Autumn holidays in FutureLand
As well as our regular programmes, which include sightseeing coach tours and cruises around Europe’s most modern port, we have plenty of extra activities scheduled for the autumn holidays. Our young visitors can do cool, technical experiments, paint Maasvlakte beach rocks or join in a treasure hunt along the beach and through the dunes. Adults can visit our exhibition on the work to deepen the Nieuwe Waterweg or put on VR goggles and fly to the port in 2066!
The autumn holidays: detectives wanted!
Take a trip on the FutureLand Express to Maasvlakte beach and join a treasure hunt for the whole family. Go on an expedition to the beach and dunes with investigator Walter Langendoen. Discover the animals in the port and learn about the companies that operate in the area. Maybe you’ll even see a seal or traces of a sand lizard!
Practical information
The expedition, including the treasure hunt and bus transport, costs €6.95 per person. For more information and bookings, visit www.futureland.nl. Don’t forget your binoculars.
Free experiments - cool stuff
Europe’s most modern port is brimming with smart technology! For the autumn holidays, we have set up some exciting new technical experiments for children to try. The experiments are both fun and educational and our enthusiastic public relations officers are on hand to supervise and help. When everything is supersized, the best way of discovering the principles of physics is by testing them yourself. For instance, how do you stack shipping containers in different situations and still keep them stable? These experiments are suitable for primary school children in years 6, 7 and 8 and up. Learn by experimenting!
Kids’ workshops
Visual artist and art teacher Joanna Smolarz (from Art Studio Het Kruithuis) will host a range of workshops for children in the autumn holidays. She will be using various techniques including watercolour, acrylic, pencil and felt tips to paint stones that she has collected on Maasvlakte beach. She’ll also show you how to make small, clay marine animals and there’s an opportunity to paint large container ships on canvas. The workshop costs €2.00 per workshop; equipment and supervision are included.
Kidsquiz
In the autumn holidays, children and their parents/guardians can take part in a fun, active presentation with an amusing film and exciting quiz. Afterwards, the children and parents can get started on a treasure hunt to discover FutureLand. The treasure hunt has two difficulty levels: one for children aged between 6 and 9 years and one for children aged 10 and up. You can take part in the kidsquiz for free.
Nieuwe Waterweg exhibition - from deep to deeper
The official go-ahead for the deepening of the Nieuwe Waterweg and the Botlek was given in March. Rijkswaterstaat and the Port of Rotterdam Authority have joined forces to ensure that sea-going vessels with a draught of 15 metres can also reach the Botlek port. This means that 50% more cargo can be transported, which is good for Rotterdam’s competitive position. The project comprises the deepening of the Botlek and - over a distance of 25 kilometres - the deepening of the Nieuwe Waterweg, the Scheur and the Nieuwe Maas.
Visitors to FutureLand will learn all about this extensive project in the temporary ‘From deep to deeper’ exhibition. In the heart of the port, they will experience first-hand what is involved when 5 million cubic metres of dredged material is released at the large-scale deepening. Make sure you don’t get wet feet!
About FutureLand
FutureLand is accessible for young and old and you can experience the port of the future here. FutureLand is located in the heart of the Port of Rotterdam and offers views across the developing Maasvlakte 2. The information centre is open from Tuesdays to Fridays and on Sundays.
FutureLand is also open every Saturday from 1 May to 1 October 2018 and during the autumn holidays. Admission is free. The FutureLand Express and the FutureLand Ferry are available for trips and tours in the new ports throughout the year. In the ANWB vote for the Most Fun Day Out of 2017, the information centre was voted second most fun day out of South Holland. Check the annual programme on www.futureland.nl. Address FutureLand: Europaweg 902, NL-3199 LC Maasvlakte, Rotterdam Port number 8360.