The Night of Rotterdam’s World Port Days
The World Port Days or in Dutch known as Wereldhavendagen is celebrated annually for three days on the first weekend of September, and this year it is organized on the fourth to the sixth of September in Rotterdam (the Netherlands). We live nearby to the heart of the event activities, Erasmus Bridge, thus we are hardly miss this annual event.
This year’s theme is The Dream Port. Rotterdam Port Authority has been doing very well this year and one of its achievements is becoming the most advanced container terminal in the world that runs on a zero emissions. Well done, Rotterdam!
The night activities and atmosphere of Wereldhavendagen are even better than the daylight activities. Our favorite part is the theatrical music festival called Nacht van de Kaap where there are several music stages of different type of musics like Dutch folk music and jazz music. De Kaap is a nick name for Katendrecht, a historic district in Rotterdam where used to be part of the Rotterdam’s old harbor and prostitution area in 1910. Sailors and sex seemed inseparable in those days. The sex industry in Katendrecht was offered through theatrical and dance shows in the brothel’s bars with jazz music played along. The industry is finally banned in 1981.
And of course, the fireworks at Erasmus Bridge as the highlight of the Wereldhavendagen’s Saturday evening! Luckily Erasmus bridge is very close by from the location of the Nacht van de Kaap and we are there on time to see the fireworks.
After the fireworks over, we hear a popular song played from the distance. Lee Tower’s voice, a famous Dutch singer who is also from Rotterdam. I am sure majority European football lovers are familiar with this song: You’ll Never Walk Alone (YNWA). It’s a sign to end the evening, a perfect song to end a lovely night.
Also participating in:
Monday Escape #16
Wednesday Blog Hop
Wednesday Around the World
indahs: dive, travel & photography 
I would guess that sailors and sex are still inseperable. I love celebrations that include folk music and jazz. Great stuff!
Thank you so much Norm! I guess so! 🙂
Wonderful music, wonderful color and I love the fireworks. It looks like so much fun Indah!
It was, we thought it was a very short evening – wish it lasted bit longer 😀
Looks like a festive and fun celebration, Indah. Your photos are delightful! 😀
It was fun Jet! Thank you so much..
Beautiful pics.. and I always respected and liked the Netherlands.. one of the most enlightened countries in the middle ages, compared to the barbarians elsewhere.. most of the modern world was discovered as a result of the Dutch and also most of the scientific foundations were laid there 🙂 I like the Dutch people too.. always tell them they are ironically the ubermenschen from the unterland 😀
😀 😀 you know Dutch too well!! I agree that the Dutch are very innovative in many ways, one of smart nations in the world. I guess it’s part of their ways to stay survive as one of small countries in Europe 🙂
To this day, too, and something I did not add.. one of the more progressive nations on earth 🙂
I am glad you are there.. no, I do not know the Dutch well, but some of my best clients (who later became my best friends) were Dutch 🙂
Oh you can’t beat fireworks and live music. What a great thing to celebrate annually. I bet Wereldhavendagen is popular with tourists and residents alike! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
It was! Thank you so much 🙂 I hope not to miss your awesome link party!!
Indah!!!! Thank you for this on my beloved Rotterdam! I never knew about The World Port Days, Wereldhavendagen, celebrated annually three days early September. And great that you live near the heart of the activities at Erasmus Bridge!!! Wish I were there! Phil
Thank you Phil! I wish you were here too, I am sure you will enjoy the event 🙂
Great shot!
Liverpool FC song
Persis banget..sekarang juga jadi nyanyian kalau Feyenoord lagi main 🙂
Three days of celebration sounds like so much fun! The fireworks look amazing. A great three days I say!
Thank you! Yes, and it was fun too 🙂