{"id":11022,"date":"2025-11-13T16:26:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T14:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rotterdammakeithappen.nl\/?post_type=verhaal&#038;p=11022"},"modified":"2025-12-05T13:35:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T11:35:16","slug":"11022","status":"publish","type":"verhaal","link":"https:\/\/rotterdammakeithappen.nl\/en\/stories\/11022\/","title":{"rendered":"Rotterdam turns on the lights"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column]<div class=\"br-custom-youtube\" style=\"max-width:100%;\"><iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uB8cDfueGPc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>[vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"171\" data-end=\"209\"><strong data-start=\"177\" data-end=\"209\">Rotterdam Turns On the Light<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"211\" data-end=\"552\"><em><strong>In the darkest months of the year, Rotterdam chooses to bring light \u2014 not only in a literal sense, but above all, in a symbolic one.<\/strong><\/em><br data-start=\"343\" data-end=\"346\" \/><em><strong>On Thursday, November 13, 2025, we turn on the light together \u2014 a symbol of connection, warmth, and pride. Because in Rotterdam, we believe that light creates connection, and connection creates light.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"897\">What began as a joint brainstorm at Rotterdam Central Station has grown into a powerful campaign that mirrors the city itself: diverse, energetic, and always on the move.<br data-start=\"728\" data-end=\"731\" \/>The video <em data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"773\">\u201cRotterdam Turns On the Light\u201d<\/em> is the result of this collaboration \u2014 a mosaic of stories, people, and places that together reflect the soul of the city.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"899\" data-end=\"1344\">In it, Rotterdammers come together \u2014 entrepreneurs, athletes, scientists, artists, students, and residents \u2014 to put their city in the spotlight.<br data-start=\"1043\" data-end=\"1046\" \/>With over 40 Rotterdam-based brands and organizations, we work together to put the city on the map, both locally and internationally.<br data-start=\"1183\" data-end=\"1186\" \/>We highlight iconic companies, inspiring <em data-start=\"1227\" data-end=\"1247\">Make it Happenaars<\/em>, unique initiatives, and true \u201ccity warmers\u201d \u2014 people and organizations who make a difference.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1519\">That\u2019s what being Rotterdams is all about: the power of collaboration, of lifting each other up, of showing pride without pretense.<br data-start=\"1477\" data-end=\"1480\" \/>That\u2019s bold, forward and culture.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1521\" data-end=\"1654\">When you shine a light on these stories, you create connection. And that connection? It keeps bringing new light \u2014 again and again.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1661\" data-end=\"1693\"><strong data-start=\"1668\" data-end=\"1693\">Six Beacons, One City<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1695\" data-end=\"1837\">Six themes form the red thread running through the film:<br data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1754\" \/><strong data-start=\"1754\" data-end=\"1835\">Connectivity | Sports | Festivals | Port | Health &amp; Science | Arts &amp; Culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1839\" data-end=\"2087\">Each theme tells its own story, yet together they illuminate Rotterdam as one.<br data-start=\"1917\" data-end=\"1920\" \/>The video doesn\u2019t just show images \u2014 it captures a feeling: a city that never stands still.<br data-start=\"2011\" data-end=\"2014\" \/>A community that, even in winter, is guided by hope, energy, and pride.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2094\" data-end=\"2133\"><strong data-start=\"2101\" data-end=\"2133\">Rotterdam Turn On The Lights<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2094\" data-end=\"2133\">The video premiered on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM at Stationsplein, during the <em data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2265\">Rotterdam Turn On The Lights<\/em> event.<br data-start=\"2272\" data-end=\"2275\" \/>At that moment, the winter lights of Rotterdam Central Station, the Groot Handelsgebouw, and the Weena were festively switched on \u2014 marking the start of the Rotterdam Warm Winter Weeks.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2480\" data-end=\"2660\">For the first time, the entire Rotterdam Central District was literally illuminated.<br data-start=\"2568\" data-end=\"2571\" \/>Everyone was invited to join the countdown and raise a glass to a warm, radiant winter.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2667\" data-end=\"2699\"><strong data-start=\"2674\" data-end=\"2699\">A Collective Movement<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2701\" data-end=\"3049\">All members of the Rotterdam. Make It Happen. brand alliance shared the video simultaneously on November 13, spreading the message that light connects.<br data-start=\"2856\" data-end=\"2859\" \/>We also invited everyone to turn on their own lights \u2014 at the office, by a public artwork, or simply on their bike ride home.<br data-start=\"2984\" data-end=\"2987\" \/>Because every spark of light contributes to a brighter city.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3051\" data-end=\"3264\">Together, we make visible what Rotterdam has always been:<br data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3111\" \/>a city of doers, dreamers, and connectors.<br data-start=\"3153\" data-end=\"3156\" \/>A city that shines.<br data-start=\"3175\" data-end=\"3178\" \/>A city that says:<br data-start=\"3231\" data-end=\"3234\" \/><strong data-start=\"3234\" data-end=\"3264\">Rotterdam. Make It Happen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;]<blockquote class=\"br-custom-quote\">\u201cIn Rotterdam, we don\u2019t just turn on the city lights \u2014 we shine the spotlight on the Make it Happenaars. Because when we share our stories and take the stage together, we show what Rotterdam truly stands for.\u201d<\/blockquote> <span class=\"br-custom-quote-contributor\">Larissa Verbaas, Connector Partnerships &amp; Content, Rotterdam. Make It Happen.<\/span>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;11020&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;107923&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Rotterdam Turns On the Light In the darkest months of the year, Rotterdam chooses to bring light \u2014 not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":11021,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11022","verhaal","type-verhaal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rotterdam turns on the lights - Rotterdam Make It Happen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rotterdammakeithappen.nl\/en\/stories\/11022\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rotterdam turns on the lights - 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