the anniversary weekend

From 15 to 17 May, the festive heart of this anniversary year comes to life. With an opening night in collaboration with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, performances by artists including Al Di Meola and The Kik, and a programme full of musical crossovers and encounters, everything that defines de Doelen comes together. Throughout the weekend, an exhibition will also be on display, bringing sixty years of musical history to life.

De Doelen has been connected to music and encounter in Rotterdam for centuries. What began in the seventeenth century as a concert venue grew, after destruction and reconstruction, into the concert hall where we opened our doors in 1966 on Schouwburgplein. 

Over the past sixty years, we have welcomed an impressive range of artists and orchestras, from Bruce Springsteen to Miles Davis and from Nirvana to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Icons of pop, jazz and classical music have taken the stage for decades, alongside emerging talents at the start of their careers. At the same time, the building has taken on an increasingly broad social role as a venue for conferences, festivals and city gatherings.

In 2026, we celebrate our 60th anniversary with a festive weekend and a year-long programme that reflects the versatility of the venue. In doing so, we continue to evolve as a vibrant international house where music, talent and Rotterdam come together.

“De Doelen is more than a concert and conference venue. It is the musical heart of Rotterdam, where international artists and new talent come together, and where there has been space for all the voices that make up the city for decades. This anniversary marks an important moment in the history of the Netherlands’ largest classical stage. From 2026 onwards, we will restructure our programme and way of working. Under the title Samen in Muziek (Together in Music), we present a new concert season in which tradition and innovation, international excellence and local talent come together in one cohesive programme. This means, above all: more music, a broader stylistic approach and stronger collaborations with Rotterdam partners, both in the cultural field and in the social domain and education.”

 - Edo Righini, Managing Director of de Doelen

60 years of de Doelen: a year-long celebration 

Although we mark the official opening in May, the entire year of 2026 is dedicated to our 60th anniversary. From leading international orchestras to Rotterdam pioneers and a special exhibition in Studio 2, we show that de Doelen is a place for áll Rotterdam residents.