The Rhythm Remains

On 1 July, Hiphophuis, House of Knowledge, Kunstinstituut Melly and Operator come together to mark Keti Koti with an afternoon of food, music and community.

As we commemorate the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the former Dutch Antilles, we invite our communities to gather, reflect, connect and celebrate. Together, we create space for remembrance and joy, honouring the resilience, creativity and cultural traditions that continue to shape us today.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors are welcome to share a Heri Heri meal as part of KIP Republic’s Free Heri Heri For All initiative, while DJs Mo Wright and Watra Zola provide the soundtrack for the day. Moving through sounds from across the African diaspora, their selections celebrate the rhythms, stories and musical traditions that have travelled across generations, oceans and borders.

Come share a meal, stay for a drink, meet old and new friends, dance, reflect and celebrate with us.
Because while histories may be interrupted, displaced or forgotten, the rhythm remains.

1 July | 12:00 – 15:00
📍Melly Cantina

Music by Mo Wright & Watra Zola
Livestream by Operator

Program in Hiphophuis

12:00 – 13:30 DJ Set Mo Wright (in Melly Cantina)
13:30 – 15:00 DJ Set Watra Zola (in Melly Cantina)
12:00 – 16:00 Exhibitions and community market (In Hiphophuis)
14:00 – 20:00 Skate Contest for Skatepark fundraiser in Suriname by Glemiël Devano

Keti Koti means “the chains are broken.” On 1 July 1863, slavery was officially abolished in Suriname and the Dutch Antilles, but the weight of that history is still felt today. In our communities, in our culture, in our streets. Keti Koti is the moment to acknowledge that, to remember it, and to celebrate what was built in spite of the resilience, the creativity, and the joy that never left.

Hip-hop is itself a product of that resilience. Born in Black communities as a response to oppression and neglect, it grew into one of the most powerful cultural movements the world has ever seen. Keti Koti and hip-hop share the same roots: resistance, community, and the refusal to be invisible.

On Saturday 27 June, HipHopHuis brings its own programming as a partner of Theater Rotterdam’s Keti Koti 2026. From a talk to a documentary screening to a community market and exhibition, ending with a brass band leading you straight to the Keti Koti Block Party at TR.

Program in Hiphophuis

13:00 Doors open
13.00 Exhibitions and community market
13:30 – 14:30 Talk: The history of the block party (Maarten van Hinte)
14:45 – 15:45 Documentary screening: Tra Fasi
15:45 – 16:30 Q&A and closing
16:30 Brass band to the Keti Koti Block Party at TR

Talk: The history of the block party
13:30 – 14:30 | Free

How does a street corner with DJs and big speakers become a political space? Theatre maker and writer Maarten van Hinte traces the history of the block party how these gatherings emerged, what they meant, and why they still matter. In Black communities, block parties have always been more than entertainment. They were spaces of black joy and resistance, right in the middle of the fight for equality. After the talk, we live it together.

Free entry. Note: this event takes place at Hiphophuis, not at Theater Rotterdam.

Documentary screening & Q&A : Tra Fasi
14:45 – 15:45 | Free

Charity Charly’s directorial debut is a portrait of and tribute to Surinamese icon-in-the-making Shavero Ferrier. Growing up in an environment with all kinds of stigmas around punk and rock music, he kickstarted a community and ultimately built the alternative scene he’d longed for himself. Powered by the soundtrack of current and former bands Mutha Flac, Luguber and De Rotte Appels, expression and release burst from the screen. Punkers tot de dood!

Community Market and Expo
13:00 – 16:30 | Free

Throughout the afternoon, Hiphophuis hosts a community market and expo organised by Glemiël Polak. All proceeds go towards building a skatepark in Suriname. Come through, look around, and support something that matters.

Part of Keti Koti 2026
Hiphophuis is a partner of Theater Rotterdam’s Keti Koti 2026 programme. The full line-up across 26 and 27 June including dance workshops, Dresi fu yeye and the Keti Koti Block Party is at theaterrotterdam.nl.

Make A Scene is back. And this year, we’re doing it twice.
Two Saturdays to close out the season together, for those who’ve been here from day one, and for those just finding their way into the scene. Two venues, two vibes, one community. Free entrance, register in Hiphophuis or at the door.

Saturday 6 June · 18:00 – 22:00 Exhibition Battles I Never Lose

Theater Rotterdam, William Boothlaan 8

Hassani & Wilson present an exhibition battle that gets to the heart of what hip hop is really about: expression, craft, and presence. No competition for competition’s sake, this is movement as language. Come and witness it.
Entrance is 15€, make sure to get your ticket in advance.

Saturday 13 June · 12:30 – 21:00 Family Day

Hiphophuis

The day kicks off with a family programme packed with games and showcases, followed by an all-style all-ages battle where every generation and every level belongs on the floor. In between, hit the market, get your hair braided or cut, sip on a matcha while you wait and soak in the scene around you. Free entrance, register in Hiphophuis or at the door.

Saturday 13 June · 21:o0 – 02:00 Afterparty

kunstfabriek

The fam goes home, the night takes over. From 21:00, Kunstfabriek transforms into the closing party of the season. Good music, good people, and shenanigans. 18+ only.

Make A Scene is back. And this year, we’re doing it twice.
Two Saturdays to close out the season together, for those who’ve been here from day one, and for those just finding their way into the scene. Two venues, two vibes, one community. Free entrance, register in Hiphophuis or at the door.

Saturday 6 June · 18:00 – 22:00 Exhibition Battles I Never Lose

Theater Rotterdam, William Boothlaan 8

Hassani & Wilson present an exhibition battle that gets to the heart of what hip hop is really about: expression, craft, and presence. No competition for competition’s sake, this is movement as language. Come and witness it.
Entrance is 15€, make sure to get your ticket in advance.

Saturday 13 June · 12:30 – 21:00 Family Day

Hiphophuis

The day kicks off with a family programme packed with games and showcases, followed by an all-style all-ages battle where every generation and every level belongs on the floor. In between, hit the market, get your hair braided or cut, sip on a matcha while you wait and soak in the scene around you. Free entrance, register in Hiphophuis or at the door.

Saturday 13 June · 21:o0 – 02:00 Afterparty

kunstfabriek

The fam goes home, the night takes over. From 21:00, Kunstfabriek transforms into the closing party of the season. Good music, good people, and shenanigans. 18+ only.

Hiphophuis invites you to Museumnacht010, 2026.

This year, Hiphophuis continues to platform new talent rising from the ground up. Museumnacht010 becomes a night dedicated to the journey from raw beginnings to powerful expressions of art, dance, and music.

From late-night practices to shared studios. From first sketches to performances. From individual voices to collective movements. Hip-hop has always grown from the ground up: through connection, through community, through doing the work. During Museumnacht010, Hiphophuis becomes a living space where visitors can see that process up close: how art, dance, and music take shape when people create together.

Highlights Of The Night

Hybrid X Exhibition Launch:

Luciano Hiwat presents his Hybrid X platform, including the concept videos and original music he has developed over the past year. As part of his development trajectory, supported by Hiphophuis, he worked alongside eight emerging makers to build their craft. Through dedication, discipline, and their own lived stories, they have sharpened and deepened their practice.

During this launch, they share not only the final outcome, but also the process: the first ideas, the experiments, the growth, and the decisions behind the work. In line with From the Ground Up, the focus here is on foundation: how work is built from the floor, from community, and from the necessity to create your own platform.

Silent Disco with Two Channels:

Two channels. Two collectives. Two distinct sounds. Each with its own signature, yet connected through shared culture. Rooted in different backgrounds, both collectives build their own energy while remaining part of the same foundation. From the Ground Up takes shape here as diversity within a shared base, staying true to your roots while opening space for new directions.

Exhibition Battles w/ Live Music:

Where movement meets live sound. Crews and collectives exchange energy with live musicians, creating a direct dialogue through performance. Presented in collaboration with our in-house family: House of Knowledge and IBE. Here, performance is created in the moment: from the floor, through interaction, and through collective energy. From the Ground Up means building in real time, carried by the cypher, the community, and trust in each other’s craft.

For Museumnacht010, you buy one ticket, which allows you to visit all participating locations from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

Sunday, December 7 | 13:00 – 18:00 | Free entry | HipHopHuis Rotterdam

Kinderdag is an annual kids’ festival created in 2019 by OSCAM as a creative and inclusive alternative to traditional celebrations. It’s a day designed for every child to feel seen, celebrated, and free to express who they are. Because for many kids, representation isn’t something they can take for granted. Experiences with racism, discrimination, or simply not seeing themselves reflected around them can shape their sense of identity. Kinderdag aims to shift that reality.

Art and creativity help young people tell their stories, take up space, and feel proud of who they are. What started as a collaboration between OSCAM and Omroep Zwart has grown into a nationwide celebration, taking place across multiple cities at the same time.

This year, on Sunday, December 7 (12:00–18:00), Kinderdag returns bigger and bolder, hosted simultaneously in several cities. For 2025, Hiphophuis (Rotterdam) and Marres (Maastricht) are joining, with each location bringing its own creative spin to this year’s theme, united by one shared message: Celebrate You.

What to Expect

The Children’s Directors are the heartbeat of Kinderdag. These young creatives don’t just participate; they help shape the entire vibe of the festival. From programming and themes to the look and feel of the day, they bring the voices of their generation to the forefront.

This year’s Children’s Directors are Ravi Wijdenbosch (13), Isy Okafor (11), Mees Hogeweg (15), and Jaylin Naarden (16). Each one brings their own style, ideas, and lived experience and youth energy that define Kinderdag.

Kids can dive into a full day of:

• Hands-on workshops led by local creatives, spanning dance, music, art, storytelling, fashion, and more.
• A youth marketplace, where young entrepreneurs can share or showcase their own ideas and creations.
• Live performances from emerging young talents to close out the day.
• Art, food, music, movement, and community woven into every moment.

Kinderdag is free to attend and open to kids ages 2 to 12, with a focus on inclusion, self-expression, and celebrating identity through culture.

Full Moon Flow: A Special Edition of Same But Different

Full Moon Flow expands the soul of Same But Different, blending cypher energy with the warmth of Alternative R&B and Hip Hop-inspired sounds. It’s a space where dancers and music lovers can drop the pressure, move with intention, and connect on a deeper level.

Guided by the full moon, we tap into emotion, intuition, and the honest feeling of dance. No battles. No performance expectations. Just pure expression rooted in the culture. This edition continues the spirit of our Full Moon Sessions at Hiphophuis, creating an atmosphere where the music shifts the room and everyone can show up as themselves.

Step into the Full Moon Flow, a space to slow down, tune in, and connect.
On December 6th, in collab with Hiphophuis, a €200 prize, DJ Indigo (SE) behind the decks, judges Shahrzad (NL), Juan (NL), Comics (NO), and your host Farah (NL).

Every cypher. Every conversation. Every laugh we’ve shared at Hiphophuis: that’s all part of The Love Movement.We’ve been about that love: love for the culture, for the art, for the people. But love isn’t just what you say,  it’s what you do.

It’s how you show up for your crew.
How you give back.
How you take care of your mind, body, and self.

This year, Tuff Enuff is an invitation to reflect: What does love look like in your moves, your words, your actions and your community? On 19 December 2025, from 15.30 to 22.00, we come together for a full day of joy, reflection, and real connection. Entrance is free, but registration is required.

What’s Going down?

15.34 – 16.30 LEVI’S Denim Workshop: Wear the Love

Kids customize Levi’s jackets with patches, quotes, and art, creating their own message of love and unity with support from local artists.

16.00 – 21.00 Community Market: Made with Love

Local makers, food, fashion, and art: all created by the community, for the community. Come shop, taste, connect, and support your peoples.

16.30 – 17.45 2vs2 YOUTH Battle: Unified

The next gen brings the energy, building connection, rhythm, and style together. It’s all about expression, joy, and love through movement.

The winning duo wins a private class with a teacher of their choice + a 1-month class subscription
Runners-up win a 1-month class subscription each

17.30 – 18.15 HipHop Quiz: Bridge the Gap part 1

Kids and grown-ups team up for a quiz showdown, hosted by Willy and Joshua. Big laughs, good vibe.

The winners get a one-month subscription of their choice.

19.00 – 22.00 2vs2 Adults Battle: Unified

OGs and new school link up, not just to battle, but to build. Sign up solo, get paired into duos after preselection, and sync up to show out.

Winning duo take €250 each plus a 2-hour studio session
Runners-up get a 2-hour studio session too. 

Fam in Focus: Lovely Portraits by Brandon Gravenberch

Bring your people for a fam portrait, taken by Brandon Gravenberch.
There are two time-slots 18.00-19.00 and 20.00-21.00. A keepsake of love, unity, and community.

19.45 – 20.45 HipHop Quiz: Bridge the Gap part 2

This edition is for adults ready to think and connect. Expect classic quiz questions and prompts that spark real talk. Hosted by Willy and Joshua, s you know it’s going to be wild

The winners get a one-month subscription of their choice.

Listening session & jam w/ dj Lynnee Denise

Join DJ, writer, and interdisciplinary artist Lynnée Denise in Groove Theories: Origin Stories and Musical Myths, an exploration of the golden age of hip-hop. She’ll go into conversation with actor and theatre maker Addison dos Reis, sharing insights, stories, and inspiration through a curated listening session. Afterwards, enjoy a break with drinks and snacks, followed by a jam where Lynnée Denise will spin music from that era to open up the dance floor.

14.00 – 16.00: Listening Session
16.00 – 17.00: Snacks & Drinks
17.00 – 18.00: Jam

in Conversation w/ The Last Poets

Black Soil Film Festival, Hiphophuis, and House of Knowledge facilitated a conversation with The Last Poets. Guided by moderator Tasha Slagtand, we created space for open dialogue, exchange, and shared reflection.

The Last Poets are recognized worldwide as the spiritual forefathers of hip-hop and spoken word. Since the 1960s, they have used poetry as a political tool and cultural compass. Their work gave voice to Black communities during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and has influenced generations of artists, activists, and thinkers. Their impact is also felt in the Netherlands in the work of spoken word performers, community organizers, and all who live hip-hop as more than music but as a way of life.

This public gathering in Rotterdam focused on themes such as social justice, diaspora, language as resistance, and the role of art in times of oppression. In a world where global inequality and political repression persists from Congo to Gaza to the Dutch constitution. The Last Poets reminded us why it remains essential to create space for voices from below.

These conversations are not a luxury, but a necessity. They offer space for healing, awareness and connection and values that lie at the heart of hip-hop. Hip-hop was born out of necessity, shaped by anger, but also by hope. The presence of The Last Poets was not only a moment of recognition but also one of urgency. Their words echoed not only the past, but pointed toward the future.