Faces of Rotterdam’s multiculturalism

Carnival comes to Europe on the streets of Rotterdam, where colour meets energy and explodes across the city. And these are its faces.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

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Photos of Rotterdam Unlimited

Carnival comes to Europe on the streets of Rotterdam. This is the largest festival in the Netherlands, where colour meets energy and explodes across the city.

The Rotterdam Unlimited festival is held over a whole weekend with a drum battle, free outdoor concerts, poetry readings, and art events. But the street parade on the Saturday afternoon is the highlight.

Yesterday I wrote all about the Rotterdam Unlimited festival and you can read that post to find out more about the history.

And while the development of the festival and the work involved to put it together every year are very interesting, it’s the spectacle that really draws you in.

Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands

A lot of work goes into the costumes and the floats that are paraded through the main streets of Rotterdam each year. Some groups work intensely for just a few days to prepare while others are more gradual, taking almost two months to pull everything together.

When you see them all, dazzling in the sunlight, it doesn’t matter. They’re all spectacular and for several hours they snake through the city streets like a musical rainbow serpent.

The crowds of onlookers along the footpaths are here for a show. They understand the significance of the event – the celebration of diversity and of the assimilation of people from a new world colonised by the Dutch but always true to its own culture.

The people drinking and cheering as the floats pass are, by the act of being here, part of this acceptance of multiculturalism.

Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands

But, let’s be honest… they’re mainly here for the show.

And so, with that in mind, let me share some more photos from the street parade of Rotterdam Unlimited.

Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands
Rotterdam Unlimited festival photos, Netherlands

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN ROTTERDAM

As you would expect in Rotterdam, there are some very cool and interesting accommodation options in the city.

BACKPACKER

For one of the best backpacker options in the whole country, check out King Kong Hostel.

BUDGET

Hotel Bazar has some really funky rooms and with the huge breakfast, it’s great value.

BOUTIQUE

For a bit of history, you can stay in the beautifully-designed Hotel New York.

LUXURY

And I think the best modern luxury in the city is the stunning Mainport Design Hotel on the water.

Time Travel Turtle was a guest of Rotterdam Marketing but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

3 thoughts on “Faces of Rotterdam’s multiculturalism”

  1. We were just in Rotterdam about a week and a half ago and it’s got all of that colourful multicultural-ness just a stones throw away from the central station. We loved it.

    Wish we could have been there during this fantastic looking parade too though.

    Reply

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