HAPPENING 31 DEC 2025 | Rotterdam is gearing up for New Year’s Eve 2025 with club nights, river cruises and high-rise dinner parties. Below is a curated list of reliable, bookable options that are already on the calendar for 31 December.

National Fireworks at the Erasmus Bridge

After weeks of political back-and-forth, the National Fireworks at the Erasmus Bridge is now set to go ahead for the 2025–2026 New Year’s Eve. An earlier decision to cancel the show after a failed crowdfunding round has been overturned, and the Rotterdam city council has instructed the municipal executive to help fund a scaled down edition, topped up by donations. As always, the show depends on weather conditions and safety advice, so check official channels shortly before you head out.

P.S. do not get any wild ideas: Rotterdam maintains a citywide ban on setting off consumer fireworks. The municipal “afsteekverbod” applies all year, including New Year’s Eve, so only professional displays such as the Erasmus Bridge show are allowed. From the 2026-2027 New Year, a national ban on almost all consumer fireworks is expected to apply across the Netherlands, which makes organised shows even more important in the Dutch New Year’s landscape.

Club nights and indoor festivals

TIKTAK NYE | Maassilo

Large multi-artist urban and eclectic New Year’s Eve inside the former grain silo on Maashaven, with doors from 22.00 and last entry policy in effect. Expect a high-energy main room with popular Dutch hip-hop and pop acts, confetti moments and production that fills Maassilo’s tall industrial space. 

Details: 22.00 to 06.00, 18+. Tickets via the official pages. 

Perron NYE | Perron

Techno night at Perron by Hofplein, with blind tickets live via the venue and a late running schedule through the morning. The club’s dark, warehouse-like rooms and close-up booth create a heads-down dance atmosphere that regulars know from the label showcases here. 

Details: Approx. 00.30 to 07.00, 18+. See the Perron website for final timetable and entry instructions. 

BIRD NYE: One Love | BIRD

New Year’s club night at BIRD under the Hofbogen with an afro, funk and hip hop flavour and a friendly crowd that tends to mix concertgoers with club regulars. Expect multiple areas, a warm sound and a countdown that feels local and communal rather than mega-festival. 

Details: planned roughly 22.00 to 04.00, 18+. Presale via BIRD's website. 

WE ALL LOVE 80s 90s 00s 10s NYE | Cornelis

Big nostalgic hits party at Cornelis Bar & Kitchen on Stadhuisplein with a 21.00–03.00 slot and an optional three-course Dinner & Dance ticket.

Oud & Nieuw – Hitz 

Straightforward club night right in the city centre (Kruiskade 55), 22.00–05.00, tickets from roughly the low teens in euro.

On the water

New Year’s Eve Cruise | Spido

Evening sailing through the illuminated harbour with snacks, drinks and entertainment on board, typically positioning for skyline views around midnight. A DJ and live percussion turn it into a standing party as the Maas lights up, and previous editions have run as long programmes that feel like a full night out. 

Details: Boarding at Willemsplein near the Erasmus Bridge. Check Spido for current inclusions, seating notes, pricing and availability. 

NYE Cruise | We All Love 80s 90s 00s

A themed party cruise with an on-board countdown, welcome drink, oliebollen and a seven-hour sail packed with sing-along hits across decades. The focus is feel-good rather than underground, with skyline views and an upbeat crowd that leans into the nostalgic soundtrack. 

Sylvester Party and arrangements | ss Rotterdam

The former ocean liner hosts a glitter and glamour Sylvester Party with optional multi-course dinners and overnight packages, turning the ship into a floating ballroom. Expect live entertainment, a 22.00 start for the party and midnight bubbles with classic holiday touches. 

Details: Party 22.00 to 02.00; packages include dinner or two-night stays. Book through ss Rotterdam. 

Dinner parties and restaurant events

New Year’s Eve walking dinner | Pesca Rotterdam

Seafood restaurant Pesca marks New Year’s Eve with a long walking dinner that turns into a party night on Botersloot. From 19.30 to 02.00, guests move between small plates, drinks and music instead of staying at a fixed table. The menu features different oyster preparations, marinated salmon, barbecued tuna, scallops and a whole fish from the barbecue, plus vegetable sides, fries and dessert. The night is set up for people who want both a full meal and a New Year’s Eve gathering in one place.

Details: 19.30 to 02.00, Botersloot 125. Tickets with and without drinks available via pesca.restaurant.

Sky-high dinners and elegant parties

Skybar Celest NYE Party | De Zalmhaven

High above the Maas, Skybar Celest in De Zalmhaven hosts a New Year’s Eve party on the 57th floor, with front-row views of the National Fireworks at the Erasmus Bridge. A DJ and saxophonist keep the atmosphere upbeat while guests move between panoramic windows, cocktails, and an all-night flow of bites.

Details: 22.00 to 02.00, package around €249 per person including drinks, bites, and champagne at midnight, festive dress encouraged. Tickets via Celest’s official website.

nhow Year’s Eve | nhow Rotterdam, De Rotterdam

Five-course dinner followed by a party with a DJ and Wilhelminapier skyline views from inside Rem Koolhaas’s De Rotterdam. The hotel runs a clear split between dinner and a late party, with reserved access for hotel guests before general entry. 

Details: Party 23.00 to 03.00, with 22.00 entry for hotel guests. See nhow for packages. 

Euromast New Year’s offers | Euromast

The tower combines a four-course dinner with an all-inclusive party on the viewing level, plus a party-only option, so you can choose between a full evening or a late arrival. High above the park and the river, the countdown comes with panoramic city lights and an intimate, ticketed crowd. 

Details: Dinner plus party from 18.00 and party from 22.00; age 18+; book online. 

Transport and safety on New Year’s Eve

Public transport

On 31 December, public transport in and around Rotterdam usually winds down much earlier than on a normal night. RET trams, buses and metro typically run a regular timetable until about 20.00, after which vehicles complete their last trips and return to the depot. On 1 January, RET starts up again on a reduced, usually Sunday style timetable. Always check the RET travel planner on the day itself because exact times and any special late metro services can change from year to year. 

National rail operator NS follows a similar pattern. On New Year’s Eve most trains stop running around 20.00, then restart on New Year’s Day late in the morning, with some night trains on a limited network as an exception. Travellers should always confirm their route in the NS app or journey planner before heading to the station. 

Road closures and busy areas

Around the Erasmus Bridge, Wilhelminapier and the north bank of the Maas, roads and bridges can be closed to cars and sometimes to cyclists. This is done to create space and safe walking routes for the big crowds that gather for the National Fireworks and other events. Follow the diversions signposted on the street and listen to instructions from stewards and police if an area is temporarily blocked. 

If you are cycling, plan that you may need to park your bike a little further away from the water and continue on foot. Lock it securely and avoid leaving it where large crowds will pass.