Get your tickets for this vibrant meeting place for design enthusiasts.
In early February, one of Rotterdam's most iconic buildings will get a completely different look. For three days, the vacant Central Library on Hoogstraat will be transformed into a vibrant meeting place for design enthusiasts.
During OBJECT Rotterdam, more than 150 designers will be showcasing their latest work, spread across all floors of the building, which will soon be extensively renovated.
From Friday 6 to Sunday 8 February 2026, you will wander through a library without books, but with a rich selection of art and interior objects. Furniture, lighting, textiles and experimental designs come together to form an inspiring route through this distinctive building. The familiar escalators and open spaces give the fair a raw, Rotterdam feel. The library’s books have temporarily been moved to Librijesteeg, within walking distance of Hoogstraat.
OBJECT is known as a breeding ground for talent and trendspotting. This edition features more than twenty-five recently graduated designers, including makers from Rotterdam, Eindhoven and The Hague. International designers from, among others, Barcelona, Brussels, Luxembourg and Sweden are also represented. Alongside emerging talent, visitors will find galleries, design shops and established labels, offering a broad view of what is currently happening in the design world.
In addition to viewing and discovering, there is plenty of room for meeting and in-depth engagement. Every day there are freely accessible talks and interviews with Rotterdam-based writers, stories are read aloud by children’s book authors, and on the open stage you can watch designers and artists at work live. A special feature is the makeover of the iconic Zumtobel lamps that hung in the library for many years. Artists give these lamps a unique new appearance, while visitors can follow the creative process up close.
After more than forty years, the Central Library is set to undergo a major renovation. OBJECT Rotterdam therefore marks a special moment: a final look at the building as we know it, before refurbishment begins. The unique lamps created during the fair will later be auctioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam, with the proceeds going to charity.
Location: Central Library Rotterdam (empty)
Address: Hoogstraat 110
Dates: Friday 6 to Sunday 8 February 2026
Time: 11.00 – 18.00
Tickets: €17.50 | children under 16 free (online and at the door)
