World Port Festival Rotterdam

See spectacular demonstrations on the river Maas

The Wereldhavendagen (World Port Festival Rotterdam) is an annual event that lets you peek behind the scenes of one of the worlds' biggest harbours. During this three day festival, a lot of nautical demonstrations and tours to companies that operate in the harbour are being organized. The World Port Festival offers activities in and around Rotterdam, such as Royal Dutch Navy helicopter shows, diving demonstrations, a water cannon show of the Rotterdam Port Authorities and several boat races on the river Maas. Also the Dutch Police and Fire Brigade show what they have in store. Big dredging companies such as Van Oord show up with huge barges, on board which you can have a look around.

World Port Festival Rotterdam for kids

Kids will love this event: there is also a special Kids Square with small boats  at Wilhelminapier just in front of Hotel New York. You can test your Marines skills at the obstacle course. All shows can be viewed for free from a grand stand at Wilhelminakade or from Willemskade at the North bank of the river Maas in Rotterdam.

Day Trips to the port hot spots in Rotterdam

During this harbour festival many big companies have open house. Join one of the numerous excursions by bus or boat to Delta Terminal - the biggest container terminal in Europe - or to the cruise ferry. Major companies like Shell, MAERSK, LyondellBasell, ECT or Kuwait Petroleum also show their businesses. World Port Festival is an excellent opportunity to visit  Maeslant Storm Surge in Hoek van Holland that protects Rotterdam from flooding.

Explore the Rotterdam harbour

Go for a nostalgic cruise on paddle-steamer de Majesteit or step aboard the Rotterdam Harbour Museum's steam tug-boat. Sailing trips with the three-masted Minerva or de Eendracht are also fun to do. The all year Rotterdam attractions, such as SplashTours, RIB-experience, Future Land, the Pancake Boat, Spido Harbour Tours and museum ship ss Rotterdam have a special program during the World Port Festival in Rotterdam. Stroll around at the nautical market at Veerhaven Harbour. Have a look behind the scenes at Rotterdam The Hague Airport where helicopter and airplane sightseeing flights take off to show you the port from the sky!

Ear-deafening horn blasting at the World Port Festival in Rotterdam

Daily from 5:00 till 5:30 pm the end of the event will be celebrated by sounding the horns of all ships on the Maas accompanied by a water cannon show. The ships' hooters can be heard from far beyond Rotterdam city limits!

Nacht van de Kaap party weekend

The Rotterdam Port Festival mainly takes place at the river banks, but in Rotterdam city centre, there are a lot of seaman show choirs in cooperation with the Shanty Festival Rotterdam. Is there a party going on? Yes there is! At Saturday evening, the festival ' Nacht van de Kaap' is the place to be with a lot of live music, snacks and drinks. It takes place at Deliplein in the heart of Katendrecht, the former red light district of Rotterdam, within walking distance from Hotel New York. Admission €20.

Fireworks show in Rotterdam

The World Port Festival festival is the last festival in Rotterdam of the yearly festival season and therefore it finishes off with live performances and a spectacular fireworks show from a floating pontoon on the river Maas at 10:30 pm. Don't miss it!