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history of de Doelen

Welcome to de Doelen, a Rotterdam icon with a history dating back to 1622. Originally established as 'St. Joris Doele', the society of the longbow archers' guild, de Doelen has evolved into a leading concert hall and convention centre. Explore our journey through the centuries, from the first concerts by town musicians after 1680 at the Haagscheveer, to the opening of the 'Groote Doelezaal' on the Coolsingel in 1844, and the reconstruction after the destruction in 1940. Learn more about the evolution and highlights of this cultural icon.

Sat 1 Jan ’22

doelengeheugen

On May 18, 2016, De Doelen celebrated its 50th anniversary. The building on the Schouwburgplein, which is generally regarded as the final piece of the reconstruction and the start of the cultural reco…
history

legendary names

Aretha Franklin, Arthur Rubinstein, Tina and Ike Turner, Miles Davis, Nirvana, Alice Cooper, Herbert van Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker, The Who, Duke Ellington, Bruce Springsteen: the greate…
history

Pandora's Music Box

In 1985 the new wave pop festival Pandora's Music Box took place in De Doelen. It was the last edition of this leading festival, which with its innovative and spectacular programming would set an exam…
history

history

Information about the history of De Doelen in Rotterdam, which goes back centuries
history