Design Biennale Rotterdam

Details

Design Biennale Rotterdam, for its inaugral edition from Thursday 20 February to Sunday 2 March, will transform the city with exhibitions, talks, and events dedicated to collectible design. Centred on the theme What’s Real is Unfamiliar, the biennale captures Rotterdam’s no-nonsense spirit of reinvention and resilience, and its history of (re)building from the ground-up. It challenges us to rethink what we perceive as “real” or “familiar”, revealing the complexity and unexplored layers beneath the surface.

Design Biennale Rotterdam is raw, uncompromising, and entirely independent–powered by the strength of the local design community. This event is not built on subsidies but on the shared effort of hundreds of designers, curators, and creators from Rotterdam and beyond. The Design Biennale Rotterdam is not just a series of exhibitions. It is a collective statement that unapologetically claims space for design as a tool for critical conversation.

Programme Highlights
Groothandelsgebouw
The This is Us exhibition highlights bold works by Rotterdam designers from different generations, reflecting the city’s unique blend of industrial heritage and contemporary innovation.
aSR Building on Weena Abandoned office spaces close to Central Station are transformed through a captivating group exhibition exploring the intersection of present and future.
Baanhof
In this former RET electricity building, once responsible for managing the city’s public transportation systems, interior architect Robert van Oosterom presents A Promise of Happiness, a curated selection of design pieces exploring the delicate balance between individuality and harmony, with each piece telling its own story while still contributing to a collective narrative.
Huidenclub
The exhibition, curated by Biennale co-founder Liv Vaisberg, explores the complexities of diaspora and cross-identity, showcasing how designers of mixed heritage navigate cultural hybridity, reclaim traditions, and create innovative narratives that challenge dominant perspectives.
Katoenhuis
In this expansive venue, AI, 3D printing, and reimagined materials like plastic take centre stage by pushing the boundaries of design, challenging sustainability, and reshaping the future of production.

Professional Programme
Our professional programme spans two days, 19–20 February, at the beginning of the biennale, reserved for design professionals and anyone with a keen interest in design. The programme features two symposiums, masterclasses, private curator-led tours, networking opportunities, parties, and exclusive early access to the exhibitions.
Day 1: Nieuwe Instituut, Wednesday 19 February, 14:00–17:30
Day 2: Huidenclub, Thursday 20 February, 15:00–17:30

The Design Biennale’s Ambassadorial and Honorary Network
The 5 hosts are established, Rotterdam-based designers who will help to bring the Design Biennale to life through involvement in the programme, creative contributions, and fostering collaborations which connect the city’s design community internationally.
Ambassadorial Host Designers
Anna Aagaard Jensen
Sabine Marcelis
Chris Kabel
Laurids Gallée
Marga Weimans