, embedding storytelling into her jewellery and art objects.
• Funda Baysal integrates ceramics with digital techniques, transforming sound and movement into tangible forms.

Together, their works highlight the enduring significance of craftsmanship as a means of storytelling, transformation, and reinterpretation.

The role of craftsmanship in Wereldmuseum’s collection

Craftsmanship has long played a central role in cultures worldwide, and the collection at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam reflects this deeply rooted tradition. The artefacts on display, originating from different regions and time periods, share a common thread: each was created by a maker—whether centuries ago or in recent history.

Maken (craftsmanship) serves as a means of expressing ideas, emotions, and cultural identity, fostering a sense of community and continuity. Whether through preserving traditions, passing down knowledge, or leaving behind a legacy, crafting is an integral part of cultural history. Crafting New Narratives builds upon this theme, exploring the creative practices embedded in the museum’s collection. While the identities of many historical makers remain unknown, their craftsmanship and artistic signatures remain visible in the details of their work.

Rotterdam as a crossroads of cultures

Kruispunt Rotterdam continues to explore how contemporary artists draw upon historical craftsmanship, creative traditions, and knowledge represented in the Wereldmuseum collection. Through their interpretations, new connections emerge between the city, its diverse communities, and the global influences that shape them. With the addition of Crafting New Narratives, the exhibition remains a dynamic space that reflects Rotterdam’s cultural diversity and evolving artistic landscape.

Location and directions

Wereldmuseum Rotterdam is centrally located along the Maas, near the Erasmus Bridge. The museum is easily accessible by tram, metro, and bike, with parking available nearby. Visitors can explore Kruispunt Rotterdam and its new gallery Crafting New Narratives from 1 March.

HAPPENING 25 JAN–11 MAY 2025 | Kunsthal Rotterdam presents ‘Toy Stories: Designing Intimacy,’ a groundbreaking exhibition exploring the evolution of sex toy design. The exhibition highlights innovative products reflecting contemporary views on intimacy, inclusivity, and wellbeing.

Toy Stories: the design revolution shaping intimacy

Kunsthal Rotterdam’s latest exhibition, Toy Stories: Designing Intimacy, showcases the radical transformation of sex toy design in the 21st century. Running from 25 January to 11 May 2025, this exhibition delves into the aesthetics, functionality, and societal impact of these once-taboo objects, now regarded as wellness products and stylish accessories.

The exhibition features sketches, prototypes, moulds, and materials that provide insight into the design process. Themes such as health, inclusivity, technology, and aesthetics underline the changing perceptions of intimacy and pleasure.

Breaking boundaries: from function to design

The exhibition highlights the shift away from traditional designs, often phallic-shaped, to more discreet and elegant creations. Brands like Tenga and their geometric designs for men aim to avoid embarrassment, while popular items like the Rose Toy blur the lines between function and art. Products on display include viral sensations like the ‘Snail Vibe,’ and devices designed for shared experiences, such as The Oh Collective’s ‘Dream Team’ and EasyToys’ ‘Easyconnect.’

Technology plays a significant role in modern innovations. For example, British designer Summer Chen’s ‘Enigma’ combines lingerie with haptic sensors that convert touch into personalised, text-based erotic narratives through artificial intelligence.

Toy Stories. Designing Intimacy 2025. Kunsthal Rotterdam. Photo: Bas Czerwinski

Snail curve dual stimulator, SVibe. Photo: Bas Czerwinski

Inclusivity and health at the forefront

A notable focus of the exhibition is the role of inclusivity in modern sex toy design. Products cater to diverse gender identities, physical needs, and life stages, addressing the importance of accessibility and wellbeing.

One example is the ‘Kiwi’ by designer Nienke Helder, which assists women in overcoming pelvic pain by encouraging relaxation and positive touch associations. Other designs merge scientific research and technology to improve physical and mental health while promoting the importance of sexual pleasure.

Collaboration and participating designers

The exhibition was developed in collaboration with The Oh Collective, a company committed to inclusivity and innovation in intimacy products. Featured designers include Anna Maresova, Tenga, Crave, Wild Flower, and many others, reflecting the diversity and creativity shaping the field today.

Exhibition details

Toy Stories: Designing Intimacy runs until 11 May 2025 in Hall 3 of Kunsthal Rotterdam. Tickets are available online or at the museum. This exhibition is suitable for adult visitors, offering a thoughtful exploration of intimacy, design, and innovation.

Location and directions

Kunsthal Rotterdam is located at Westzeedijk 341, in the Museumpark district. Easily accessible by public transport, visitors can take metro lines D or E to Eendrachtsplein, or park in nearby garages. The Museumpark area offers scenic walking routes for those arriving on foot.

HAPPENING 1 March 2025 | Looking to sample the best art in the city? All in one night? Then check out Museum Night! Rotterdam's art & culture scene comes to life at over 30+ locations in the city on the first Saturday night of March.

When is the next Museum Night in Rotterdam?

The next Museum Night in Rotterdam takes place on Saturday, 1 March 2025. 

What is Museum Night?

The 'Museumnacht' is a yearly event which takes place (on different dates) in different cities in the Netherlands as well as Belgium. Rotterdam's Museum Night takes place on the first Saturday in March, whereas Amsterdam's Museumnacht is always on the first Saturday in November. In Brussels and Oostende it's known as 'Museumnocturne'. During these events, many museums and art galleries participate by opening their doors in the evening hours and hosting special expositions and artistic performances.

Museumnacht010

Museum Night Rotterdam, known as Museumnacht010, is a unique opportunity to check out all the art and culture Rotterdam has to offer! Expect to see exhibitions, unique collections, bizarre performances and daring projects at more than 40 museums and cultural institutions in the city. All museums and cultural institutions taking part are open from 20:00 until 1:00. Note that you need to purchase tickets beforehand (before they sell out) to actually gain full access to every location on this night.

Check out the Museumnacht010 programme

Rotterdam's Museum Night always has a very diverse programme. Check out the full programme and get your tickets on the Museumnacht010 website.

Museumnacht Aftermovie

Museum Night Rotterdam locations:

In 2025, there are 30 participating locations on Museum Night in Rotterdam.

• MaMA
• Mariniersmuseum
• Galerie PHOEBUS Rotterdam
• Koninklijke Visio
• Schaakstukkenmuseum
• Laurenskerk Rotterdam
• Nieuwe Instituut
• Belasting & Douane Museum
• Garage Rotterdam
• Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam
• Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen
• Kunsthal Rotterdam
• V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media
• Kunstinstituut Melly
• Het Hiphophuis
• Frank Taal Galerie
• Maritiem Museum Rotterdam
• PrintRoom
• Christian Ouwens Galerie
• Galerie Atelier Herenplaats
• Wereldmuseum Rotterdam
• Chabot Museum Rotterdam
• Studio Seine
• Huis Sonneveld
• Museum Rotterdam
• Contempo
• Nederlands Fotomuseum
• WORM

About Museumnacht010

From 31 January to 26 October 2025 | A new exhibition at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam explores the global diversity of wedding fashion. It opens on 31 January 2025, inviting visitors to rethink traditions and appreciate the artistry of bridal attire.

Wereldmuseum Rotterdam unveils ‘Say Yes’ exhibition on wedding fashion

From 31 January to 26 October 2025, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam will host the exhibition Say Yes – Trends in International Wedding Fashion. The exhibition showcases wedding attire from around the globe, reflecting the evolution of cultural traditions and the creativity of contemporary designers. Visitors will encounter a mix of historical garments, modern couture, and thought-provoking pieces that examine identity, heritage, and sustainability.

Zuhair Murad Bridal Spring 2019 collection © Zuhair Murad

Seven themes showcasing global trends

The exhibition is structured around seven themes, each highlighting different aspects of wedding fashion. Starting with the iconic use of white in Western culture, the journey continues through the vibrant colours of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, where red symbolises prosperity and purple denotes royalty. Other themes include rebellious styles inspired by punk and grunge, the minimalist appeal of simplicity, and extravagant designs reminiscent of royal weddings.

Design by Bayanda Khathini, worn by Nelisiwe Sibiya © Bayanda Khathini

A section on sustainability features designs that challenge the concept of disposable fashion. One standout piece is a living bridal gown created by Rotterdam atelier Maison M’Elise, which will bloom over the exhibition’s duration as a statement on the relationship between fashion and nature.

Historical and modern perspectives

The exhibition incorporates garments from different time periods and regions, such as a 200-year-old üçetek entari from Bosnia-Herzegovina and a red Chinese wedding coat adorned with phoenixes and dragons. Contemporary designs include a patchwork dress by Bas Kosters, made of recycled materials, and a beaded gown by South African designer Bayanda Khathini. Each piece tells a unique story, combining craftsmanship with personal and cultural narratives.

Accessories such as veils, jewellery, and shoes further illuminate the role of detail in wedding fashion. Photography also plays a central role, featuring portraits and candid images that celebrate the diversity and joy of weddings through the years.

Intricate gold embroidery on a üçetek entari, a wedding coat from Sarajevo, c. 1800 © Irene de Groot

Address and directions

The exhibition will be held at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, located at Willemskade 25, 3016 DM, Rotterdam. The museum is situated near the Erasmus Bridge, a short walk from public transport and several parking options.

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