Gabber, the high-energy hardcore techno genre defined by distorted kick drums and tempos pushing past 200 BPM, took shape in Rotterdam's underground clubs in the early 1990s, and the city has never quite shaken that restless, experimental energy. Rotterdam Records, founded by DJ Paul Elstak in 1992, helped carry that sound globally, while Clone Records built an entire ecosystem of sublabels, distribution, and a physical store around independent electronic music. The live scene today spans considerable ground: De Doelen hosts the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra alongside jazz and world music, while Rotterdam Ahoy is home to the NN North Sea Jazz Festival, the largest indoor jazz festival in the world. For smaller nights, Rotown on Nieuwe Binnenweg delivers intimate rock and indie sets, and Jazzcafe Dizzy stands as one of the premier jazz clubs in the Netherlands.
Upcoming concerts in Rotterdam
Zuiderpark Live: Herman van Veen
Fri 3 Jul · 18:30
Mon 6 Jul · 18:30
Zuiderpark Live: Floor Jansen
Thu 9 Jul · 17:30
Sat 11 Jul · 14:00
Koop hier je tickets!
