SeasonMapWhat's on in Rotterdam, Netherlands through the year
Rotterdam, Netherlands has 5 curated events through the year — 5 festivals. The ones to plan around: IFFR (January) and North Sea Jazz (July). January, February, April and July are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Rotterdam events and crowds by month
January in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in January →Peak crowds — IFFR, Christmas holidays in Netherlands
- Festival
IFFR
22 Jan – 8 Feb · usuallyFilm festivalCrowdedBook earlyEleven days of first and second features from everywhere, which is the one thing that reliably fills this city in deep winter. Screenings sell out early; the day passes are the way in. Source ↗
February in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in February →Peak crowds — IFFR, Voorjaarsvakantie (February) holidays in Netherlands
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: IFFR (22 Jan – 8 Feb (usually))
March in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in March →Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in March.
April in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in April →Peak crowds — Rotterdam Marathon, Meivakantie (May) holidays in Netherlands
- Festival
Rotterdam Marathon
5–20 Apr · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedClosuresA flat, fast course through the centre and over the Erasmus bridge on a Sunday in April, with most of the city out on the pavement. Bridges and the main axes close from early morning. Source ↗
May in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in May →Busy — Meivakantie (May) holidays in Netherlands, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in May.
June in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in June →Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather
Nothing new starts in June.
July in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in July →Peak crowds — Zomercarnaval, Summer holidays in Netherlands
- Festival
North Sea Jazz
8–16 Jul · usuallyMajor festivalBook earlyThree days and a dozen stages inside the Ahoy hall, jazz taken broadly enough to cover soul, hip-hop and Afrobeat. Indoors, so the weather is irrelevant, and rooms go months ahead. Source ↗
- Festival
Zomercarnaval
24–25 JulCarnivalCrowdedThe Caribbean street parade the city's Antillean and Cape Verdean communities built, held on a Saturday in late July. Battle of Drums the night before is the better ticket. Source ↗
August in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in August →Busy — Summer holidays in Netherlands, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it
- Festival
Wereldhavendagen
4–6 SepMajor festivalCrowdedThe port opens itself for a weekend at the start of September: tugs, navy ships, terminal tours and a lot of it free. The only time you can get inside the working docks. Source ↗
Still on: Zomercarnaval (24–25 Jul)
September in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in September →Busy — Wereldhavendagen, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in September.
Still on: Wereldhavendagen (4–6 Sep)
October in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in October →Busy — Herfstvakantie (autumn) holidays in Netherlands, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in October.
November in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in November →Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in November.
December in Rotterdam
Rotterdam weather in December →Busy — Christmas holidays in Netherlands, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in December.