# Travel inspiration
P+R areas
Fast and affordable travel to Rotterdam Centre
On Saturday 28 March, you might just see life-sized animal figures strolling by. This is because it will be the anniversary edition of the International Community Arts Festival (ICAF), bringing the international art project The Herds to the Netherlands for the very first time.
A unique spectacle inviting both visitors and Rotterdammers to experience the city in a new way.
The Herds is a poetic parade featuring life-sized animal figures made from ecological materials. The animals appear to be fleeing the effects of climate change and move calmly on foot through the city. During the parade, a remarkable interplay emerges between humans and animals, nature and the urban environment.
What makes this parade particularly special is that the animals are not simply on display: around 150 Rotterdammers and international makers together form “the herd” and operate the animals. Visitors can therefore engage directly with the artwork and experience the city in a new and imaginative way.
The parade starts at approximately 3.30 pm and proceeds via Coolsingel and Meent towards the Laurenskerk, with an expected arrival around 5.00 pm. During the procession, sections of the route will be temporarily closed to traffic.
In addition to the public performances in the city centre and Rotterdam South, The Herds also includes an educational programme for primary schools, workshops for professionals and students, and other activities that continue the conversation about art, the city and climate. In this way, the project lives not only in the streets, but also in the neighbourhoods, schools and communities of Rotterdam.
