Although coffee lovers across Europe are already planning weekends well in advance, Rotterdam just booked a new date that’s gaining buzz. On 11 and 12 October 2025, the inaugural Rotterdam Coffee Fest will fill the Timmerhuis with the smells of fresh espresso and roasted beans. Stichting Coffee Block is launching the yearly event to show off the city’s growing coffee culture.
About fifteen local roasters will brew side by side in Roaster’s Village. A Matter of Concrete, Manhattan, Ripsnorter, Grounded, and Evermore have already signed up. Each stand will hand out small cups so visitors can taste the differences. Jeroen Veenstra, who has chronicled Rotterdam’s cultural scene online since 2001, is curating the talks program.
The fest’s Instagram account rotterdamcoffeefest teases behind-the-scenes clips to build anticipation. In addition to the local roasters, the growing coffee culture in cities worldwide has influenced unique coffee offerings that will be showcased at the event.
Nearby, Espresso Service West and Nomadschai will display grinders, kettles, and loose-leaf teas. Green coffee importers and tea experts are also booked for public cupping sessions where the crowd learns to score flavor like judges. Brands such as HOKA and Oatly are bringing special extras: morning jogs through the city and chilled oat latte counters.
The program runs far beyond sipping. Hourly talks and short panel chats will trace the links between Rotterdam’s harbour history and today’s coffee chains. Baristas host small workshops on latte hearts and waste-free brewing.
Tickets are sold as early bird deals already tested by hundreds who entered an online vote for “Rotterdam’s Favourite Café/Roastery 2025.” Each ticket provides a one-time link so fans can back the cafés they love most, and voters get a price cut to keep local business buzzing.
Timmerhuis, a stacked glass and steel building by the architects at OMA, sits near Rotterdam Centraal Station. Its airy halls give room for makers, teachers, sellers, and novice drinkers in one open flow. Organizers say the spot sends a clear signal: coffee culture is urban culture.
Across the wider city, new projects feed the fest’s purpose. Man Met Bril Koffie is opening a coffee hotel that combines shop, classroom, podcast studio, and guest rooms, all set around a bright red espresso machine nicknamed Frank.
These side spaces run short residencies where visiting roasters swap tricks with local talent. Observers say it’s proof that Rotterdam’s coffee scene has moved from quiet corners to centre stage in the Netherlands.
