A moment with

MOMENT WITH...

Rotterdam Central District is a district in development. To get a better sense of the local look and feel, we took to the streets to ask you, our readers, if the cultural offering is enough. On a sunny winter’s day, you gave us lots of fantastic tips and ideas.

JULES SEKIMONYO (28)

‘What springs to mind when I think of culture in this area are De Doelen, Pathé and Scapino Ballet. But it’s always busy here on Friday nights, too. Around city hall and Hofplein there are activities and small events going on with fun stuff to do. The cultural scene is varied enough here in RCD.’

KERRY (19)

‘I think it’s a good thing if people can express themselves. There’s not a massive amount of art in this district, so that would definitely give it some more charisma. It would be exciting if the city presented more art. Things like exhibitions, graffiti or dance. A little more freedom in what’s possible could make it more lively.’

LALU IRGA (26)

‘It feels weird to think about this now because the cultural offering has been so thin for a while. I think what’s missing in the Central District is a place where people can gather to share thoughts and ideas. It would add an extra dimension if you had that here amid all the grey buildings.’

JELLE HAGOORT (21)

‘What makes this part of the city special for me personally is the combination of modern buildings and old properties. The station is amazing too and chimes well with the district’s modernized elements. The city really looks like lots of people have worked hard to make it better and more attractive.’

MARTA GONZALEZ (36)

‘As a musician and student at Codarts, I’m hugely impressed by the cultural span of RCD. I also live here, and the buildings are stunning and artistic. And there are major theatres nearby. Culture plays a vital role in the city, and there’s no shortage of it here.’

BART NESTELAAR (26)

‘This is a part of the city with a concentration of big business and offices. The Kruiskade has a bit more of a cultural scene in terms of the mix of eating places, which I personally love. Rotterdam attracts many cultures and that’s sure to become more visible in the street scene over time.’

MADELEINE ZIMMERMAN (74)

I no longer live in Rotterdam but I did way back when I was a student. It’s the perfect city for a cultural outing. A couple of years ago there was the project with The Stairs at the Groothandelsgebouw, where you had a view of the whole city. That was such fun. There’s always something to do and these events make the city even more appealing.’

MIRRE VAN DER WINDT (19)

‘It’s cool to stop and think about that. Art and culture could play a bigger part in the district, if you ask me. The buildings are mostly big and grey, and exhibitions or other cultural activities could make it a fun place to hang out from day to day.’