What is Rotterdam's best-known street art event?

ALL CAPS is Rotterdam's own street art festival, held free of charge with no closing times. The 2026 edition runs from 6 to 13 September, with local, national and international artists painting large-scale murals across the city (source: all-caps.nl, 2026).

Where can I see Rotterdam's WWII memorial sculpture?

Ossip Zadkine's bronze "The Destroyed City" (De Verwoeste Stad), unveiled in 1953, stands at Leuvehaven 1, near the Maritime Museum. It commemorates the bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940 and remains one of the city's most visited public artworks.

Lotte Prins is a Rotterdam-based street artist known for large-scale waterfront murals that blend graphic design with bold lines and colour. She also mentors emerging artists and has collaborated with the Maritime Museum Rotterdam on public art projects.

Can I see contemporary art outside Rotterdam's city centre?

Yes. Art Gallery Voûte, founded by Edwin Voûte in the historic centre of nearby Schiedam, shows a changing selection of paintings, sculpture, photography and glass art by established and emerging artists, including work by Ron van der Ende.

When is Rotterdam Street Culture Week?

Rotterdam Street Culture Week (RSCW) runs annually in August; the organiser's own site lists 22-23 August 2026 for the next edition, though listings vary slightly, so check rscw.nl directly before planning your visit.

The modern skyline of Rotterdam's business district and Erasmus Bridge at dusk

Culture

Art in Rotterdam & Rotterdam Artists

Street art, sculpture and a gallery scene rooted in the city's neighbourhoods.

Rotterdam's art scene runs from large-scale street murals to a sculptor working in salvaged wood, with a gallery just outside the city adding a more traditional exhibition space. Rich in street art and contemporary work, the city offers visitors a route past colourful murals and considered collections alike.

Lotte Prins: Rotterdam's street art visionary

Rotterdam-based artist Lotte Prins is known for a distinctive, expressive style that transforms the city's walls, blending graphic design with bold lines and vibrant colour. Her large-scale projects include striking murals along the city's waterfront, giving parts of Rotterdam a recognisable artistic identity. Beyond her own work, Prins is also an educator who mentors emerging talent, and has collaborated with the Maritime Museum Rotterdam and other cultural initiatives across the city.

The Destroyed City: Zadkine's bronze memorial

Ossip Zadkine's bronze sculpture "The Destroyed City" (De Verwoeste Stad), unveiled in 1953, commemorates the bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940 and symbolises the city's torn-out heart. It stands at Leuvehaven 1, 3011 EA Rotterdam, near the Maritime Museum, and remains one of the most visited pieces of public art in the city.

Ron van der Ende: bas-relief in salvaged wood

Ron van der Ende is a Rotterdam-based visual artist known for monumental bas-reliefs built from salvaged wood: doors, floorboards and old furniture, with their original paint and wear marks kept intact for texture and history. Mounted flat on the wall, the use of perspective and colour creates a striking illusion of depth. His 2004 work "Vissersboot" (Fishing Trawler), measuring 175 x 185 x 16 cm, reflects the craftsmanship and maritime traditions of Rotterdam. Inquiries about his work go through Art Gallery Voûte.

Art Gallery Voûte

Located in the historic centre of Schiedam, a short trip from Rotterdam, Art Gallery Voûte is an independent gallery founded in 1994, showing around 50 painters, sculptors and photographers with a focus on bronze sculpture. It's a place to discover contemporary art in a personal, gallery setting rather than a museum-scale one.

Full details: address, hours & how to visit

Street art festivals and creative hotspots

Rotterdam comes alive each year with events such as the CAPS Street Art Festival and Rotterdam Street Culture Week, when parts of the city turn into an open-air gallery. Street artists, including Lotte Prins, contribute murals and interactive projects to neighbourhoods across town. Feijenoord, Witte de Withstraat and other creative pockets of the city provide space for galleries, workshops and concept stores where contemporary art and local culture meet.

For Rotterdam's larger museums and institutions, see the full museums guide. For the city's retail and design streets, including Witte de Withstraat's boutiques, see the shopping guide.