Rotterdam is alive the whole year with festivals and events related to culture, sport and music. The city has been awarded the title Events City of the Year three times, and with good reason!

Rotterdam stirs
Rotterdam is the place for sports lovers. A spectacular event is Bavaria City Racing, the Formula 1 street spectacular in the heart of Rotterdam. At the beginning of the year, the Rabobank Six-Day Race will produce some exciting moments.
In February, the world’s top tennis players will be battling it out during the indoor ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament for men. In April, the city will be transformed into a fast track for the Fortis Marathon Rotterdam, which attracts many international entrants as well as hundreds of thousands of spectators. The third edition of the Adidas Ladies Run will be held in June and is, of course, exclusively for women. In September, it will be time for the runners again, this time for the Fortis 1/2 Marathon.

Rotterdam swings
Music lovers of all types find their way to Rotterdam. At the Pleasure Paas Party, infectious Caribbean rhythms will sound and people will dance en masse to different styles of music, such as salsa, merengue and zouk. From far and wide, jazz lovers visit the North Sea Jazz Festival, the largest indoor jazz festival in the world. Metropolis presents new top talent, on outdoor stages in Zuiderpark. The Ortel Summer Carnival is the most swinging tropical party in the Netherlands. Dance addicts visit Rotterdam for the Fit For Free Dance Parade: forty trucks carrying DJs blasting out the best beats.

Rotterdam enjoys
Camping with a view of the Maas, in the middle of the urban jungle: this is possible during Camping Rotterdam. For twelve days, the International Film Festival Rotterdam presents independent, innovative and experimental cinema, for anyone who loves beautiful and good films. Stimulate your taste buds at Heerlijk Rotterdam, where you can enjoy culinary delicacies from top Rotterdam restaurants.

Rotterdam rejuvenates
In 2009, Rotterdam is the Youth Capital of Europe so the focus this year is on young people. With Your World, young people will create their own opportunities and use their talents to change AND improve their own world and city. For a whole year, the city is the playground for Your World, with various activities and events in the field of art, culture, sport, housing, work and lifestyle. For, by and with young people.

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