8 Best Performing Arts Venues in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Ahoy brings in big names such as Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Neil Young, but also hosts classical philharmonic orchestras, top jazz musicians, and top performance companies like Cirque du Soleil.

The Nieuwe Luxor Theater has 1,500 seats, and was specifically designed to cater to major stage musicals and other popular events. The theater, one of the Netherlands' largest, was designed by Australian architect Peter Wilson and has a marvelous view of Rotterdam's harbor and skyline. Performances are often in English.

For three days in mid-July, jazz lovers from around the world descend on Rotterdam for the North Sea Jazz Festival, which fills the Ahoy arts complex with music. Around 180 artists perform on 15 different stages in what is one of Europe's largest and most popular celebrations of jazz.

With seven screens showing the latest releases, the Pathé is the place to head for blockbusters.

The Theater Lantaren/Venster has an interesting program that shows art films in addition to hosting small-scale dance and theater performances.

The leading theater company of Rotterdam performs at its own theater. Most productions are in Dutch.

Rotterdam's cultural climate facilitates the staging of productions from many semiprofessional groups, such as Turkish folk dance, classical Indian dance, and Brazilian capoeira troupes. The Theater Zuidplein is particularly known for its multicultural program.

You can book tickets and find out what's going on around town through the local tourist information office.