about de Doelen
In the heart of Rotterdam, just a stone’s throw from Rotterdam Central Station, the Oude Westen, and the Lijnbaan, stands de Doelen—one of the city’s most iconic buildings. For over half a century, de Doelen has been a renowned concert hall, pop venue, festival hub, conference center, and event location, welcoming people from Rotterdam and beyond.
In our programming, partnerships, staff, and audience, we strive for a diversity that truly reflects the world around us.
concerts and events
Each year, nearly five hundred concerts and events take place at de Doelen, attracting 400,000 visitors. We curate and develop innovative concert programs in collaboration with renowned creators and ensembles. Across all music genres, we seek innovation: from classical to pop, jazz to reggae, and from traditional to hip-hop. Our future vision is clear: to be a vibrant institution that connects with the city and its residents more than ever before, serving as a meeting place for young and old alike. Check out the agenda for all cultural events!
conferences and conventions
In addition to concerts and events, we are also a state-of-the-art conference center. This combination of two distinct functions makes us the largest in the Netherlands.
We organize, in collaboration with partners, clients, and stakeholders, conventions and conferences ranging from 100 to 3,000 participants. From film festivals and tech events to medical conferences and lectures on sustainability initiatives. From local to international. As long as it aligns with who we are and what we stand for, the possibilities are endless!
history
De Doelen is a Rotterdam icon with a history dating back to 1622, when "St. Joris Doele" served as the guild hall for the city's crossbowmen. After 1680, city musicians began giving regular concerts at "De Doele" on the Haagscheveer, near the Delftsche Poort. In 1697, the city council granted "De Doele" permission to host public concerts, provided they were "held without the slightest impropriety and no alcoholic beverages were consumed."
In 1844, the "Groote Doelezaal" on the Coolsingel was opened to replace "De Doele" on the Haagscheveer. After nearly a century of use as a concert hall and event venue, the building was closed in 1930 due to structural issues.
The new Doelenzaal, inaugurated in 1934, was destroyed in the May 1940 bombing of Rotterdam. This tragic event not only obliterated the historic heart of the city but also decimated a vibrant, diverse, and internationally renowned music scene.
A major milestone in de Doelen’s history occurred on May 18, 1966, during the annual Opbouwdag celebrations. The official opening of de Doelen at the Schouwburgplein, a cultural monument designed by Rotterdam’s Kraaijevanger architects, marked a significant achievement in the city's post-war reconstruction. The opening of such a cultural palace was seen as the crowning moment of the rebuilding efforts. Want to learn more about the history of de Doelen?
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