Until 25 May 2025 | A historic dollhouse from the Museum Rotterdam collection takes centre stage in a temporary exhibition, offering visitors a chance to view the object in a modern context. The display reflects on the city’s history while exploring the potential of a future city museum.

Museum Rotterdam showcases historic dollhouse in modern display

Museum Rotterdam has unveiled a temporary exhibition featuring its historic dollhouse, crafted between 1954 and 1957, as the first object in a series of rotating displays at its Coolhaven location. The presentation is part of an exploratory initiative to reimagine the role of the museum as a future city museum.

The dollhouse, commissioned by former museum director Petra Beydals, replicates an 18th-century mansion on the Leuvehaven, where brothers Jan and Pieter Bisschop displayed their collections. Generations of Rotterdam residents have associated Museum Rotterdam with this iconic piece, which has become a visitor favourite.

The current exhibition reimagines the dollhouse within a transparent, contemporary display, inviting audiences to explore its intricate details and the stories behind its design. Questions are posed about the brothers’ wealth, their household staff, and modern perspectives on the lives of the wealthy elite during that era.

Historic Bisschop dollhouse on display in Rotterdam

Interactive experiences and new additions

In addition to the reinterpreted display, the dollhouse features unexpected contemporary elements, such as a miniature version of a 2021 artwork by Kamiel Verschuren, which critiques societal privilege. These additions aim to bridge historical themes with present-day issues.

Activities for children include crafting a mini dollhouse and using a guided exploration to uncover the stories behind the display. The programme encourages young visitors to reflect on themes such as wealth, colonial history, and housing culture in relation to their own lives.

A step towards a new city museum

According to Léontine Meijer-van Mensch, director of Museum Rotterdam, the reintroduction of the dollhouse marks an important step in the museum’s journey: “When I began my role, it quickly became clear that the Bisschop dollhouse held a special place in people’s hearts. Presenting it in this new way is a meaningful start to my time here.”

This temporary presentation is the first in a series. By spring 2025, the dollhouse will make way for another key piece from the museum’s extensive collection, which encompasses over 110,000 objects related to the city’s past, present, and future. The initiative allows the museum to experiment with new ways of engaging with the community and Rotterdam’s heritage.

Visiting the exhibition

The dollhouse exhibition is located at Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU, Coolhaven 375, and is free to visit until spring 2025. Other museum exhibits are available at regular admission prices.

How to get there

The museum is situated in Coolhaven, a historic neighbourhood easily accessible by public transport, including the Coolhaven metro station. Visitors can also reach the area by car or bicycle. For precise directions, use the following Google Map:

From 27 September 2025 to 2 March 2026 | Kunsthal Rotterdam will celebrate Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen with Sculpting the Senses, a retrospective exploring her groundbreaking designs. The exhibition runs.

A tribute to innovation in fashion

Kunsthal Rotterdam will host Sculpting the Senses, a major retrospective showcasing the work of Iris van Herpen, one of the most influential fashion designers of her generation. Opening on 27 September 2025, the exhibition brings together over a hundred of her most iconic creations, highlighting the unique fusion of art, science, and fashion that defines her work.

Van Herpen is renowned for pushing the boundaries of haute couture, creating designs that are as much sculptures as they are wearable garments. By incorporating cutting-edge technology such as 3D printing and collaborations with artists, architects, and scientists, she has redefined the possibilities of fashion.

Highlights of the exhibition

Visitors to Sculpting the Senses will encounter some of Van Herpen’s most famous creations, including designs worn by celebrities such as Björk, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé. The exhibition spans her career, showcasing pieces that illustrate her innovative approach to materiality, form, and movement.

The retrospective also delves into Van Herpen’s creative process, revealing how she draws inspiration from natural phenomena, scientific discoveries, and philosophical concepts. Interactive elements and multimedia installations will further immerse visitors in her world, allowing them to experience the sensory and conceptual depth of her work.

Artist talk with Iris van Herpen set for late September

Fashion designer Iris van Herpen will appear at the Kunsthal on Saturday 27 September for an in-depth conversation with writer and fashion journalist Dana Thomas. The talk will explore Van Herpen's craftsmanship and sources of inspiration. The Artist Talk is scheduled from 11.00 to 12.30, and tickets are available via the Kunsthal website as of Tuesday 2 September at 10:00.

Exhibition opens with an early morning breakfast

On the morning of 27 September, Kunsthal and Nationale-Nederlanden will jointly host a breakfast to mark the opening of Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses. The event, titled NN Openingsontbijt, will run from 8.30 to 11.00. Tickets for the breakfast were fully reserved within a single day.

Signed tour offers inclusive experience

A guided tour incorporating sign language will take place on Sunday 12 October. Led by guide Kirsten de Ven, the tour is accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors as well as their hearing companions. The tour will explore the Sculpting the Senses exhibition through visual storytelling and gestures. Further information is available on kunsthal.nl/activiteiten.

KunstKoppels promotes intergenerational dialogue

The Kunsthal will host KunstKoppels on Tuesday 11 November, inviting visitors to experience the Iris van Herpen exhibition alongside someone from a different generation, background or lifestyle. The aim is to encourage connection through shared cultural experiences. More details will be published on the Kunsthal’s website in the coming weeks.

Monthly Friday night events return to Kunsthal

The Kunsthal’s Friday Night LIVE returns every third Friday of the month, featuring programmes curated by local cultural partners. Two editions—19 December with De Wasserij and 20 February with Fashion in Flux—will be dedicated to the Sculpting the Senses exhibition. On these evenings, the exhibitions will remain open to visitors until 22.00.

A fusion of art and fashion

Van Herpen’s designs challenge traditional notions of fashion, blurring the lines between art, science, and design. Her work often explores themes such as transformation, interconnectedness, and the limits of the human body. By collaborating with experts in fields ranging from robotics to biology, she creates garments that are not only visually stunning but also intellectually engaging.

An international collaboration

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and Maison Iris van Herpen, ensuring a comprehensive and meticulously curated presentation. Kunsthal Rotterdam’s role in hosting this retrospective underscores its commitment to showcasing groundbreaking creativity and innovation.

Visiting Kunsthal Rotterdam

The Sculpting the Senses exhibition will be held in Hall 2 of Kunsthal Rotterdam, located in the Museumpark. Easily accessible by public transport, the Kunsthal is a short walk from Eendrachtsplein metro station. For those travelling by car, parking is available at Museumpark Garage.

The Museumpark area, a vibrant cultural hub in Rotterdam, is home to several other museums, making it an ideal destination for a full day of exploration.

Until +/- 14 December 2026 | A new exhibition at the Nieuwe Instituut invites children to explore their vision of the future. The 'Toekomstmakers!' exhibition, opening on 14 December, is designed for and by children.

Nieuwe instituut hosts 'toekomstmakers!' exhibition

The Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam’s national museum for architecture, design, and digital culture, will open its new exhibition, Toekomstmakers! (Future Makers), on Saturday, 14 December 2024. The exhibition, which occupies the entire third floor of the museum, aims to engage children in designing the future by encouraging hands-on creativity and exploration.

The exhibit focuses on empowering children to express their views of the future not as adults-to-be, but as the designers they already are. It challenges participants to address pressing issues such as climate change, inequality, and other global concerns while imagining positive changes.

Designed by and for children

A team of nine children, aged 8 to 12, worked alongside professionals to shape the exhibition. This core group, supported by input from 150 students from five Rotterdam primary schools, collaborated with design studio Opperclaes and the STORE Rotterdam collective. The children influenced all aspects of the project, including its themes, design, and promotional materials.

Aurélie, a nine-year-old participant, shared her excitement: “Creating this exhibition was amazing. I think other children should come because it teaches you how to collaborate and how beautiful things can be when you work together.” Another contributor, Ocean, added, “I hope people realise they need to help nature more and that adults don’t have to decide everything. Kids can do a lot themselves.”

What to expect at the exhibition

Visitors to Toekomstmakers! can expect an interactive experience. Highlights include designing an endless flag, collaborating with a “more-than-human being” in the Meer-dan-mens-machine, curating a magical menu in Restaurant de Helpende Hand, and imagining solutions as climate heroes of tomorrow. The overarching goal is to inspire critical thinking and action in shaping a better future.

Practical information

The Toekomstmakers! exhibition will remain open for at least two years. Entry is free for visitors up to 18 years of age. Additional information can be found on the Nieuwe Instituut website at nieuweinstituut.nl/projects/toekomstmakers.

Directions to the Nieuwe Instituut

The Nieuwe Instituut is centrally located in Museumpark, easily accessible by public transport, car, or bicycle. The area is home to several cultural attractions, making it a convenient destination for visitors exploring Rotterdam.

From 28 March until 15 June 2025 | Kunsthal Rotterdam will host the first Dutch retrospective of Max Pechstein, a prominent German expressionist artist. The exhibition offers an in-depth look at his art and life.

A pioneering expressionist arrives in Rotterdam

For the first time in the Netherlands, Kunsthal Rotterdam will present a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the work of Max Pechstein (1881–1955), one of the most influential members of the German expressionist movement. Opening on 28 March and running until 15 June 2025, the exhibition features over 50 paintings alongside graphic works, photographs, and personal objects, shedding light on Pechstein’s creative journey.

Max Pechstein’s art is known for its vibrant colours, bold compositions, and an unyielding desire to connect with nature and humanity. A member of the expressionist group Die Brücke (The Bridge), Pechstein played a crucial role in shaping modern art during the early 20th century. His work often reflects the turbulent socio-political landscape of the era, as well as his personal quest for artistic and emotional freedom.

Highlights of the exhibition

Visitors to Kunsthal Rotterdam will experience a rich selection of Pechstein’s works that capture his distinct style and thematic focus. The exhibition explores his fascination with natural landscapes, his use of vivid colour palettes, and his ability to convey human emotion through dynamic compositions.

In addition to his iconic paintings, the exhibition includes graphic works and photographs that provide context to his creative process. Personal items on display offer further insight into the artist’s life, including his responses to the restrictive conditions of Nazi Germany.

One highlight is Pechstein’s depiction of nature and rural life, inspired by his frequent travels and retreats. These works not only reveal his artistic evolution but also reflect his yearning for simplicity and a harmonious connection with the natural world.

The significance of Max Pechstein

Max Pechstein’s influence on modern art is undeniable. As a member of Die Brücke, he helped pioneer a style that broke away from academic traditions, favouring expressive forms and emotive colour. His art captures both the beauty and tragedy of the human experience, offering a vivid snapshot of a world in transition.

This retrospective provides Dutch audiences with a rare opportunity to engage with the work of an artist whose legacy continues to resonate in contemporary art. The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Institut für Kulturaustausch and the Max Pechstein Museum in Zwickau, ensuring a comprehensive presentation of his oeuvre.

Visiting Kunsthal Rotterdam

Max Pechstein’s retrospective will be displayed in Hall 1 at Kunsthal Rotterdam. The museum is located in the Museumpark, a vibrant cultural area in the heart of Rotterdam. Visitors can easily reach the Kunsthal by public transport, with the Eendrachtsplein metro station nearby, or by car, with parking available at the Museumpark Garage.

Museumpark is also home to several other cultural institutions, making it an ideal destination for a full day of exploration and inspiration.