Program
Talks 2026
All talks are in Dutch. See program in Dutch.
All talks are free of charge. The talk room can only be reached by stairs. You will find the stairs next to the the restrooms.
Offsite programma
KFF Showroom – Van Nelle Fabriek, 2nd Floor
Be sure to visit the KFF Showroom during Design District! Especially for Design District visitors, the doors of the KFF showroom will be open, where you’ll be warmly welcomed with a fresh cup of coffee. Discover the full KFF collection, including the very latest models. Take a seat, feel the difference, and experience the perfect blend of comfort, luxury, and design that KFF is renowned for.
At the entrance of Design District, follow the signs to the 2nd floor of the coffee factory.
Other program
Designer District
In addition to the well-known names of manufacturers, there are 25 starting and/ or self-producing designers on the Designer District. We are very proud of the list of names this year, and we expect a lot from the special presentation in the old Coffee Factory. Make sure you do not miss this part!
Hout- en Meubilerings college
The HMC, also known as the Hout- en Meubileringscollege, is back! In the old Tobacco Factory, five selected graduated students from the HMC will present their designs to the Design District public.
Willem de Kooning Academy
What will the interior of the future look like? Students of Product Design at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam explore this question at Design District through experimental work at the intersection of furniture, materials, and space.
They combine craftsmanship and technology, develop new materials, and work on real-world challenges. Their approach is shifting from “less bad” to regenerative design: creating products and systems that contribute to the restoration and quality of our living environment.
A new aspect of the WDKA Product Design department’s approach is the development of optimistic perspectives for designers—and users—of today and tomorrow.
Finale Cerriva Design Competition
During Design District, Cerriva will announce the winner of the Cerriva Design Competition at the student meetup. The festive award ceremony will take place on Friday, May 29 at 1:30 PM at the Cerriva stand (V62). Visitors to Design District can view the submitted mood boards and engage in conversations with the students.
Outside District
From the middle of the fair, you can access the beautiful garden of Design District, where you can take a break. With a lovely sunny weather and a view of the monumental factory, it’s a great place to relax. This edition features presentations from 5 outdoor design brands that you can admire and where you can sit down!
Bubble Bar, Ball Bar, and DJ
Feeling hungry or thirsty? You’ll find everything you need this year in the festive stretch tent in the garden. At the Bubble Bar, you can order a glass (or even a bottle) of the finest quality bubbles. At the Ball Bar, you can choose from oyster mushroom, Old Amsterdam cheese, or regular bitterballen. The last 3 hours of each fair day will be cheered up by a DJ in the outdoor garden!