De Doelen is a Rotterdam icon with a history dating back to 1622, when “St. Joris Doele” served as the guild hall for the city’s crossbowmen. After 1680, city musicians began giving regular concerts at “De Doele” on the Haagscheveer, near the Delftsche Poort. In 1697, the city council granted “De Doele” permission to host public concerts, provided they were “held without the slightest impropriety and no alcoholic beverages were consumed.”
In 1844, the “Groote Doelezaal” on the Coolsingel was opened to replace “De Doele” on the Haagscheveer. After nearly a century of use as a concert hall and event venue, the building was closed in 1930 due to structural issues.
The new Doelenzaal, inaugurated in 1934, was destroyed in the May 1940 bombing of Rotterdam. This tragic event not only obliterated the historic heart of the city but also decimated a vibrant, diverse, and internationally renowned music scene.
A major milestone in de Doelen’s history occurred on May 18, 1966, during the annual Opbouwdag celebrations. The official opening of de Doelen at the Schouwburgplein, a cultural monument designed by Rotterdam’s Kraaijevanger architects, marked a significant achievement in the city’s post-war reconstruction. The opening of such a cultural palace was seen as the crowning moment of the rebuilding efforts.
The Willem Burger Complex was opened in 2000 and was specially built for conferences and business meetings. The multifunctional area is now also regularly transformed into a festival heart or unique concert hall, where you can experience concerts up close and organize dance events.
