Event Details
Rotterdam Architecture Month – a city-wide celebration of the built environment
Every June, Rotterdam becomes the architecture capital of the Netherlands. Rotterdam Architecture Month (RA Maand) runs throughout June 2026, bringing together over 125 events at more than 40 locations across the city. Guided tours, exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, lectures and parties bring architects, designers, students and curious visitors together to explore how cities are shaped, built and transformed. The 2026 edition is centred on the theme of circularity and building without waste.
Theme 2026: The Circular City
The guiding question of Rotterdam Architecture Month 2026 is: what does a circular city actually look like? The festival explores how urban areas can be built and rebuilt with less waste and more reuse. The festival heart is located in the Keilekwartier in M4H, a former harbour area in western Rotterdam that is gradually being transformed into a mixed urban district. The central venue is the new Test Site Materialenwerf (Vierhavenstraat 56), designed by Studio ACTE, where used building materials are collected, processed and given a second life. Rather than a conventional exhibition, the site functions as a working test ground, where residents, designers, builders and local organisations come together around one visible question: how can Rotterdam build differently?
Programme Highlights
- Day and Night of Architecture on Saturday 20 June: tours, open buildings and evening activities at dozens of locations across Rotterdam, including after dark at the Van Nelle Factory and Huis Sonneveld.
- Rotterdam Architecture Prize 2026: the annual award ceremony takes place on Friday 12 June, recognising outstanding architectural work in the city.
- Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam: film screenings at Keilepand, including a showing of Wall-E in the context of waste, reuse and the future of city life.
- Hidden Gardens Rotterdam: private and semi-hidden green spaces across the city are opened to the public for a limited period.
- Bouw met Aarde!: a symposium at Hal4 aan de Maas on building with earth and sustainable construction methods.
- Vrouwen in Architectuur: an event at Keilezaal on Friday 26 June exploring visibility, influence and representation of women in architecture.
- The Great Rotterdam Architecture Quiz: a playful evening event to test your knowledge of the city's buildings, streets and urban history.
- Exhibition at Keilepand (Keilestraat 9F): open Wednesday to Sunday, 14:00 to 18:00, free admission.
Locations and Getting There
The festival heart is in the Keilekwartier in M4H, a creative and industrial area in western Rotterdam. The main address is Vierhavenstraat 56, 3029 BS Rotterdam. The site can be reached by bike, public transport or on foot from the Lloydkwartier and Delfshaven. Many additional events take place at venues across the city, including the Van Nelle Factory (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Nieuwe Instituut, Pauluskerk, Stapelhaus and various architecture studios opening for Open Office Days. Check the official programme before visiting, as some events require registration and take place at different locations.
Tickets and Admission
The majority of Rotterdam Architecture Month events are free to attend. Some tours, workshops and special evening programmes require a ticket, with prices ranging up to €15. Tickets and up-to-date programme information are available via the official website and the Uitagenda Rotterdam platform.
Visitor Tips
- The official programme is updated continuously throughout June. Check the website before your visit for registration requirements and any last-minute changes.
- Arrive in Rotterdam by train via Rotterdam Centraal; most festival locations are reachable by tram, metro or bicycle from the station.
- Book tickets for the Day and Night of Architecture on 20 June early, as popular buildings and tours fill up quickly.
- Book accommodation in advance; Rotterdam is busy throughout the summer.
- The festival welcomes everyone. No background in architecture is required to enjoy the programme.
