Not going home for the holidays? Don’t worry, we have got you covered! It is one of the loveliest times of the year, combined with all the decorations around the city which awaken the Christmas spirit. Here are 6 events that you can attend in Rotterdam during the holidays.
International Office EURly Christmas Dinner
Would you like to celebrate Christmas with your fellow students a bit early and enjoy a nice dinner that will make you feel at home? Then you should definitely join! The event will take place on the 19th of December at the Student Hotel for only 5 euros (includes three-course dinner plus drinks!). The spots are limited, so make sure to register as soon as possible. You can sign up for the event from here. For more information, check out the Facebook event.
Christmas Circus
There is a very famous Christmas circus starting from the 21st of December till the 30th of December held in Ahoy. There are various acts you can see. If you are someone that is interested in seeing world-class circus acts, definitely give the Christmas circus a chance, you probably won’t regret it! To get tickets, you can find the event on Ticketmaster.
National Fireworks
Looking for a cheap alternative? Then, end the year with a beautiful firework show next to the Erasmus bridge. You can watch the show for free from the Boompjeskade. The fireworks start around 00:00, however a lot of people start to gather around 22:30 to enjoy some music around the area and to eat oliebollen while waiting for the countdown. The Erasmus bridge will be closed from 6pm and public transport in the city will be ending around 8pm. Make sure you get there on time to watch the show!
Ice-Skating on Schaatsbaan
The park is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year! If you do not have any skates like me, you can borrow them for free at Plaswijckpark. The ice rink is accessible on Fridays and Saturdays. It is also open on 24th of December starting from 09:00 till 22:00. The opening of the skating rink will be on the 30th of November, and it will be completely free on that day.
De Doelen: Swan Lake
Do you like listening to Orchestras? Then this may be your cup of tea. The Philharmonic Orchestra of Rotterdam will be performing the Swan Lake. This event will be taking a place around 22nd and 23rd of December. If you are a fan of Swan Lake, this is a must for you! If you are not interested in this performance, there are other orchestras that will be playing around Christmas time in De Doelen, be sure to check their site out for more information.
Ijsvrij Festival 
Join the third year of Ijsvrij festival in its new location on Plein 1940. You can go there for skating, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying a program of music and theater. In addition, there are workshops for young and old people. The festival takes place between 14th of December till 12th of January 2020.
Written by Birsu Obalar, from the Content Committee