Kunsthal Rotterdam

So much to see and do at Kunsthal during Museumnacht010! A must-see is the absurdist exhibition What the Hell Was I Thinking? by David Shrigley. Draw his three-metre-tall nude model and encounter oversized inflatable sculptures, horseshoes made from meteorite, and tufts of fluff locked in battle. With sharp wit and deadpan humour, Shrigley zooms in on failure, doubt and the absurdity of everyday life – work that will make you laugh while also giving you plenty to think about. You can also discover the vibrant, layered paintings of Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, and travel back to Rotterdam around 1900, when the city was emerging as an international tourist destination.

Feel the vibe: Friday Night LIVE

During Museumnacht010, we immerse you in the true Kunsthal LIVE vibe. With music by Pretty Girls Like Trap Music and Hip Hop In Je Smoel, plus unexpected performances and activities, you’ll discover multiple highlights in one night. Expect a programme that sharpens your senses and keeps surprising you all evening long! 

Keep an eye on this page for the most up-to-date programme.

PROGRAMME

HIPHOP IN JE SMOEL

20:00 - 01:00 hrs
During Museumnacht010, Hiphop In Je Smoel takes over the Kunsthal Café for the first edition of Dropzone Marathon: a new stage where short showcases of fresh hip-hop talent follow each other in rapid succession. The line-up features Waiiress, Deppie, Lau, De$tiney, Jayd3n and Della Dix. Ella John headlines the night, while Bowie keeps everything flowing smoothly behind the decks. From boom bap to trappy, from melodic to hard-hitting, from rap to vocals: there’s something new to discover for every hip-hop lover at Kunsthal Rotterdam.

Pretty Girls Like Trap Music

20:00 - 01:00 hrs
Pretty Girls Like Trap Music is taking over the Auditorium at Kunsthal Rotterdam during Museumnacht010 with a Pretty Girls Like Karaoke, a high-energy night where music and community collide. Expect a space where voices are celebrated and everyone gets their moment to shine. From DJ-led warm-ups to full karaoke chaos, it’s all about having fun together. And want to level up your shine? 95gems will be setting tooth gems throughout the night, so you can hit the stage or the dance floor with extra sparkle.

Line-up
20:00 - 22:00 | Maybelise B2B Claire Lyons
22:00 - 00:00 | MC Fuegoomamii & Mixturess present: Pretty Girls Like Karaoke
00:00 - 01:00 | Lesfleursdumal

DESTINATION ROTTERDAM

20:00 – 01:00 hrs
In 2025, The New York Times declared Rotterdam one of the top ten must-visit cities in the world. Over 125 years ago, curious travellers were also drawn to Rotterdam, armed with an iconic, red Baedeker travel guide. Tourists have since been discovering the most beautiful spots in this city in full transition: from classical merchant city to modern metropolis. The exhibition Destination Rotterdam at the Kunsthal highlights this period of rapid growth, innovation, and international flair and shows how a city like Rotterdam was able to become an increasingly attractive travel destination for tourists from all over the world around 1900. Read more

DAVID SHRIGLEY: WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?

20:00 – 01:00 hrs
With his dryly comic drawings, absurdist installations and sharp observations, British artist David Shrigley (1968) offers a humorous and critical view of life and the art world. In the exhibition What the Hell Was I Thinking? Shrigley turns that gaze inward for the first time, giving you a glimpse inside his mind. He provides witty commentary throughout the exhibition, with observations that scrutinise both society and his own work. The presentation shows how he looks back on earlier pieces, reworks ideas, and gives space to doubt. For Shrigley, being an artist is not about lofty genius, but about a process of experimentation and reflection. Read more

DJ Miguel Herreras

20:00 - 23:00 hrs
DJ Miguel Herreras activates the Kunsthal’s iconic ramp and HALL 6, the building’s display window. His music forms a temporary layer over Continuum, the site-specific work by artist and designer Sabine Marcelis. The project was developed as part of the Kunsthal Inside/Out programme, in which designers are invited to create new work that is visible both inside and outside the Kunsthal. Read more

KUDZANAI-VIOLET HWAMI: THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE

20:00 – 01:00 hrs
The Kunsthal presents the first solo exhibition in the Netherlands by Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai-Violet Hwami (b. 1993). Specially for They have always been here, Hwami is creating new work, including layered paintings, digitally reworked photographs, and her very first bronze sculptures. With rich, saturated colours, personal photographs and archival material, she draws attention to people who have often been rendered invisible in history – in particular queer people of colour within the African diaspora. Read more