De Wereldhavendagen

Wereldhavendagen: connecting the port, the city and its people

Curious about the impact of the Port of Rotterdam on the city, the region and far beyond? On 4, 5 and 6 September you can discover it again at the 49th edition of Wereldhavendagen (World Port Days)! For three days, hundreds of thousands of visitors experience the impact the port has on the city, the region and its hinterland, the career opportunities it offers, and how we’re working together to build a liveable, safe and future-proof port city.

The Port Comes to Life

Hundreds of thousands of visitors wander along the quays, climb aboard all kinds of ships, watch spectacular shows on the water in awe, and take a look behind the gates of the Port of Rotterdam that are normally closed to the public during the excursions. You’ll experience the dynamism, innovation and pride firsthand. Because Rotterdam isn’t a city by the port. Rotterdam is the port. And you feel that in every fibre of the city during this iconic event.

More than a Maritime spectacle

What started as a relatively small public event grew into one of the largest maritime festivals in Europe. In the 1970s, families flocked to the quays for a glimpse of tugboats and submarines. Today, it’s a three-day spectacle that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, from the Netherlands and abroad. In 2023, the event was even named one of the top 10 best festivals in Rotterdam’s history — a recognition that goes beyond scale or spectacle: it’s about the soul of the city.

The Port of tomorrow

In 2026, Wereldhavendagen shows you how the Port of Rotterdam is changing. The energy transition, the impact on the city’s liveability and safety, the geopolitical situation, and shifts in international trade are forcing the port to make tough choices. Wereldhavendagen makes visible how the port functions as a lifeline and a source of inspiration, where people and companies work hard every day to keep it strong, independent and resilient. This is where innovation and craftsmanship come together. Young people marvelling at drones, electric tugboats and robot-operated cranes. Children watching wide-eyed as a diving show or a rescue operation unfolds on the water. And older visitors smiling as they recall their own time in the port — or that of their parents.

Where talent discovers the future

But Wereldhavendagen is more than a public festival. It’s also a showcase of opportunities. Friday, for instance, is always dedicated to young people, education and careers. During a varied programme at the Cruise Terminal, school and university students, young professionals, career changers and jobseekers discover every possible future in the port. There are scavenger hunts for the youngest visitors, a job market and inspiration sessions at the MATCH Career Event, the Port Hackathon, special youth excursions and shows, and a diverse cultural programme.

The story behind the port

The magic of Wereldhavendagen lies in the combination of spectacle and authenticity. The fireworks over the Nieuwe Maas are grand, but the real power lies in the stories beneath them. Stories of port workers, marines, engineers and students. Stories that reveal what has defined Rotterdam for centuries: not dreaming, but doing. Not talking, but making. Pushing boundaries, on the water and on land.

Wereldhavendagen is more than a festival. It’s a reflection of Rotterdam itself: raw, straightforward, yet full of ambition and connection. And every year, it proves once again why this city can’t — and won’t — stand still.

Because whoever discovers the port, discovers Rotterdam and its people.

Discover the programme at www.wereldhavendagen.nl.