Reyhan’s tips: Spring Market, Beer Festival, and Reggae

Reyhan Cigdem lists the best parties and activities for students. As a third-year criminology student, she has seen and experienced a lot in Rotterdam. To make sure she doesn’t miss anything, she can be found all over the city while going to as many parties as possible. She shares her passion here with you every week with a personal selection of all the fun events Rotterdam has to offer.

ChillThe Spring Market will start this coming Saturday in De Groene Passage. De Groene Passage is a shopkeepers’ association of environmentally friendly ‘green shops’, such as an organic butcher, a World shop with Fairtrade products, a green bookstore, a large organic supermarket, and a special pub restaurant named ‘Spirit’ where you can order a delicious vegetarian meal. You’ll find all kinds of tasty organic delicacies here, fruits and vegetables, sustainable home accessories, Fairtrade gifts from all over the world, organic herbs and flowering plants for your garden or balcony, and natural cosmetics. The suppliers for De Groene Passage shops are the ones showcasing the products in the stalls so you can meet them in person and learn about the concept behind their green products. It’s a good opportunity to chat with them, all the while secretly hoping to score as many free samples as you can!

Flexer The Kaapse Brouwers brewery is Rotterdam’s youngest city-based brewery and is a part of the Fenix Food Factory located at Katendrecht. Just like De Groene Passage, Fenix Food Factory is a collection of culinary entrepreneurs with a love of traditionally crafted, sustainable products. While not exactly organic, their products are hearty and filling. ‘Bold recipes, experimenting with flavours, and old-fashioned beers, all presented against a backdrop of the city of Rotterdam’ is how they describe themselves. The Kaapse Brouwers are organising a Beer Festival and in addition to Kaapse Brouwers, many other brewers will be present, including Brussels Beer Project and Brouwerij Kees.

This is the second edition of the festival and it will take place in the Food Factory itself. If there’s good weather, it’s also possible to sit outside. A token system has been introduced specifically for this festival to give visitors the feeling of a real festival experience. Entrance is 5 euro but that includes an attractive beer glass you can take home after the festival.

Loudest Jah Cure is a Jamaican reggae musician who grew up in Kingston. His breakthrough came in 1997 with the single King in this Jungle. This was followed by a number of hit singles which contributed to his rising fame among a wide reggae audience. This isn’t his first time in Europe as he did a European tour previously in 1998. I know what you’re thinking: that was a very long time ago. And you’re right – that’s why it’s a good reason to go to the concert in Annabel. He’ll be performing with a band and those of you who have been to a reggae concert know that a performance with a band is always a hit. The musicians always have a deep love for the music and this is something you can hear and feel. Annabel has emerged as a professional venue for popular music and they know exactly how to give a concert.