Published
Mon, Feb 26, 2018, 09:53
- The space is the brainchild of the De Maatschappij Voor Volksgeluk collective.
The team behind Rotterdam venue BAR is planning to open a new and as-yet-unnamed venue in mid-2019.
The 1500-capacity venue, which will sit by the Merwe-Vierhavens docks along the Nieuwe Maas river, will feature two club areas—a main room and a smaller room—and a multi-purpose space. It's a new undertaking from the De Maatschappij Voor Volksgeluk collective, which runs BAR. Cofounder Kristian de Leeuw recently told the Dutch-language publication 3voor12 that the project has been in the works for ten years, and the goal is to create a new "hub for electronic music." He aims to secure all necessary permits over the next six months.
In that same interview, de Leeuw also addressed what might happen to BAR—which is currently at its second location—and how the new venue might be used: "Well, it could mean that the doors of BAR will have to close, and that this club will be our BAR 3.0... We will have to start booking bigger names, and we will be open less often, we feel. We don't think we will attract 1000 people on a Thursday night, but we will also keep focusing on the small area and our special programs in there. In the main hall we'll have more space, so we'll assess whether we can organize bigger events there."
This wouldn't be the first time someone has tried to set up a club by the docks—a few years ago, Dance Valley organizers UDC cancelled plans to build a 6,000-capacity venue after investors pulled out.