Yes! Katoenhuis has a growing public program of exhibitions, talks, and events. Check our program to see upcoming activities and open hours.

Katoenhuis is located in the Keile District in the M4H area, Rotterdam. You can find directions here to plan your visit easily.

We regularly collaborate with partners and host external events. Learn more about possibilities and availability on our space rental page.

We’re always open to new collaborations with artists, researchers, technologists, and cultural producers. Please contact us via info@katoenhuis.nl

We welcome motivated people who want to support events, research, or production. Please send a short message to info@katoenhuis.nl.

IX merge physical and digital worlds into a new reality. They use technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), 3D audio, projection mapping, and haptic feedback—but also draw from scenography, light, sound, performance, and physical interaction. Immersive technologies are rapidly becoming a thriving global market, expected to grow up to tenfold in the coming years. The applications of immersive technologies span various sectors, including education, training & simulation, research & development, gaming, media, art, and entertainment. Immersive technologies can provide cost-effective training and simulate high-risk situations, which is particularly valuable in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and construction. Immersive technologies break new boundaries by allowing access to topics that could not be experienced directly due to high risk. For example, they can be applied to enhancing STEM courses with virtual simulations in subjects such as medicine, chemistry, and physics. Low-risk virtual settings could be created to train individuals and groups in technical and scientific topics that would require a cleanroom, with invaluable economic as well as educational advantages.

Katoenhuis is a main IX hub identified in the region, located on the western side of the city, in the M4H district, where port, city, and knowledge axis converge. It works closely with other hubs, such as Erasmus Centre for Data and Analytics (ECDA), which is located on the eastern side of the city at Erasmus University Rotterdam. By fostering innovation, facilitating makers and growing IX community, Katoenhuis fits the policy that contributes to the socioeconomic development of the area.

More than 35% of the added value of the Rotterdam economy comes from entrepreneurs in the digital economy, Immersive tech, like AI, is a horizontal technology, meaning it impacts many industries. Often referred to as the fourth wave of digitalization, immersive technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming all sectors, from education and healthcare to architecture and the arts. IX enables advanced training and simulation in domains such as the maritime sector, healthcare as well as innovations in the built environment. However, its applications are going even beyond those industries. This technology presents a significant opportunity for M4H and the wider region and plays a key role in the economic development of the region.

IX is transforming many sectors and the cultural field is no exception. It allows the creative industry to make an impact in traditionally more technical domains and create new ways of engaging with the audience. Katoenhuis is fostering inclusivity through immersive experiences that attract diverse audiences. It also supports the growth of Rotterdam’s cultural sector by enabling institutions like IFFR to scale up their Immersive Media & Art Direction programs. It collaborates with festivals such as Conflux. Katoenhuis is developing young talent by introducing them to IX and offering them a platform to experiment and grow. Although Katoenhuis’ focus point is IX, media art (serious gaming and other verticals in image culture) are important to its vision and program.

Katoenhuis will:

1. Position Rotterdam as a prime region in the Netherlands for IX.

2. Create socioeconomic impact by attracting new companies, residents, visitors to the area, creating leisure activities.

3. Contribute to the transition of the port into one of the smartest ports by offering makerspaces and facilities that will attract and keep companies in M4H.

4. Accelerate the development of the Keile District and M4H to become a leading area that is centered around innovation and maker culture.

Please contact us via info@katoenhuis.nl with a short description of the item and the date of your visit. We’ll do our best to help you find it.