IFFR selects Katoenhuis as the new home for its Art Directions programme!
30 January – 9 February
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is partnering with Katoenhuis on the 2025 edition of its Art Directions programme - a space dedicated to immersive media where the festival steps out of the screening room and pushes the limits of what cinema can be, with immersive works from multidisciplinary creators.
Katoenhuis will feature four installations on its ground floor, including world premieres, alongside the majority of the IFFR’s immersive works.
Senseglove chooses Katoenhuis as new home!
A year after the launch of SHINE (South Holland Immersive Network and Ecosystems) and Katoenhuis, the network continues to grow, connecting more players in immersive tech.
The news, announced during the opening of Immersive Tech Week, received strong support from Alderman Robert Simons (Port and Economy) and Deputy Meindert Stolk. This milestone reflects the collaborative efforts of Rotterdam’s province and municipality to advance the immersive tech sector.
TU Delft-born SenseGlove, a pioneer in haptic glove technology, enables interaction with virtual objects and supports industries like healthcare, defense, and aviation, improving training efficiency and cutting costs worldwide.
ROTTERDAM GAMING CONNECT
December 6th
Katoenhuis is proud to host Rotterdam Gaming Connect — a celebration of e-sports, gaming, and gamification, right in the heart of Rotterdam!
Organized by Gemeente Rotterdam and Techonomy, this event brings together the city's creative minds, professionals, and talents for an unforgettable afternoon of inspiration and connection.
CONFLUX FESTIVAL
September 19th-22th
Conflux is a festival exploring multisensory encounters, urgent ideas, contemporary art and experimental music.
During the exhibition people experienced a program of audiovisual performances, public art interventions, multimedia commissions, experimental club nights and talks reflecting on the festival theme 'Symbiotic Realities'.
PLACEMAKING EUROPE
September 24th-27th
Placemaking Europe's 7th annual festival was held at Rotterdam's vibrant MerweVierhavens (M4H). It offered insights into creating inclusive, resilient, and dynamic cities. The Keilepand was the main venue, with Katoenhuis as a key venue showcasing inspiring placemaking initiatives.
Bubble Buzz
Something is bubbling up...
“Bubble Buzz” on the Katoenhuis façade, was a temporary installation to raise awareness about the changes that are happening in the surrounding M4H area and the risk of gentrification. The increasingly popular area, built by makers and creatives, is at risk of losing the place that they initially created. “Bubble Buzz” invited passers-by to reflect on their own roles in these processes, and how urban development and societal changes affect their communities.
About
Katoenhuis Rotterdam is a hub for Immersive Experiences (IX) and technology in the heart of Rotterdam Makers District (M4H). Built in 1950 and once known as the “Van Bennekum’s Havenbedrijf Katoenloods”, Katoenhuis is a multifunctional space hosting artist and makers’ studios and working facilities, exhibition, and event spaces. As part of the South Holland Immersive Network & Ecosystem (SHINE), Katoenhuis acts as a unifying hub for the region’s community, fostering opportunities to present and experiment. Activities hosted at Katoenhuis include events such as the Conflux Festival, Rotterdam Gaming Connect, and more. The space is home to artists and companies like SenseGlove and Zalán Szakács.
Become a partner
We actively seek collaboration with organizations and individuals involved in immersive experiences (IX) and who are interested in contributing to our ecosystem. Reach out to us at info@katoenhuis.nl in case you would like to explore the opportunities.
Strengthening the IX position together with Koelhuis Eindhoven
Katoenhuis Rotterdam has a twin-sibling venue in Eindhoven, Koelhuis Eindhoven. Both cities, Rotterdam and Eindhoven, are deeply rooted in their industrial tradition, mass industrialization, logistics, and high-tech innovation driven by makers and corporations. The two venues, Katoenhuis Rotterdam and Koelhuis Eindhoven share common values and an industrial legacy that makes the two cities ideal partners in promoting innovation and working with immersive technologies. The presence of a twin in Eindhoven links these two cities, reinforcing their commitment to advancing immersive technologies and maker-driven initiatives. This partnership between these two mainport regions aims to ensure that Rotterdam and Eindhoven will strengthen the Dutch immersive technology landscape while preserving its industrial legacy and securing its position as a leading hub for cutting-edge innovation and creativity internationally.
