Rotterdam Nightlife Tips by sachara

Nightlife Spot: Ahoy

Several times I visited Rotterdam for concerts of the Rollling Stones, Pink Floyd and many other well-known groups. These concerts were in the Feyenoord stadion or in Ahoy, both in the south part of Rotterdam. Till now I visited Ahoy only for concerts, but in the complex are also sport events, fairs and exhibitions.

The Ahoy complex has several halls. For concerts there is space for 3.000 to 10.000 visitors. Last summer (2006) I visited the concert of Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. It was a great concert with a fabulous atmosphere. We were standing just in front of the stage, close enough to see the expressions at the faces of the perfomers and far enough to get a overview.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Concert
Dress Code: Casual.
Phone: +31 10 29 33 00
Address: Ahoyweg 10, 3084 BA ROTTERDAM
Directions: Ahoy is five minutes walk from the train- and metrostation Zuidplein. If you come by car there are enough parking lots (9 euro).
Website: http://www.ahoy.nl/

The Rotterdam Schouwburg or Rotterdam Theatre is located at the Schouwburgplein. Rotterdam has become a vibrant cultural city with several theatres. At its four stages the Rotterdam Schouwburg offers a wide range of drama, dance, opera and all kind of theatrical performances.

I never visited a performance in this theatre, but I attended here an architectural symposium about creating new theatres in the Netherlands and could have a look myself at this peculiar Rotterdam Theatre at the same time. Most theatres have the entrance for the audience at one side and the expedition and tower for the stage at other side, but the Rotterdam Theatre has the entrance and the expedition at the same side of the building, because at the other side apartments were built. You can see it with your own eyes from the Schouwburgplein from where the trucks can be lifted to a higher level.

The design is made by architect Quist. The local people gave the theatre the nickname the 'kist (box) of Quist'. At the facade you can see a moving artwork of the American G. Rickey. At the roof is a light object of J van Munster, an unstable beam with neon light at a height of 36m.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Theater
Phone: +31 10 4044111
Address: Schouwburgplein 25, 3012 CL ROTTERDAM
Directions: The theatre is 8 minutes walk from the Central Station, at the Schouwburgplein, 3-4 blocks more south.
Website: www.schouwburg.rotterdam.nl

The building of De Doelen was officially opened in 1966 after the conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra struck the first foundation pile in 1962. The concert and congress building De Doelen is situated at northside of the Schouwburg plein, the cultural heart of Rotterdam.

There are concerts of classical music, jazz and worldmusic and music festivals during the season. The congress complex of De Doelen is directly linked to the five-star Westin Hotel by a bridge. De Doelen facilitate every year more than 1200 professional and knowledge-based gatherings, varying from congresses to product presentations.

Recently I came to the Doelen for a conference and workshops in the urban renewal field, though there were musical intermezzo's as well. But I can remember very well the first time I came to De Doelen in the seventies for a concert of the Kinks.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Concert
Phone: +31 10-2171717
Address: Schouwburgplein 50, 3012 CT ROTTERDAM
Directions: Coming from the Centraal Station walking straight, you will see De Doelen at your left hand side after passing the Millenium Tower with the Westin Hotel. At the south side De Doelen is situated at the Schouwburgplein opposite the new Schouwburg (theatre).
Website: www.dedoelen.nl
Other Contact: communicatie@dedoelen.nl

I didn't visit the Holland Casino, though it was close to my hotel and the hotel offers a free entrance ticket and the information what to expect.

Here it goes: the Holland Casino Rotterdam has several bars and a restaurant. There is live entertainment. Holland Casino Rotterdam offers around 630 slot machines, about 50 gaming tables like French Roulette, American Roulette, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, Punto Banco, Big Wheel, Sic Bo.

As you see various chances to win your holidays trip back or to loose your next one.

Opening hours daily: from 12.30pm till 03.00am
Entrance fee: 3.50 euro.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Casino
Phone: + 31 10 2068206
Address: Weena 624, 3012 CN ROTTERDAM
Directions: A two minutes walk from the Central Station
Website: http://www.vvv.rotterdam.nl/uk/TRD/vermaak_en_dagattracties/amusement/103187.asp

Nightlife Spot: Ahoy

In October 2007 I visited Machine City, the huge 'solo project' in one of the halls of Ahoy in Rotterdam by DJ Partyraiser. DJ Partyraiser, aka Wesley, was one of my fellowtravellers to Madagascar in summer 2007. He joined us at the trip to see one of the biggest butterflies on earth, living in Madagascar.

DJ Partyraiser is a very wellknown hardcore/blackcore DJ in the Netherlands and Europe. He invited us as VIP to come to his huge impressive show in Ahoy, Machine city, lasting the whole night. Never having visited a hardcore party before, I eagerly accepted this invitation to experience what it was all about.

We arrived around 11pm. The policemen outside asked us if we were sure that we had to visit this hall and not the other one with a bingo or lottery. They asked us if we brought earplugs and actually I did. Wesley's mum waited for us at the reception and showed us our way. With her we entered the big hall and heard the first 'DOENG!DOENG!DOENG!' while walking to the platform to have a great overview.

After midnight around 1.30 pm Partyraiser, the big star of the evening himself, appeared, accompanied by robots hanging high above the visitors and shining with huge light into the dark hall. To be there was a very impressive experience indeed....the music, the sounds, the noise, the light show, the lasershow, the fire en dance acts. Also very impressing were the visitors, all a lot younger than we were. They reacted all very enthusiastic seeing us to visit 'their party' with Partyraiser !

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Phone: +31 10 29 33 00
Address: Ahoyweg 10, 3084 BA ROTTERDAM
Directions: Ahoy is five minutes walk from the train- and metrostation Zuidplein. If you come by car there are enough parking lots (9 euro).
Website: http://www.djpartyraiser.nl/
Other Contact: http://www.machinecity.nl/2007/

Nightlife Spot: Maasboulevard area

Rotterdam is also called 'Manhattan on the Maas'. It was a very special experience to walk along the Maas and in the area of Waterstad around the time of sunset.

Especially the changing of the colours at the Erasmus bridge and at the high buildings were spectacular. Also the reflections in the dark water were impressive. The striking combination of water and high buildings, intensified by the changes of colours, caused almost a surreal ambience. During the day I had never experienced such an atmosphere in this area like this.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other