Rotterdam Change Days 2025: At work in the Ruins

Explore our Location

Rotterdam is a city that glimmers with many pockets of change tackling wicked issues and offering glimpses of new possibilities. The Rotterdam Change Days are taking place at one of these wonderful pockets of change, a former shipyard called OASE. Previously, we announced that Rotterdam Change Days was taking place at two locations. For a better experience, we have decided to reduce this to one location.

OASE is a cultural stage, café and lab for an equitable, sustainable city. We make – they say – big issues smaller, by showing our visitors ways to change that are manageable and fun.

Whether it is through conscious clubbing, community meals or sustainable workshops, OASE helps its visitors take steps towards a thriving city and world.

The direct surroundings of OASE offer lots of weird and wonderful places to explore. Make sure you make time before, during or after the Rotterdam Change Days to go on a little urbex in the hood. Enjoy the raw energy and creative vibe of this area!

1. OASE & the hood

OASE is situated on the northern bank of the river Maas and offers views of the harbour and industry across the river. OASE boasts an edgy terrace on this riverbank, which is turned into a city beach in summer and a vintage market once a month. On the riverbank you can find many curious and interesting structures and objects. Often there are also exhibitions here. Make sure you wander down to the end of the quay to find the wooden amphitheatre. Inside the building of OASE you can also find the stylish Vintage store De Parel (The Pearl). Enter from the quay.

https://www.oaserotterdam.nl/

2. Bakery Aap Noot Brood

Have a croissant or cinnamon bun and a filter coffee at bakery Aap Noot Brood. To fight food waste Aap Noot Brood offers bread subscriptions, so they know exactly how much bread to bake on any given day. Of course, they also have a small selection of sourdough breads, sandwiches and pastries for sale for passersby. In the open bakery you can see the bakers making the handcrafted bread.

https://www.aapnootbrood.nl/

3. Bar Schiemond

The name Bar Schiemond references to the former Café Schiemond (in the same spot), which was where dock workers took the ferry to work. At half past six in the morning, the bar used to already be filled with smoke, and the workers would have a drink before getting on the boat. Bar Schiemond wants to revive that communal, informal atmosphere, no nonsense, where you can eat and drink until late at night. They cook affordable food with the seasons, including wild-harvested local ingredients.

https://barschiemond.nl/

4. Camping De Buitenkans

Even if you decide to choose a warm hotel room for the Rotterdam Change Days over a camper or cabin at Camping De Buitenkans (‘The Opportunity’), make sure you stroll down to the campsite. It is a very cool camping ground that offers a selection of unique sleeping cabins such as a glass house, a tiny houses or a boat in a cosy, urban decor.

https://debuitenkansrotterdam.com/

5. Wine bar Cult

Want to meet the hip locals? And have an usual but outstanding wine? Cross the Westzeedijk from OASE to wine bar Cult. Don’t know what wine to choose? The staff gives excellent advice.

https://cult.bar/

If you have more time, wander into the streets behind Westzeedijk and get to know more of the neighbourhood.

Or continue along the Westzeedijk toward the West (it is called Pelgrimstraat now) and have a look at the beautiful former factory Diepeveen.

If you continue further along this road, it turnes into Vierhavenstraat. And if you continue along there you find De Voedseltuin, a beautiful permaculture garden, that supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to the Rotterdam Food Bank, the edgy art gallery Brutus and roofpark Dakpark.