The N8W8 R'dam is committed to a vibrant and accessible nightlife for all Rotterdammers. We do this by promoting cooperation and information sharing and signalling and initiating social and societal developments in the night.
What do we do?
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Rotterdam has a huge history when it comes to going out. Katendrecht, for instance, just after, and during, World War II, was a free state that breathed jazz, and the 90s and 00s proved that Rotterdam has what it takes to be the nightlife capital of the Netherlands.
Objectives:
- Local initiatives and recurring club nights should become more visible in the city.
- Rotterdam's image as an entertainment city needs improvement.
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In urban development and locations, we focus on future urban developments that affect Rotterdam's nightlife. In the short term, you can think about new locations for night culture; in the long term, it is about how these places and creative clusters can grow in a socially sustainable way and be integrated into the existing urban fabric. The aim is to reserve physical space for the night in future zoning plans and area visions.
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Rotterdam is an attractive settlement city for young talent. Through subsidies, the city supports emerging artists to develop their skills and realise their ambitions. This financial support also provides room for experimentation, allowing creatives to carry out innovative and groundbreaking projects. This enables them to grow and contribute to Rotterdam's cultural landscape.
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A vibrant nightlife is characterised by the presence of a diverse range of small, medium-sized and large restaurants, cafes and clubs serving a variety of audience groups at night. A culturally-diverse nightlife is characterised by the presence of a cultural and ethnic mix on the dance floor and at the bar, as well as in the organisations of parties that together facilitate and make nightlife. A socially-inclusive nightlife stands for a nightlife in which all visitors, regardless of origin, orientation, age, gender, religion or other personal characteristics, are seen and treated equally and fully.
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The night is dynamic, multifaceted and cannot be captured. Yet we provide insight into the (current) state of the night by zooming in and collecting qualitative and quantitative data.This kind of research is crucial for making us tough on night, but also for growing nightlife as a professional field. By continuously documenting, learning and sharing knowledge, we can promote the development of the night and ensure that it remains a vibrant and sustainable part of the city.
Fields of work
The N8W8 R'dam is the reliable, independent and active discussion partner for all participants on the night, including municipality, entrepreneurs and residents. The N8W8 R'dam connects, identifies, puts on the agenda and stimulates.
The N8W8 brings together the knowledge present in Rotterdam, to achieve the ambitions of
pursue the city and make full use of the night in that process. We do this
not alone, but in collaboration with residents, businesses, knowledge institutions
and the municipality of Rotterdam. Our organisation takes initiative where necessary, but above all provides space and opportunity for other stakeholders in the city
to do business, meet, share knowledge and collaborate.
To be able to do this, there must be specialised knowledge within our advisory board of at least, but not only:
- Health and safety
- Events and clubs
- Social inclusiveness and cultural diversity
- Urban development
In addition, generalist knowledge of at least,
but not just the following scenes:
- Live music
- Electronic music
- Popular culture (hip-hop, R&B and so on)
- Queer community
Activities
City talk
The purpose of a city conversation is to create a platform where experts and experts by experience come together to address current urban issues. Each city conversation focuses on a specific theme. The audience plays an active role and is encouraged to ask questions, pitch ideas and participate in the discussion.
Programmers' meeting
During a programmers' meeting, we will explore knowledge about - and collaborations in the sector. Where do we find overlap, how can we collaborate and what is shared - and unique to certain communities? A united night is a strong night, because together you are stronger than alone.
Walk-in evening
During a drop-in evening, we bridge the gap between entrepreneurs, residents and government. We will explore where we find overlap, how we can work together and what is unique to different communities. Anyone who has anything to do with nightlife is welcome. We listen to everything, and the Municipality of Rotterdam is always there too.
Staff
Thys Boer
President
Thys is an expert on the social and cultural value of night. He published the collection of stories 'No day without night' in 2022. In addition to his work for the N8W8, Thys is also a core lecturer in Leisure & Events at the Willem de Kooning Academy.
Kim Nguyen
Sites & urban development
Kim is an urban designer, specialising in the spatial development of the city at night, in both the long and short term. She also works as a DJ, under the name Kimmah at home and abroad, where she finds her inspiration in the night and then brings it back to Rotterdam.
Epifania Queta
Inclusiveness & diversity
While studying in England, Epifania discovered a nightlife like she had never experienced before. The intense, enthusiastic and professional atmosphere left a lasting impression on her. Today, Epifania is committed to social inclusion and cultural diversity within nightlife. She also works as a marketing freelancer in the cultural sector.
Aniek de Rooij
Talent development & grants
Aniek has a background in music composition, marketing in the cultural sector and epidemiology. You can find her in nightlife and electronic music as a composer, live act and DJ under the name Alberta Balsam. Within the N8W8, she focuses on makers in the night and talent development.
Yasmin Ben Azouz
Research & knowledge sharing
Night culture and a clinical technology background may not seem like an obvious combination. Yet Yasmin puts her boiling hot heart for the night to work with a scientific eye, helping Rotterdam's nightlife take root and blossom into what it deserves to be.
Supervisory Board
T.B.A.
Our employees receive a monthly expense allowance.
Our Supervisory Board will provide unpaid supervision.
Thinking along about the night in Rotterdam?
The Night Service
The Night Service is ready for the Rotterdam night, may that be clear! We have joined hands with the municipality to get the night blooming like the Keukenhof.
What is the Night Shift?
The Night Service is an integral municipal counter i.s.m. N8W8 R'Dam, managed by Rotterdam municipality, to be contacted via nacht@rotterdam.nl or the site.
Why the Night Shift?
The Night Service exists to facilitate contact with the municipality for night makers and entrepreneurs, supported by N8W8 R'dam with knowledge and expertise of the Rotterdam night outside the municipal environment.
Do you have an idea for the Rotterdam night?
History
Rising for the Night
The story of the N8W8 R'dam began on 20 February 2019. On this day, hundreds of Rotterdammers gathered on Stadhuisplein for the Stand Up for the Night demonstration. This demonstration was organised because Rotterdammers were concerned about the state - and future - of nightlife in their city. The establishment of the N8W8 R'dam foundation is a direct result of this demonstration.
Golden Gnome Awards & Pitcher Perfect 010
However, more preceded the establishment of the foundation. On 2 April 2019, for instance, the Get Up for Night demonstration won the Well Done Gnome at the Golden Gnome awards in Amsterdam. This top prize at the 'Oscars of nightlife' once again demonstrated the national importance of a vibrant nightlife in Rotterdam. A few months later, the Pitcher Perfect 010 took place. At this pitch evening, organised by the Culture Department of the Municipality of Rotterdam, first place was won by the N8W8 R'dam. This not only meant that once again the broad
Kick-off N8W8 R'dam
With the Goed bezig kabouter and first place at Pitcher Perfect 010 in its pocket, the kick-off of N8W8 R'dam was organised in January 2020. During this well-attended event, the vision document was handed over to Said Kasmi, alderman for culture, and prominent figures from Dutch nightlife and the cultural sector entered into a dialogue about the role and position of nightlife in the modern city.
Establishment of foundation
Since its kick-off, the N8W8 R'dam foundation has developed into the reliable and independent discussion partner for stakeholders of the Rotterdam night. The foundation is responsible for campaigns such as De nacht blijft (thuis) en Geen dag zonder nacht, events such as the election debate and the talkseries Nachtleven tijdens en na corona and advice on, among other things, the usefulness and necessity of a night mayor in Rotterdam and hospitality plans and countless other activities.
The Night Remains (Home)
COVID-19 kept the night at home, with a devastating effect on nightlife. To combat this, Rotterdam and The Hague joined forces for a six-week streaming campaign. This gave artists the chance to share their skills and allowed audiences to discover new music and talks from the comfort of their own living rooms.
Poetry Prize
In 2022, we won Microlab's Poet Prize! As a result, we received €25,000 in office budget. This enabled us to invite visitors to our office at Microlab Rotterdam, at Aert van Nesstraat 45.
Incentive award
From 1 December to 8 December, the public could vote for different categories of the Rotterdam Music Awards. On 15 December, the big awards show took place at Theater Zuidplein. To our great surprise and honour, we won the Incentive Award that evening! This appreciation for our work filled us with pride and motivated us to work extra hard.
N8W8 2.0
Since 2024, the N8W8 has developed into a N8W8 2.0 variant, with the municipality of Rotterdam structurally supporting the foundation financially. As of this year, the foundation organises three City Talks, three Programmer Meetings, three Walk-in Evenings every year and plays an important role as the first point of contact for night entrepreneurs and in the Night Service.
RMIH Collaboration Challenge
During the anniversary evening of Rotterdam Make It Happen on 3 December, our project The spring of the night declared the winner. This project is not ours alone, but a collaboration with the Night Service, among others. The aim was to create a space at the former discotheque on Prins-Alexanderlaan 37 where young people, local residents and other initiators could experiment with creating (night) cultural programmes.
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