Kunsthal continues multi-year success with over 370,000 visitors in 2025
Dec. 29, 2025
Kunsthal Rotterdam closes 2025 on a strong note with more than 370,000 visitors – its third consecutive top year, marking an increase of 50,000 visitors compared to 2024. In 2025, 84% of visitors came from the Netherlands and 16% from abroad; 33% were first-time visitors.
Exhibitions were highly rated by audiences, with an 8 for CUTE and an outstanding 9.2 for Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses. With this solid foundation, Kunsthal Rotterdam looks ahead to a new year featuring a diverse, contrasting programme developed in close collaboration with leading national and international partners. In autumn, the Kunsthal will present a major exhibition on the work and lasting influence of Neo-Impressionist Paul Signac.
Highlights on 2025
In addition to high visitor numbers, strong audience appreciation and unprecedented media attention for Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses, Kunsthal Rotterdam reflects on many other highlights in 2025. The Kunsthal participated in Rotterdam Art Week, presenting exhibitions such as Leap Year by South Korean artist Haegue Yang, and a major survey of Expressionist Max Pechstein, focusing on his search for harmony. The presentation of the nominees for the NN Art Award also took place at the Kunsthal, in collaboration with Nationale-Nederlanden (the Kunsthal’s main partner) and Art Rotterdam. The art prize will celebrate its tenth edition in 2026.
Other exhibitions ranged from the figurative wooden sculptures and reliefs of sculptor Stephan Balkenhol to the imaginative and compelling photography of Alessandra Sanguinetti. Marking 80 years of freedom, Kunsthal Rotterdam presented Lebensborn, in which documentary photographer Angeniet Berkers showed the results of her five-year investigation into the Nazi Lebensborn programme. In addition, the Kunsthal – together with the Vereniging Bedrijfscollecties Nederland – organised Blue Zone, bringing together more than seventy artworks from corporate collections around the theme of blue, ranging from painting to photography and light art.
A particularly striking exhibition in 2025 was CUTE, which explored cuteness as a cultural and visual phenomenon. Featuring work by both established and emerging international artists, the exhibition demonstrated how ‘cute’ can also refer to themes such as identity, consumer culture and technology. Together with the participatory programme De Grote Zomer Kunst Croquet, CUTE attracted a broad and relatively young audience and proved especially popular on social media. Since 13 December 2025, the absurdist work of British artist David Shrigley has been on view, running until 3 May 2026.
Audience engagement with Kunsthal LIVE
With a strong Kunsthal LIVE programme, accessible Friday Night LIVE evenings and a wide range of public activities, the Kunsthal reaffirmed its position as a dynamic cultural meeting place in the heart of Rotterdam. As part of the programme, the Kunsthal hosted Artist Talks with Iris van Herpen, Haegue Yang and David Shrigley. For Friday Night LIVE, Kunsthal Rotterdam collaborated in 2025 with Hiphop In Je Smoel, Lab-Z, Yardbird, Hipsick, De Parade, Onni Rotterdam, Camera Japan, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music and De Wasserij.
The annual Naked Tour once again sold out rapidly in 2025, while KunstKoppels (ArtCouples) facilitated numerous special encounters. In collaboration with the platform Toegankelijk Museum (Accessible Museum), guided tours in sign language were also offered.
Kunsthal Rotterdam thanks its partners, sponsors and visitors for their commitment in 2025 and looks ahead with confidence to a new year filled with stimulating exhibitions and public programmes!