What is North Sea Jazz Festival?

North Sea Jazz Festival is held every year on the second weekend of July in the Netherlands. The event takes place in Rotterdam and is considered one of the largest indoor jazz festivals in the world. It features an international lineup that includes jazz, soul, blues, funk and world music. Performers range from legendary names to experimental newcomers and rising stars. Audiences travel from all over the world to experience this diverse and high-quality programme.

The festival lasts for three days and includes performances on multiple indoor stages. Visitors can move freely through the venue and discover music they might not have planned to hear. In addition to concerts, there are also art displays, food areas, interviews and intimate late-night sets. The event creates an atmosphere where musical traditions and new directions meet in one place. North Sea Jazz Festival offers both scale and depth in a single weekend experience.

History and origin

North Sea Jazz Festival was founded in 1976 by Paul Acket, a Dutch jazz enthusiast and publisher. He wanted to create a festival that brought together world-famous musicians and local jazz lovers. The first edition was held in The Hague and featured names like Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan and Dizzy Gillespie. From the beginning, the event mixed established artists with more experimental voices. This approach gave the festival a unique identity and set it apart from other music events in Europe.

In 2006, the festival moved from The Hague to the Ahoy venue in Rotterdam. The new location offered more space, better technical facilities and room to grow. Since the move, the festival has expanded its genres and reached a broader audience while keeping jazz as its foundation. Rotterdam embraced the event and helped it grow into a major cultural institution. The transition allowed the festival to remain relevant while preserving its original spirit.

Over the years, North Sea Jazz Festival has hosted hundreds of artists from around the world. It has become a place where legends return and new talent is discovered. The festival has influenced the Dutch music scene and brought global attention to jazz in the Netherlands. Its audience includes dedicated fans, curious visitors and music professionals. North Sea Jazz Festival remains a symbol of musical openness, quality and ambition.

Who participates in North Sea Jazz Festival?

• Jazz enthusiasts: Long-time fans attend each year to experience live performances by their favourite artists.
• Curious music lovers: People explore new genres and unexpected acts throughout the weekend.
• Professional musicians: Artists visit to perform, collaborate or network with fellow musicians.
• Festival organisers: Cultural professionals observe and learn from the scale and structure of the event.
• International visitors: Tourists include the festival in their travel plans as a cultural highlight.

Slogans and themes

The festival uses simple and effective slogans such as “Three days of jazz, soul and beyond.” These slogans reflect the wide musical range and the welcoming atmosphere of the event. Each year, the programme includes a mix of well-known performers and unexpected collaborations. While there is no fixed theme, the focus is always on musical quality and artistic freedom. Promotional texts highlight discovery, diversity and connection. The language used is practical, clear and centred on sound rather than celebrity.

Colors, symbols and patterns

Colors:

• Black: Represents jazz tradition and is often used in stage design and branding.
• Yellow: Used in signage and print for visibility and contrast.
• White: Balances other colours and provides clarity in design elements.

Symbols:

• Saxophone: Commonly used in visual branding to represent jazz heritage.
• Stage spotlight: Symbolises performance and musical focus.
• Sound wave icon: Represents live music and variety of genres.

Patterns:

• Curved lines: Reflect musical flow and improvisation in posters and backdrops.
• Dot clusters: Refer to rhythm and syncopation, often used in visual identity.
• Geometric grids: Help structure the stage layouts and ticket information visually.

Most used hashtags

• #NorthSeaJazz
• #RotterdamJazz
• #LiveJazz
• #JazzFestival
• #NSJF

How do you celebrate North Sea Jazz Festival?

• Attend all three days: Plan your visit to include multiple genres and discover new acts.
• Create a personal schedule: Choose performances across different stages to build your own festival route.
• Explore the venue: Visit art exhibitions, food areas and lounges between shows.
• Share your experience: Post photos, impressions or artist recommendations on social media.
• Buy festival merchandise: Support the event and take home a design linked to the year’s edition.

Why is North Sea Jazz Festival important?

North Sea Jazz Festival provides a major platform for both jazz icons and new voices. It keeps the genre alive by inviting tradition and experimentation to exist side by side. The event shows that jazz is not locked in the past, but always moving forward. It offers audiences the chance to hear world-class music in an accessible and energising setting. Each edition brings together musicians and listeners from across the globe.

The festival also strengthens the cultural profile of Rotterdam. It contributes to the city’s international reputation and supports local tourism and infrastructure. For musicians, the festival can mark a career milestone or offer valuable exposure. For audiences, it creates memories and connections through sound. North Sea Jazz Festival has earned its place as one of Europe’s leading cultural events, without losing its commitment to musical depth.