Kunstinstituut Melly

Explore contemporary art and culture at Kunstinstituut Melly, a leading Rotterdam art space housed in a historic building on Witte de Withstraat.

Kunstinstituut Melly: Contemporary Art in the Heart of Rotterdam

Kunstinstituut Melly is a Rotterdam-based art institution with an international outlook. Since its founding in 1990, it has played a key role in shaping conversations around contemporary art, culture, and society. The institute is widely regarded as one of the Netherlands’ most influential platforms for contemporary art and is known internationally for its forward-thinking approach.

Melly presents three major exhibitions each year, all newly commissioned and developed specifically for the institution. Alongside its exhibition programme, the institute hosts lectures, film screenings, public discussions, and live events. Publishing and education are also central to its mission, with a broad range of programmes designed to encourage dialogue, learning, and critical engagement.

Friday Art Night in Rotterdam’s cultural district

Every Friday evening, Kunstinstituut Melly takes part in Rotterdam’s weekly Art Night. From 6:00 to 9:00 PM, visitors can enjoy free entry alongside neighbouring institutions V2_, WORM, and MaMA. Coordinated by Kunstblock, these evenings offer a varied programme of exhibitions, performances, and special events, making the Witte de Withstraat one of the city’s liveliest cultural areas at the end of the week.

A historic school building on Witte de Withstraat

The exhibition spaces are housed in a monumental former school building on Witte de Withstraat, widely regarded as Rotterdam’s cultural street. The historic architecture forms a distinctive backdrop for contemporary art, linking the building’s past as a place of learning to its present role as a site for exchange, reflection, and artistic experimentation.