festival - Rotterdam Festivals

Rotter
Rotterdam
Festival
Guide
September • O
November • De ctober
cember
2012
introduction
Rotterdam is the ultimate festival city, with the credentials to prove it: in 2010,
Rotterdam was named a World Festival & Event City by the International Festivals
& Events Association. And it’s not hard to see why.
With a long tradition of hosting festivals, these diverse events have become a vital
part of the city’s cultural identity. Every year, galas ranging from the International
Film Festival Rotterdam to Summer Carnival, the North Sea Jazz Festival and
World Port Days attract thousands of visitors from the Netherlands and abroad,
with new events – large and small – popping up all the time, in mainstream and
off-the-beaten-track locations.
This autumn, the city of Rotterdam will once again be filled with festivals featuring
theatre, music, dance, jazz and lots more. Here’s a round-up of our favourites…
All enquiries
Molenwerf 10-24
1014 BG Amsterdam
Tel: 06 4473 5249
www.timeout.com/amsterdam
Editor Mark Smith
Project Editor Megan Roberts
Designer Johanna Nock
Account Manager Sabine de Groot
September/October/November/December 2012 Rotterdam Festival Guide 3
festival agenda
Festival Agenda
Festival Agenda
The World of Witte de With Street
De Wereld van Witte de
With (The World of Witte
de With Street)
World Port Days
SEPTEMBER
Wereldhavendagen
(World Port Days)
Discover the port of Rotterdam! During
the World Port Days, the secret workings
of one of the country’s busiest working
ports are revealed to the public. Activities
at this three-day spectacle range from
excursions to port-based companies – by
boat, bus and even helicopter – to nautical
demonstrations. The highlight is a spectacular fireworks show on Saturday night,
and with the theme ‘There’s Music in the
Harbour’, you can expect a great musical
programme, too.
Rotterdam Port and surroundings
(wereldhavendagen.nl). Fri 7-Sun 9.
Maritiem Kwartier &
Shantyfestival Rotterdam
(Maritime Quarter &
Shanty Festival Rotterdam)
During Rotterdam’s World Port Days
(see above), Shanty Festival Rotterdam
offers a parallel musical programme,
featuring beautifully dressed choirs
singing traditional nautical songs and
sea shanties over three days. Stroll
along the waterfront of the Maritime
Quarter enjoying traditionally smoked
fish and watch demonstrations at the
blacksmith’s and carpentry shops to
the background of traditional shanties.
You can even exercise your own vocal
chords: there’s a workshop for aspiring
solo shanty singers.
Rotterdam Port and surroundings
(havenmuseum.nl and
shantyfestivalrotterdam.nl). Fri 7-Sun 9.
nightlife, for one night only you can
step back in time with music, theatre
performances and sea stories at diverse
locations. Oh, and there’s a titillating
burlesque show, too.
Katendrecht (denachtvandekaap.nl).
Sat 8.
For the 17th edition of its Gergiev
Festival, the Rotterdam Philharmonic
takes the theme ‘Sea & You’, the second
part in a sea trilogy. Get on board for
a breathtaking journey and a rich
programme of opera, symphony music,
enchantment and musical gems with
world-class artists around the city.
Various locations including De Doelen
(gergievfestival.nl). Fri 7-Sat 15.
Honouring the seafaring history of
Rotterdam’s Katendrecht district, once
home to sailors, pirates and a buzzing
4 Rotterdam Festival Guide September/October/November/December
24 uur cultuur
(24-hour culture)
Rotterdam opens the new arts season by
putting all things cultural in the spotlight for 24 hours straight, with previews
of shows and behind-the-scenes revelations. Highlights include the opening of
a new photographic exhibition by Lewis
Hine and the Theatre Luxor will stay
open through the night with a diverse
and exciting programme to keep you
wide awake.
Various locations (24uurcultuurrotter
dam.nl). From 17.00 on Sat 15 to 17.00
on Sun 16.
Rotterdam Philharmonic
Gergiev Festival
De Nacht van de Kaap
(The Night of the Cape)
On the street whose name honours the
17th Century naval officer, the 13th
edition of Rotterdam’s annual interactive
art festival will present the best of the
city’s arts and culture. A programme
packed with art, architecture, theatre,
dance, film, and music is given a Berlin
twist, with visiting artists’ collectives
from the German capital.
Witte de Withstraat (festivalwww.nl).
Fri 14-Sun 16.
24-hour culture
with the International Selection. This
year’s festival presents remarkable
theatre performances from around the
world. With a ‘state-of-the-art’ international, interdisciplinary theatre, dance
and performance programme, expect a
showcase of recent developments in the
arts and their themes and trends. Featuring theatre companies Life and Times,
Ganesh versus the Third Reich, Ghost
Road, Detroit Dealers and more.
Rotterdam Schouwburg (deinternation
alekeuze.nl). Wed 19-Sun 30.
Rotterdamse Oogst
Festival (Harvest Festival
Rotterdam)
Harvest Festival is celebrated on
Rotterdam’s Heemraadsplein with a
mouth-watering market featuring local,
often-organic produce. This year, honey
and milk take the limelight, with the
theme ‘Land of Milk and Honey’. But
it’s not just about doing your grocery
shopping: a musical programme and
plenty of kid-friendly events round
things out.
Heemraadsplein (rotterdamseoogst.nl).
Fri 21 & Sat 22 Sep.
Baroeg Open Air
On Saturday 22 September, the fifth
edition of Baroeg Open Air (BOA) takes
place in the Zuiderpark at Ahoy. The
festival presents a full day of alternative music, including rock, metal, gothic
and hardcore. BOA offers its audience
not only national and international
headliners, but also acts as a platform
for up-and-coming talent from Rotterdam and surroundings.
Zuiderpark (baroegopenair.nl). Sat 22.
De Internationale Keuze
(The International
Selection)
The new theatre season at Rotterdamse
Schouwburg begins for the 12th time
Rotterdam Philharmonic
Gergiev Festival
The International Selection
For more information visit rotterdamfestivals.nl
September/October/November/December 2012 Rotterdam Festival Guide 5
Festival Agenda
New Year’s Eve Rotterdam
DECEMBER
China Light Festival
Buma Rotterdam Beats
BoomDox
Discovery Festival
Rotterdam
Inspired by the kick you get when you
discover new things, Discovery Festival
is a mash-up of live scientific research,
DJs, VJs, experiments, cocktails, films,
performances, visuals, power talks and
more. Fun for all the family.
Auditorium Erasmus MC/Museumpark
(discoveryfestival.nl). Fri 28.
heaviest funk, boogie and disco; the rawest hip hop and Afro-beat; and the latest
electronic music.
BIRD (bird-rotterdam.nl). Fri 26 &
Sat 27.
NOVEMBER
Buma Rotterdam Beats
Buma Rotterdam Beats festival brings
the best international hip hop, R&B, dub
step, soul and reggae to various locations in Rotterdam. More than just live
music, the festival features a two-day
conference, an award show (the State
Awards) and a programme for up-andcoming talents (Next Beats).
Various locations (buma-rotterdam-beats.
nl). Thur 15-Sat 17.
OCTOBER
Festival Jazz International offers three
days of national and international
programming on multiple platforms in
Rotterdam. Each year, a musician acts as
guest programmer. This year’s is yet to
be announced, so watch this space.
De Doelen (festivaljazzinternational.nl).
Fri 16-Sun 18.
Songbird Festival
The second edition of the Songbird
Festuval promises tween-friendly live
music: think pop by relatively young,
popular artists – often singer-songwriters, but always with a modern twist. On
the programme are Michael Kiwanuka,
Justin Nozuka, Matt Corby, Bertolf,
Lianne la Havas, Ren Harvieu, Jake
Bugg and Yori Swart, with more to be
confirmed later.
De Doelen (songbirdfestival.nl). Sun 25.
Parking in Rotterdam
Free parking at P+R locations
The cheapest and easiest way to park
is in a Park+Ride location on the
outskirts of the city. Here you can take
advantage of free parking. All P+R
areas have direct links with public
transport to the city centre.
rotterdam.nl/parking
Public transport
OV Chip Card
Birdfest
Songbird Festival
6 Rotterdam Festival Guide September/October/November/December
Nationale Nieuwjaarsnacht Rotterdam (New
Year’s Eve Rotterdam)
New year is celebrated in Rotterdam
with a big party and fireworks display.
Boompjeskade (nationalenieuwjaars
nacht.nl). Mon 31.
visitor information
It’s only possible to pay for your parking permit by ‘Chipknip’. Top-up points
can be found at banks, usually next to
the cash machine. Pre-paid Chipknips
are available for tourists.
As well as being a topical film festival
(as the name implies), Camera Festival
Japan is a four-day celebration of Japanese culture, from art to food.
LantarenVenster (camerajapan.nl). Thur
4-Sun 7.
Runners take on the challenge of a
spectacular 15-kilometre route, taking
in five of Rotterdam’s iconic bridges:
from the Wilhelminakade, they head
to the Erasmus Bridge, the Van
Brienenoordbrug and the Boerengat
Bridge, finally arriving at the Cruise
Terminal Rotterdam, where a party will
await them.
Various locations (bruggenloop.nl).
Sunday 9.
A celebration of Rotterdam’s rich diversity, the open-minded Colourfest boasts
a pink Christmas tree, mulled wine, good
food and a seasonal market.
Van Oldebarneveldstraat (colourfest.nl).
Fri 21-Sun 23.
For more information visit rotterdamfestivals.nl
Parking in the city centre?
Camera Japan Festival
Back for its third edition, BIRDFEST
presents jazz in all its forms in intimate
settings. Through film, live music and a
great DJ line-up, expect an exploration
of the deepest jazz, soul and folk; the
Festival Jazz International
Zilveren Kruis
Bruggenloop Rotterdam
Colourfest
The OV Chip Card is the only available
travel ticket for all RET metros, trams
and buses in the entire Rotterdam
metropolitan area. Buy your OV Chip
Card at a ticket machine at train stations. ret.nl.
RET
For all your travel enquiries concerning
Rotterdam and surroundings, visit the
RET service centre: Rotterdam Central
Station or RET service shop at Laan op
Zuid 2. ret.nl
Information
Use-it
Editorial: Rotterdam Festivals
Images: Mike Breeuwer,
Bas Czerwinski, Michel Linssen
Press run: 17,500
Partner Rotterdam Festivals:
Use-it is an information point for young
travellers on a budget.
(010 240 9158/use-it.nl)
Rotterdam.Info
Rotterdam.Info is the central information point of Rotterdam, providing all
necessary information regarding your
visit. Services include hotel bookings,
gift and shopping tips and vouchers.
Coolsingel 195-197 (0900 403 4065
[€0.35/min]/rotterdam.info)
Published by Stichting Rotterdam
Festivals. With thanks to all institutions and festival organisations that
have helped with this publication. .
rotterdamsuitburo.nl
Follow Rotterdam Festivals on
© Rotterdam Festivals | July 2012 The
programme is subject to changes. For
the most up-to-date information, visit
rotterdamfestivals.nl.
September/October/November/December 2012 Rotterdam Festival Guide 7
Visitor Info
After a successful first edition, organisers Hip hop In Your Face present the second edition of BoomDox, featuring the
latest acts and developments in the field
of hip hop, this year with an additional
outdoor stage.
Rondom BIRD & Mini Mall (boomdox.
nl). Sun 23.
Feel the enchanting atmosphere of
China during this most magical light
event in Europe. During the darkest
months of the year, the Park adjacent
to the Euromast tower is completely
transformed into a magical fairytale
paradise, courtesy of dozens of Chinese
artists whose work incorporates luminous moving images, fairytale figures,
flowers and beautifully-lit buildings.
There’s even a dragon measuring 120
metres high.
Euromast Park. Fri 7-February 18 2013.