{"id":10949,"date":"2026-07-02T12:58:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T10:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rotterdammakeithappen.nl\/verhalen\/het-hart-van-de-zomer-klopt-in-rotterdam\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T12:55:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:55:24","slug":"the-heart-of-summer-beats-in-rotterdam","status":"publish","type":"verhaal","link":"https:\/\/rotterdammakeithappen.nl\/en\/stories\/the-heart-of-summer-beats-in-rotterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"The heart of summer beats in Rotterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;155363&#8243;]<strong>When the sun is high in the sky and the city hums with energy, something magical happens in Rotterdam. The city comes alive, in every sense. Music drifts from every corner of the centre, bodies move to the rhythm of brass bands, and feathers, glitter, and flags from every corner of the world fill the streets. It\u2019s time for the Summer Carnival.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;]<div class=\"br-custom-youtube\" style=\"max-width:100%; margin: 20px 0; position: relative; aspect-ratio: 16\/9; background: #000; border-radius: 4px; overflow: hidden;\"><div style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; background: #1a1a1a; color: #fff; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; text-align: center; padding: 20px; box-sizing: border-box;\"><p style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; font-family: sans-serif;\">Accepteer marketing cookies om deze video te bekijken.<\/p><button type=\"button\" data-action=\"show-consent-banner\" style=\"background: #ff0000; color: #fff; border: none; padding: 12px 24px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 4px; text-transform: uppercase;\">Cookie instellingen<\/button><\/div><script>\r\n            (function() {\r\n                var checkConsentAndReload = function() {\r\n                    if (document.cookie.indexOf('marketing') > -1) {\r\n                        window.location.reload();\r\n                    }\r\n                };\r\n\r\n                \/\/ 1. Luister naar het offici\u00eble event\r\n                document.addEventListener('consent_studio_consent_updated', function() {\r\n                    setTimeout(checkConsentAndReload, 500);\r\n                });\r\n\r\n                \/\/ 2. Backup: Luister naar clicks op de knoppen in de banner (die pas later in de DOM komen)\r\n                document.addEventListener('click', function(e) {\r\n                    \/\/ Zoek naar knoppen die de banner opslaan (vaak classes zoals cs-accept of data-attributen)\r\n                    if (e.target.closest('.cs-accept-all, .cs-save-settings, [data-action=\"hide-consent-banner\"]')) {\r\n                        setTimeout(checkConsentAndReload, 800);\r\n                    }\r\n                });\r\n\r\n                \/\/ 3. Extra interval check voor 5 seconden nadat de knop is ingedrukt\r\n                var btn = document.querySelector('[data-action=\"show-consent-banner\"]');\r\n                if (btn) {\r\n                    btn.addEventListener('click', function() {\r\n                        var attempts = 0;\r\n                        var interval = setInterval(function() {\r\n                            attempts++;\r\n                            if (document.cookie.indexOf('marketing') > -1) {\r\n                                clearInterval(interval);\r\n                                window.location.reload();\r\n                            }\r\n                            if (attempts > 20) clearInterval(interval); \/\/ Stop na 10 sec\r\n                        }, 500);\r\n                    });\r\n                }\r\n            })();\r\n        <\/script><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;100971&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;823469&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2><strong>A city of the world, a celebration for everyone<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Rotterdam is home to more than 170 nationalities. People with roots in the Caribbean, West Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and far beyond. What connects them? A city where everyone finds their place, and an event where everyone feels seen.[\/vc_column_text]<blockquote class=\"br-custom-quote\">This is no ordinary event. It is a living story.<\/blockquote>[vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;514862&#8243;]The <a href=\"https:\/\/rotterdamunlimited.com\/\">Summer Carnival<\/a> began as an initiative of a small community, a way to make the culture of Cura\u00e7ao and other Caribbean islands visible. But it grew quickly. Today it is one of the biggest parades in Europe, with more than 25 floats and a wonderful mix of visitors from near and far.[\/vc_column_text][vc_gallery el_id=&#8221;gallery-192790&#8243; type=&#8221;sticky-scroll&#8221; medias=&#8221;12091,12092,12093&#8243; sticky_th_grid_lg=&#8221;3&#8243; sticky_th_grid_md=&#8221;3&#8243; sticky_th_grid_sm=&#8221;1&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; media_items=&#8221;media|lightbox|original,icon,caption&#8221; single_overlay_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; single_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;163804&#8243; title=&#8221;TwitchCon 2026 Rotterdam&#8221;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;133809&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2><strong>From street party to cultural heritage<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In 2023, something remarkable happened. The Summer Carnival was officially inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A global recognition of what Rotterdam had always known: this is no ordinary event. It is a living story.<\/p>\n<p>A story about migration, culture, expression, and freedom. A story that connects generations and keeps traditions alive. A story that is written anew every year by the people who make it possible.<\/p>\n<p>From the costume designers who spend months crafting handmade creations, to the musicians who feel every beat in their bones. From the visitors who lift their children onto their shoulders, to the dancers who surpass themselves.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=&#8221;12088&#8243; caption=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;968199&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;165239&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Forty years of Summer Carnival<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>That significance was underlined again in 2026 with the award of the Oeuvre Prijs Rotterdam. This prestigious distinction is presented only once every five years to individuals or organisations of lasting importance to the city and its international profile. The prize is a recognition of more than forty years of Summer Carnival and of all the communities, makers, volunteers, and partners who have built the event into what it is today: a powerful symbol of Rotterdam identity.[\/vc_column_text]<blockquote class=\"br-custom-quote\">Here we celebrate what connects us. Here we show the richness of who we are.<\/blockquote>[vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;181643&#8243;]The recognition by UNESCO and the Oeuvre Prijs together offer a new opportunity: to tell Rotterdam\u2019s story to the world. As a city unafraid of change. As a city that makes room, for expression, for identity, for one another.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; row_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;200507&#8243;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;992284&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;12089&#8243; caption=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;186916&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;12090&#8243; caption=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;161848&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;171040&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Celebrating what connects us<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This event shows what makes Rotterdam unique: a vibrant city where differences don\u2019t stay apart, but come together. Here we celebrate what connects us. Here we show the richness of who we are. It\u2019s no coincidence that the Summer Carnival is one of the six iconic events through which Rotterdam presents itself internationally. You feel it in the energy of the parade, see it in the faces of the crowd, hear it in the drums that keep sounding deep into the night.<\/p>\n<p>Want to know more? Visit the website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zomercarnaval.nl\">via this link<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;155363&#8243;]When the sun is high in the sky and the city hums with energy, something magical happens in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12084,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10949","verhaal","type-verhaal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The heart of summer beats in Rotterdam - Rotterdam Make It Happen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the magic of Rotterdam&#039;s Zomercarnaval, a celebration of music and culture recognised by UNESCO. 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