World Port Days in Rotterdam is less conference and more live port showcase at city scale. For one weekend the quays around the Nieuwe Maas turn into a working waterfront open house with ship visits, excursions into the port, water demonstrations, and a big public crowd that makes it useful for brand visibility, recruitment, and stakeholder hosting.
⚓
World Port Days 2026 (Wereldhavendagen) — Event Snapshot
Dates
Sep 4–6, 2026
City
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Format
Public port festival with ship visits, excursions, and on-water demonstrations across multiple waterfront locations
Main event areas
Rotterdam waterfront sites around the Nieuwe Maas, including locations near Erasmus Bridge and several quays and piers used for activities
What you can do
Special ship visits, port excursions, water shows and demonstrations, plus activities that highlight port operations and technology
Careers angle
Includes the MATCH career fair concept focused on port and maritime opportunities
Many activities cluster around central waterfront points, so using Erasmus Bridge as a navigation anchor helps visitors orient quickly before moving between quays and piers.
🌊
What makes World Port Days different
49th edition
It is a large public-facing maritime weekend that turns the port into the program. The value is in visibility, access, and real-world demonstrations, not closed-room panels.
🚢
Real ships and real access
The headline attraction is getting close to maritime assets and port activity, including special ships, water actions, and demonstrations that make the port tangible.
🧭
Excursions into the port
Instead of watching the port from afar, visitors can join excursions that reveal how the port works, from terminals to logistics corridors and new technology.
🎆
Spectacle with a maritime core
The program is known for on-water shows and evening highlights near the river and Erasmus Bridge, which helps brands and institutions reach a broad audience.
🧑🏭
Recruitment and public education
The MATCH career fair element and the broader program make it a strong platform for showcasing maritime careers, safety culture, and port innovation.
Practical expectation: activities are spread across multiple waterfront points. Start by identifying your priority items, then plan short hops between locations rather than trying to see everything.
🧭
World Port Days 2026 week game plan
Sep 4–6, 2026
This is a multi-location waterfront weekend. The fastest way to have a great visit is to pick one primary hub area, lock 1–2 must-do excursions,
and treat everything else as bonus.
Best fit for
Stakeholder hostingRecruitment and careersPort tech visibilityFamilies and public outreach
Crowd and time expectations
Use as a simple planning guide
Friday
steady
Saturday
peak
Sunday
reset
Saturday typically runs later than the other days, so treat it as your main “show day” if you are trying to catch the biggest on-water moments.
Simple day-by-day plan
Built around the published opening times
Friday
10:00–18:00 rhythm
Start with one excursion or one “special ship” target early, then spend midday moving between nearby quays and demonstrations.
End with a short walkable dinner plan so you are ready for a bigger Saturday.
Saturday
10:00–23:00 rhythm
Do your most time-sensitive items in the morning (excursion slot, ship visit line, or a specific demo), then keep afternoon flexible.
Pick a clear waterfront viewing plan for the evening program and arrive early to avoid bottlenecks.
Sunday
10:00–18:00 rhythm
Use Sunday to catch anything you missed and to do calmer port education items and exhibits. It is also the best day for families and relaxed photos.
✅
Night-before checklist
Pick one primary hub area for the day.
Choose 2 must-do items (ship visit or excursion).
Screenshot your schedule and meeting points.
Plan a simple dinner zone near your hub.
Pack comfortable shoes and a light rain layer.
Set a fallback plan if queues are long.
🏙️
Practical notes for Rotterdam and the waterfront
Multi-location event
The core advantage is that the city is compact and transit-friendly. You can keep the whole weekend walkable if you stay central and plan short hops.
Getting around
Choose a single daily hub and walk between nearby quays when possible.
Use tram and metro for quick cross-river moves when events are spread out.
Keep buffer time for queues at popular ship visits and excursions.
Hotel zones that work well
City Centre for easiest access to multiple waterfront points and evening plans.
Wilhelminapier and Kop van Zuid for modern hotels and quick access to riverfront activity.
Katendrecht for a quieter base with good dining options and easy waterfront links.
Food and hosting flow
Book Saturday dinner earlier than you think, it is the busiest day.
Keep client meetings close to your chosen hub to avoid mid-day travel churn.
Plan one “quick meal” option so you do not lose peak afternoon time.
🚌
Excursions and ship visits
Excursions are a signature part of the weekend. Treat them as limited-capacity items and build the rest of your day around the slot you secure.
If you miss your first-choice excursion, pivot to waterfront demonstrations and special ships, which still deliver a strong “port up close” experience.
🧥
Comfort and pacing
Wear shoes you can stand in for long queue periods.
Bring a light rain layer for waterfront weather swings.
Saturday night is the longest window, plan your energy for it.
