Editing Rotterdam (section)

==Culture==
[[File:HerdenkingVuurgrensRotterdam1940 2007 edit1.jpg|thumb|Rotterdam waterfront, with spotlights shining into the air to commemorate the [[Rotterdam Blitz]]]]
Once primarily a city of labour, for its harbour and related industries, Rotterdam has now developed into a city of culture too, with various museums, cultural centres and activities, offering a stage for [[#Architecture|architecture]], music, visuals arts, poetry, cinema, theatre, and culture more generally, with a range of festivals and other events, and a buzzing nightlife. The city has its own orchestra, the [[Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra]], with its well-regarded young music director [[Lahav Shani]], which plays at the congress and concert building ''[[De Doelen]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra |url=https://www.rotterdamsphilharmonisch.nl/ |access-date=20 December 2023 |website=www.rotterdamsphilharmonisch.nl |language=nl}}</ref>  The [[Rotterdam Ahoy|Ahoy]] complex in the south of the city is used for pop concerts, exhibitions, tennis tournaments and other activities. There are also several theatres and cinemas, including [[New Orleans (Rotterdam)|LantarenVenster]] and [[Cinerama (Rotterdam)|Cinerama.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Cinerama Rotterdam (1960 – heden) |url=https://bioscoopgeschiedenis.com/bioscopen/zuid-holland/rotterdam/cinerama-rotterdam-1960-heden.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324135749/https://bioscoopgeschiedenis.com/bioscopen/zuid-holland/rotterdam/cinerama-rotterdam-1960-heden.html |archive-date=24 March 2019 |access-date=20 July 2020 |website=Bioscoop Geschiedenis}}</ref> 

Alongside [[Porto]], Rotterdam was [[European Capital of Culture]] in 2001.

=== Museums, libraries and archives ===
Rotterdam has various cultural institutions. Well-known [[museum]]s are the [[Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen]], [[Het Nieuwe Instituut]], the [[Wereldmuseum]], the [[Kunsthal]], [[Kunstinstituut Melly]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Witte de With museum |url=http://www.wdw.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519121705/http://www.wdw.nl/ |archive-date=19 May 2008 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref> and the [[Maritime Museum Rotterdam]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Maritiem Museum official site |url=http://www.maritiemmuseum.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010220183748/http://www.maritiemmuseum.nl/ |archive-date=20 February 2001 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref> The Historical Museum Rotterdam has changed into [[Museum Rotterdam]], which aims to exhibit the development of Rotterdam as a contemporary transnational city, and not merely the city's past.<ref>[https://museumrotterdam.nl/en/ Museum Rotterdam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505051131/https://museumrotterdam.nl/en/|date=5 May 2016}}, retrieved 25 April 2016.</ref> Other museums include the [[:nl:Belasting & Douane Museum|Tax & Customs Museum]], the [[Netherlands Marine Corps Museum]], [[Rotterdam Public Transport Museum]] and the [[Natural History Museum Rotterdam|Natural History Museum]]. The [[FENIX Museum of Migration]] is scheduled to open in 2025.<ref>De volkskrant, 18 December 2023, p. V2-3.</ref>

The first municipal library of Rotterdam was founded in 1604. The current [[:nl:Bibliotheek_Rotterdam|Bibliotheek Rotterdam]] (Public library), was established in 1869, and is currently the largest cultural organization in Rotterdam, with fifteen branches across the city. 

The Rotterdam City Archives (''Stadsarchief Rotterdam'') was established in 1857. Here one can find administrative records and sources about the city's historical development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stadsarchief Rotterdam |title=Archives |url=https://www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/english/search/archives/index.xml |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=Stadsarchief Rotterdam |language=nl}}</ref> The archival holdings include, among other, general archives, notarial deeds, an audiovisual collection, and a library.

=== Popular music, film, festivals ===
Rotterdam has a long tradition of popular music, including the city's Jazz scene before and after WWII.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zirkzee |first=Hans |title=Jazz in Rotterdam: De geschiedenis van een grote stadscultuur |publisher=Uitgeverij Lecturis |year=2015 |isbn=9789462261334 |location=Eindhoven}}</ref> A major historical moment in the city's music history is the legendary [[Kralingen Music Festival|Kralingen Pop Festival]], which took place in Rotterdam in 1970 (featuring, among other, [[Pink Floyd]], [[Jefferson Airplane]], [[The Byrds]], [[Canned Heat]], [[It's a Beautiful Day]], and [[Santana (band)|Santana]]). The festival was also made into a film, ''Stamping Ground'' (dir. George Sluizer).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eye Filmmuseum |title=Stamping Ground [Film 1970] |url=https://player.eyefilm.nl/nl/films/stamping-ground-directors-cut |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=Eye Film Player}}</ref> Alternative (music) culture became prominently present in the city in these days. From the 1960s until the 2000s, Rotterdam had a thriving [[squatting|squatters movement]], which not only accommodated thousands of people, but also created social centres and cultural venues.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dee |first=E.T.C. |title=Squatting the Grey City |date=2018 |publisher=Cobble Books |isbn=9780244385804 |location=Rotterdam |page=256}}</ref> From this movement came clubs like Boogjes, Eksit, Nighttown, Vlerk and Waterfront. A major reference is [[Poortgebouw]], which was squatted in 1980 and quickly legalised.  

Rotterdam also became the home of [[Gabber]], a type of hardcore electronic music popular in the mid-1990s, with hard beats and samples. Groups like [[Neophyte (band)|Neophyte]] and [[Rotterdam Terror Corps]] (RTC) started in Rotterdam, playing at clubs like Parkzicht. In the years 2005–2011, the city struggled with keeping venues for pop music; many of them suffered severe financial problems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2006 |title=Nighttown gesloten door curator |url=https://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/overzicht/2006/juli/nighttown-gesloten-door-curator.html |access-date=20 December 2023 |website=3voor12 |language=nl}}</ref> This resulted in the disappearance of the major music venues Nighttown and WATT and smaller stages such as Waterfront, Exit, and Heidegger. The city today has a few stages for [[pop music]], like [[Rotown]], [[Poortgebouw]] and Annabel. Additionally, the venue [[WORM (Rotterdam)|WORM]] focuses on [[experimental music]], as well as various other cultural activities.   

WORM also screens films and hosts a film lab, ''Filmwerkplaats''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Worm |title=Filmwerkplaats - Worm - A Rotterdam based organisation working at the intersection of culture and arts. |url=https://worm.org/spaces/filmwerkplaats/ |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=Worm |language=en}}</ref> In fact, Rotterdam has an extensive film history,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paalman |first=Floris |title=Cinematic Rotterdam: The Times and Tides of a Modern City |publisher=010 Publishers |year=2011 |isbn=9789064507663 |publication-place=Rotterdam}}</ref> ranging from avant-garde classics, such as [[De brug|The Bridge]] ([[Joris Ivens|Ivens]], 1928), to internationally acclaimed documentaries from the post-war era, such as [[Houen zo!|Steady!]] (Van der Horst, 1952), and all kinds of fiction films. Of major importance within this context has also been the [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]] (IFFR), an annual event that lasts more than ten days (end of January, beginning of February), which has been organized since 1972. Besides the IFFR, several smaller film festivals take place in Rotterdam too, such as the [[Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam]] (AFFR).   

Throughout the year, many different festivals take place in Rotterdam. There are the summer festivals celebrating the city's multicultural population and identity, such as the Caribbean-inspired "[[Summer Carnival]]", the Dance Parade, Rotterdam 666, and the Metropolis pop festival. There are also [[Poetry International Web|Poetry International]] (in June), the [[North Sea Jazz Festival]] (in July), the Valery Gergiev Festival (in September), and, also in September, the festival 'September in Rotterdam', the festival 'World of the Witte de With Quaret', and the [[World Port Days]]. 

=== Eurovision Song Contest ===
[[File:ESC 2021 Rotterdam - Artwork at Ahoy Parking.jpg|thumb|City decor for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2021]]|left]]
On 30 August 2019, it was announced by the [[European Broadcasting Union]] and Dutch television broadcasters [[AVROTROS]], [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] and [[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (organization)|NPO]], that Rotterdam would host the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2020]], following the Dutch victory at the {{Escyr|2019}} contest in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]] with the song "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]", performed by [[Duncan Laurence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam to host Eurovision 2020! |date=30 August 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/rotterdam-to-host-eurovision-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002072007/https://eurovision.tv/story/rotterdam-to-host-eurovision-2020 |archive-date=2 October 2019 |access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> However, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe]], the 2020 contest was cancelled, and Rotterdam was later retained as host of the {{Escyr|2021}} contest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation |date=18 March 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318142008/https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |archive-date=18 March 2020 |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam returns as Eurovision Song Contest Host City in 2021 |date=16 May 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-to-return-to-rotterdam-in-2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517081418/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-to-return-to-rotterdam-in-2021 |archive-date=17 May 2020 |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> The contest took place at [[Rotterdam Ahoy]], with the semi-finals taking place on 18 and 20 May 2021, and the final taking place on 22 May 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dates for Eurovision 2021 announced |date=15 June 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/dates-for-eurovision-2021-announced |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615113932/https://eurovision.tv/story/dates-for-eurovision-2021-announced |archive-date=15 June 2020 |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref> This was the first time that Rotterdam hosted the contest, and the first time that the Netherlands hosted the contest since {{Escyr|1980}}, when it was held in [[The Hague]].

=== Rivalry ===
There is a healthy competition with [[Amsterdam]], which is often viewed as the cultural capital of the Netherlands. This rivalry is most common amongst the city's football supporters, [[Feyenoord]] (Rotterdam) and [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] (Amsterdam). There is a saying: "Amsterdam to party, Den Haag (The Hague) to live, Rotterdam to work". Another one, more popular by Rotterdammers, is "Money is earned in Rotterdam, distributed in The Hague and spent in Amsterdam".<ref>Joanna Shapland (Editor){{google books|UF0EXPYmo-4C|Justice, Community Civil Society: A Contested Terrain (2013)|page=92}}</ref> Another saying that reflects both the rivalry between Rotterdam and Amsterdam is "Amsterdam has it, Rotterdam doesn't need it". Bright magazine editor Erwin van der Zande notes that this phrase is on T-shirts in Rotterdam.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam, Netherlands – We Be High |url=https://webehigh.org/rotterdam-netherlands/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704231628/https://webehigh.org/rotterdam-netherlands/ |archive-date=4 July 2020 |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>