HAPPENING 29 & 30 AUG 2026 | Het Park by the Euromast will become an open-air concert venue for Klassiek in het Park, a free two-day festival combining symphonic music, chamber concerts, tango, family performances and opportunities to join in yourself.
A new name for a Rotterdam summer tradition
Klassiek in het Park builds on two familiar Rotterdam music traditions: the Dag van de Romantische Muziek and Sinfonia Rotterdam's free open-air concert.
From 2026, the Dag van de Romantische Muziek continues under the Klassiek in het Park name, with a broader festival format spread across Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August.
The setting remains Het Park beside the Euromast, where you will be able to move between several stages rather than spending the day in front of a single concert platform. The programme stretches from full orchestral performances to chamber music, singing, tango and Latin American sounds.
The festival remains free to attend.
Saturday 29 August: Sinfonia Rotterdam in the Park
Saturday places Sinfonia Rotterdam at the centre of the programme.
The orchestra, conducted by founder Conrad van Alphen, will give a family concert at 15:30 followed by a larger evening concert at 20:30. Television presenter Rachel Rosier will guide audiences through the music.
Both concerts feature guitarist Laura Lootens, cellist Tudor Marin and young pianist Yulianna Beziazychna.
The programme opens with Rossini before moving to music including the Adagio from Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. The evening is due to end with Händel's Music for the Royal Fireworks and a spectacular outdoor finale.
Both Sinfonia concerts are free, although you need to reserve a ticket in advance. You can bring your own chair or picnic blanket, while reserved chairs are available for €5.
Weekend of Classical Music brings romance & melody to Rotterdam
Weekend of Classical Music brings romance & melody to Rotterdam
Sunday 30 August: tango, ballroom and music beneath the trees
Sunday shifts the focus from the symphonic main stage towards dancing and smaller-scale performances.
The floor in front of the main stage becomes a dance floor, with live tango and ballroom music from OTRA and The Ramblers. Working with Codarts and Rotterdam dance schools, the festival is inviting you not simply to watch but to join the dancing.
Elsewhere in the park, smaller stages provide a continuous programme of chamber music and emerging performers. Announced names include Duo Ondine, Noies Quartet, Tacora Cello Duo and Liam Nassereddine.
The result is a noticeably more participatory festival than the previous format. You can settle down for a concert, wander between ensembles beneath the trees or find yourself dancing in front of the main stage.
Day of Romantic Music Rotterdam 📷 Prisca Visser
Day of Romantic Music Rotterdam 📷 Prisca Visser
Classical music for children
Families have considerably more than the Sinfonia family concert to choose from.
The children's programme includes Hieperdepiep! De Kleuteropera and Klassiek op reis met Jutter Thijs, while activities on both days include arts and crafts with Klieder en Klodder.
The mix of short performances, activities and open spaces also means you do not have to approach the weekend as a conventional concert visit. You can move around the park and choose what works for your family.
From romantic music to Klassiek in het Park
The festival has deep roots in Rotterdam.
The Dag van de Romantische Muziek began in 1986 and grew from a small event into one of the city's familiar summer music traditions. Visitors in elaborate romantic clothing and hats became part of its visual identity.
Sinfonia Rotterdam later developed its own free outdoor concert series, initially performing beside the Leuvehaven before taking the concept to other Rotterdam locations. The orchestra moved the event to Het Park in 2024.
The two traditions are now being brought together more closely under the Klassiek in het Park name, with classical music still at the centre but a greater emphasis on young musicians, participation and styles from beyond the traditional concert hall repertoire.
Day of Romantic Music Rotterdam 📷 Prisca Visser
Day of Romantic Music Rotterdam 📷 Prisca Visser
Food, drinks and picnics
Food and drink will be available in the park during the festival, but bringing your own picnic is also an option.
That makes the event easy to approach casually. You can spend several hours moving between concerts and activities, or simply choose one part of the programme and settle down on the grass.
Weekend of Classical Music brings romance & melody to Rotterdam
What to wear
There is no formal dress code for Klassiek in het Park, so you can come in ordinary summer clothing. However, the festival inherits a colourful tradition from the Dag van de Romantische Muziek, when many regular visitors dressed in romantic outfits, often topped with an eye-catching hat. If you feel like dressing for the occasion, you will be following a long-standing Rotterdam custom.
Day of Romantic Music Rotterdam 📷 Prisca Visser
Practical information
What: Klassiek in het Park
When: Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026
Where: Het Park, beside the Euromast in Rotterdam
Admission: Free
Sinfonia family concert: Saturday at 15:30
Sinfonia evening concert: Saturday at 20:30
Sinfonia reservations: Required, despite free admission
Reserved chair for Sinfonia: €5
Other festival performances: Free admission
Het Park is in the Scheepvaartkwartier, immediately beside the Euromast. If you are travelling by bicycle or public transport, check your route shortly before setting off, as temporary diversions and summer transport works can affect services.
For the latest programme and any last-minute changes, check the official Klassiek in het Park and Sinfonia Rotterdam websites before you visit.
How to get there
Klassiek in het Park takes place in Het Park by the Euromast, in Rotterdam's Scheepvaartkwartier. The festival location is listed as Kievitslaan, 3016 CG Rotterdam. If you are travelling by public transport, tram 8 stops at Euromast and tram 7 at Westplein. The nearest recommended metro stations are Leuvehaven and Dijkzigt. You can also reach the park easily on foot or by bicycle.
