The highlight: Rooftop Roetsj

A special highlight this year was the ‘Rooftop Roetsj’ on the roof of the Maritiem Museum. Here, guests were treated to an innovative exhibition on the future of the city, which focussed on the interplay between water, green spaces and architecture. The crowning glory was a spectacular slide down a metre-long slide from the roof of the museum onto a pontoon in the Leuvehaven - alternatively, you could of course take the stairs. The exhibition and the slide spectacle were intended to bring the vision of a greener, more liveable city to life and demonstrate the potential of rooftops as new urban spaces.

Diversity on the rooftops

During the two festival weekends, visitors were able to put together their own programme: From the rooftop terrace with culinary offerings and rooftop film evenings (e.g. on the roof of Las Palmas) to theatre performances and international conferences such as the ‘Rethink Rooftops’, there was something for everyone. The rooftops became places of encounter, exchange and inspiration - with a clear focus on sustainability, innovation and togetherness in the city.

The festival used the anniversary to show how rooftops in Rotterdam can be developed as new, liveable spaces. The Rooftop Roetsj also served as a test run for a possible permanent public use of the museum roof, which is to be redesigned as part of the upcoming renovation of the Maritiem Museum. ( The organisers emphasised that ) the future of the city lies on the roofs - as green oases, places for culture and encounters and as a contribution to sustainable urban development.

Knowledge and come together

Although we from obenstadt were only on site for the final weekend, we made intensive use of the Knowledge Day on Friday to exchange ideas with the other European groups that had travelled to the event and to continue networking. It's like a nice class reunion every time. Even if the weather was very challenging this time with rain and wind. But as Hamburgers, we know this weather only too well.

With its mix of fun, innovation and social relevance, the Rotterdamse Dakendagen 2025 once again showed how much Rotterdam lives from above. The anniversary edition was a feast for all the senses and a strong signal for the future of the city - on the rooftops and far beyond.

We look forward to the next ten years.